Come hang out with us every month and learn something new! SDAA programs feature a wide array of speakers who share their expertise on unique and intriguing astronomy-related topics. We hold most of our meetings virtually via Zoom on the third Wednesday of every month. The meetings start at 7PM and last about one hour. We also have some in-person meetings. Check the website for current information about location. Programs start with a few key club announcements and include information tailored to our new club members. Our featured speaker follows as the main event. Attendees are encouraged to engage and ask questions after speaker presentations. If you miss a program, you can catch the recordings on the SDAA YouTube page.
Please register in advance for the Zoom meetings. The link will be provided with the meeting post. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkf-2rrTgsE9D7YsRX-mGVVgS_ovMJHX5B#/registration
The SDAA Board welcomes your comments on our presentations! Please contact VicePresident@sdaa.org if you have suggestions for future program topics.
October 21, 2026 Program Meeting
Title: Astronomy at Yerkes Observatory – past, present, and future Speaker: Dr. Luke Schmidt, Observatory Project Scientist Join us for our upcoming SDAA Zoom program as we explore the rich history and bright future of Yerkes Observatory with Observatory Project Scientist, Dr. Luke Schmidt! About the Speaker: Dr. Schmidt is responsible for managing activities that maximize the research potential and public usage of our telescope and instrument suite…
September 23, 2026 Program Meeting
Topic: The Explosive Universe Speaker: Griffin Hosseinzadeh, PhD Hosted at Oasis Event Center, we will enjoy a talk on The Explosive Universe given by Griffin Hosseinzadeh, PhD. We look forward to welcoming you all in person for this exciting discussion. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Griffin Hosseinzadeh, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at UCSD specializing in observations of explosive astronomical transients, particularly supernovae and kilonovae, which he uses…
August 26, 2026 Program Meeting
Title: Resolving the Galactic Center Black Hole with the Event Horizon Telescope. Speaker: Dr. Chi-kwan “CK” Chan, University of Arizona Dr. Chi-kwan “CK” Chan is an Associate Astronomer and Research Professor at Steward Observatory and the Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona (UArizona). He served as the Secretary of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration Science Council from 2020 to 2022. He recently led the publication of the…
July 29, 2026 Program Meeting
The next program meeting will be hosted in person at AleSmith Brewery on Wednesday, July 29 at 7pm. Our Speaker: Jarred Roberts, PhD, is an associate project scientist exploring the fascinating and awe-inspiring high-energy phenomena of our Universe. He works on multiple cutting-edge astrophysics missions, including COSI—a NASA MeV gamma-ray space telescope scheduled to launch in 2027—that will revolutionize our understanding of antimatter, black holes, and the cosmic origins of…
June 17, 2026 Program Meeting
Speaker: Douglas C. Leonard, Professor of Astronomy at San Diego State University SDAA Program Meeting is this Wednesday at 7:00 PM on Zoom. We’ll hear from one of our Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair award winners, then our main speaker will be Douglas C. Leonard, Professor of Astronomy at San Diego State University. His research includes supernovae, supernova progenitor stars, and what these explosions can teach…
May 20, 2026 Program Meeting
April 29, 2026 Program Meeting
February 19, 2026 Program Meeting
Subject: SDAA Town Hall Membership Meeting, Thursday, Feb 19 via Zoom: Zoom Meeting Link Meeting ID: 841 3570 3991 Passcode: 445223 Meeting Join Instructions Updates, Open Discussion, and Next Steps 60 minutes. Less “program meeting,” more member input. Hi everyone — please join us for our SDAA Town Hall on February 19, 2026, at 7:00PM via Zoom. We’re trying a more interactive format: quick updates first, then member…
November 19, 2025 Program Meeting
November 19, 2025 SDAA Program Topic: Annual Gadget Night Location: Ballast Point Brewing at Miramar https://ballastpoint.com/location/miramar Gadget Night is Back – Fresh Ideas, Cool Tech, Great Company! ***Seating is limited – stay tuned for sign-up details!*** Join us for SDAA’s Annual Gadget Night on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 6–9 PM at Ballast Point Miramar! This is one of our most hands-on and inspiring events of the year –…