SCDVA Southern California Desert Astronomers

Southern California Desert Video Astronomers

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Our Mission.............................
To educate & promote astronomy in order to preserve the dark skies of the California Desert and everywhere for future generations.

Clear Sky Chart for Joshua Tree

CURRENT MOON

about the moon

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wishing you all
bright and starry clear skies in the new year.
May all your dreams come true.

Photo by David Jesse McChesney

Five Swans a Swimming at Joshua Tree Lake

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We are looking forward to all the exciting plans we are putting together at our new permanent site at the Joshua Tree Lake and Campground in the coming year.
We will be posting the years schedule in the next few weeks so please keep checking back or follow us on Twitter for mini updates.

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Astronomy show Saturday
February 13th

( With special added feature to be announced)

We will be presenting our first astronomy show/Star Party for 2010 on the evening of Saturday February 13th at our permanent site, Joshua Tree Lake RV Park & campground.

Our group is continuing the construction of our astronomy theater and progress is moving right along.

Recent weather conditions have hampered the work, somewhat, but headway continues. We have been eager to do some astronomy and get everyone out for an evening of star gazing and finally said it was time to do something and the new Moon of February seemed like a great choice, so.....February 13 was chosen.

We plan on running two projectors and several telescopes. There will be two of our new permanent screens up and ready for action and the general setup will be visibly in place. This will be our first show using some of the newest equipment and layout, so come and check out the progress.

As an added feature, and without saying too much, the world and work of Nikola Tesla will be brought to our show for the first time. The present plan is to show some of the wonders of the world of high energy technology and to amaze everyone with something one doesn't see every day!

Check back for last minute updates and weather reports about conditions, etc.

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Who are we?

Our small group shares the common interest in amateur astronomy that uses high tech video cameras to observe the night sky. Sometimes called electronically assisted observing, we use highly sensitive cameras designed to capture images of deep sky objects in almost real time conditions.

Unlike the long exposure imaging methods, extremely sensitive video cameras are capable of rendering wonderful color images that before were impossible to create. Then we use high definition projectors to produce a show that allows the observers to sit in a chair and relax while we jump across the night sky putting up pictures that many say are "Hubble like"!

Our goals are to share this great technology with everyone with the hope that a deeper appreciation for our wonderful world and the chance we have been given to understand it.

We support dark sky issues and work for the preservation of our natural environment. The Universe is so large that it is almost impossible to imagine. We use our astro tools to bring the Universe to the viewer unlike ever seen before! The real time feeling is what makes the technology special and we can show many dozens of objects in a single night of observing!

Video Projection Command Central

Live projected Screen Image

Live projected Screen Image

Go to
Photos & Events Link
to see pictures of what we've been up to.

Hey!
We Made the LOS ANGELES TIMES
BRAND X
Weekly Paper
In a story called
"Get In Over Your Head
At Stargazing Parties"

Check it out at the following link

Brand X

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For Further Information
Please Contact us at
scdvainfo@gmail.com

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