VCAS Event Schedule

Upcoming Events

Find out what's happening soon!

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VCAS Monthly Lecture series

January 9, 2026 @ 7:00 pm

Ventura County Astronomical Society – January Meeting 🌌

What’s Up in the Winter Sky?
Join us for a guided tour of the best celestial sights to observe during the winter months.

📅 Friday, January 9th
🕖 7:00 PM
 403 W Hillcrest, Thousand Oaks, CA- in the Community Room

Our speaker, Dave Holland—VCAS club member and astronomer—will highlight winter constellations, planets, and deep-sky objects, with tips for both beginners and seasoned observers.

Bring your curiosity and love of the night sky! 🔭✨

 Reminder: VCAS monthly meetings at the Hillcrest location are held on the 2nd Friday of every month.

All are welcome! Bring a friend!

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VCAS Monthly Lecture series

February 13, 2026 @ 7:00 pm

Join us for our monthly general meeting with guest speaker Dr. Caleb Baker, talk on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope . On board the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a NASA astrophysics observatory mission set to launch late in 2026, is a complex instrument dedicated to directly observing exoplanets orbiting distant stars. This instrument, called a coronagraph, specializes in nullifying starlight by factors of up to 1-to-1 billion to give astronomers a fighting chance at seeing the faint light of nearby planets. Please join me as I walk through the design, function, and a few fun stories from the instrument's assembly and test at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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VCAS Monthly Lecture series

March 13, 2026 @ 7:00 pm

Join us for our monthly general meeting with guest speaker. 

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VCAS Monthly Lecture series, all about A.L.P.O. Association of Lunar and Planetary Observations

April 10, 2026 @ 7:00 pm

Information about A.L.P.O.  Association of Lunar and Planetary Observations


Recent History of Events

See what we've been up to lately.

Annual Banquet

December 6, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

VCAS Annual Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025. This is a member only event. 

If you would like to join, please use the link at the bottom of this page and complete your membership.

Our guest presenter is Charles Garner from JPL with his talk: 

"The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation:  Why it is so difficult to explore our solar system, Propulsion Needs, What we have to meet those needs." 

For more information and how to reserve your seat, please go to our members only page. 

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General Meeting with Board of Director Elections. Special Presentation: Woodland Hills Camera & Telescopes

November 14, 2025 @ 7:00 pm

Join us at our November meeting. We will be voting in our 2026 Board of Directors at this meeting.  If you are a member and interested in holding a Board position, please notify our President at vcas.president1@gmail.com Come out and show your support.

We will have a special presentation by Woodland Hills Camera & Telescopes. Their team will bring a selection of telescopes and accessories and share their expertise in choosing the right equipment for your astronomy journey.

Whether you’re looking to purchase your very first telescope or upgrade to more advanced gear, this telescope buying guide with show-and-tell will provide valuable insights, practical tips, and hands-on demonstrations.  Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
 Time: 7:00PM
 Location: Hillcrest Center for the Arts- Community Rm
403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA

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Public Star Party at the Charles Temple Observatory at Moorpark College

October 18, 2025 @ 7:00 pm

Evening Under the Stars Saturday, October 18, 2025 • 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Charles Temple Observatory • Moorpark College 

The Ventura County Astronomical Society proudly invites the Moorpark College community and the public to a free, family-friendly night of stargazing under the autumn sky!

 Location: Charles Temple Observatory, Moorpark College Time: Amphitheater opens at 7:00 PM  Stargazing ends at 10:00 PM

 At 7:00 PM, enjoy a live guided tour of the night sky led by Dennis Willet,  featuring stars, planets, and constellations visible during the fall season. Learn how to identify galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae as we explore the wonders of the October sky. 

This event is free and open to the public, recommended for ages 6 and up. Please dress for evening temperatures.    


Archive of Past Events

Oct. 4th, 2025 International Observe the Moon Star Party **CANCELED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN**
Sep. 17th, 2025 Cal Star 2025 at Lake San Antonio
Sep. 13th, 2025 Stargazing Party at Paramount Ranch
Aug. 23rd, 2025 Evening Under the Stars
Jul. 26th, 2025 Park After Dark Festival by the National Park Service (Supported by VCAS)
Jun. 21st, 2025 Star Party at Paramount Ranch
May. 9th, 2025 VCAS General Meeting with Dennis Willett, Astronomer, Explore the Night Sky! Join us for a fun and informative evening of space science!
May. 3rd, 2025 Astronomy Day Star Party at the Charles Temple Observatory
Apr. 11th, 2025 VCAS General Meeting
Mar. 29th, 2025 Messier Marathon **CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER**
Mar. 14th, 2025 VCAS General Meeting
Feb. 21st, 2025 VCAS General Meeting
Jan. 10th, 2025 VCAS General Meeting
Dec. 7th, 2024 VCAS Annual Banquet
Nov. 8th, 2024 VCAS Elections and General Meeting
Oct. 19th, 2024 Observe the Moon Star Party
Sep. 28th, 2024 Star Party @ the Charles Temple Observatory, Moorpark College
Aug. 31st, 2024 Star Party at Chuchupate
Jul. 27th, 2024 VCAS Open House and Telescope Clinic Star Party @ Charles Temple Observatory Moorpark College
Jun. 28th, 2024 VCAS General Meeting: Flying with Ingenuity - From Concept to 72 Flights
May. 24th, 2024 VCAS General Meeting with talk on "How to Choose a Telescope"
Apr. 26th, 2024 VCAS General Meeting - Review of Total Solar Eclipse
Mar. 29th, 2024 VCAS General Meeting
Feb. 23rd, 2024 Tim Thompson - The History of Mount Wilson: Past, Present, and Future
Jan. 19th, 2024 Meeting on January 19, 2024
Dec. 10th, 2023 Annual Member Only Banquet (with guest speaker Joel Harris)
Nov. 18th, 2023 Meeting on November 18, 2023
Jun. 10th, 2023 June 10th 2023 STAR PARTY
May. 20th, 2023 FIRST STAR PARTY of the YEAR!