KERN COUNTY
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

REACH FOR THE STARS

About Us imageAbout Us image
Who We Are
The Kern County Astronomical Society (KCAS) was founded in 1956 with a charter to “foster interest in astronomy among members, amateur astronomers, and the general public”. We are a club of amateur astronomers that includes individuals and families. Anyone interested in astronomy is welcome. The Kern County Astronomical Society (KCAS) invites you to discover the “Wonders of the Universe.”

Why We Are Here
KCAS intends to “bring the joys of astronomy” to the general public. We attend schools, scout groups, and various other community events with telescopes and a lot of enthusiasm. We enjoy showing people everything from the rings of Saturn to Jupiter’s moons, to the craters of the Moon, and more. See the star party coordinator below for more information.



Membership Information image
To learn more about the club, come to a KAS meeting! Our meetings are free, open to the public, and family-friendly.  We meet on the first Friday of the month at 6:00 PM for dinner, followed by the business meeting and program at 7:00 PM at the Round Table Pizza at 4200 Gosford Rd in Bakersfield.

Our annual membership is $35, and our memberships are "family" memberships. Members of KAS also get membership in the Astronomical League. New members get their first crack at borrowing one of the club telescopes for a month!

To download the registration form, please click on the link below:
KCAS Membership Form 2025/6 (Fillable) (coming soon)
KCAS Membership Form 2025/6

Our mailing address is:

KCAS
PO Box 10241
Bakersfield, CA 93389


Star Parties

Star Parties

We have two club star parties every month on the Saturday evenings of the third quarter Moon and new Moon (weather permitting). All Star Parties are open to the public, but please observe nighttime headlight etiquette, drive with parking lights only. Star Parties will be published under Events, under Meetings

Learn More

Star Hopper’s Guide to the Galaxy

The book primarily consists of star hop instruction sheets developed by Jim Mazur that were initially made available on his website Skyledge.net. This compilation contains over 170 instruction sheets with over 250 objects. Each sheet contains two star charts; the first chart is used to help orient you to the night sky and immediate area around the target using familiar constellations or asterisms such as the Big Dipper, the Summer Triangle, or the Great Square of Pegasus. The second chart is a detailed road map on how to hop to the highlighted objects. Information on the targeted objects is provided, as well as a small image of the object, when available.

Learn More
Club Officers

Club Officers

Click here for current officer's contact information. New officers are elected every September.

Learn More
  •  10/17/2025 05:00 PM - 10/17/2025 08:00 PM
  •   Gergen Ski Ranch, 10658 Round Mountain Rd, Bakersfeild, CA 93308

Tigermania! This is a Boy Scout event we participated in last year, and it was quite successful. I told them we could probably support this event. We need volunteers to bring out their scopes for the kids to look at various objects.

  •  10/18/2025 06:00 PM - 10/18/2025 11:59 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

Star party at Frazier Mountain Trailhead. Sunset 6:18.

  •  10/21/2025 11:00 PM - 10/22/2025 04:00 AM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

This is not an official event, but it is a new Moon for this period, and if the skies are clear, it should be good. If you want to go, the Frazier Mountain Trailhead would be a convenient place to view it.

  •  10/25/2025 06:00 PM - 10/25/2025 06:00 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

Star party at Frazier Mountain Trailhead. Sunset 6:10.

  •  11/12/2025 05:00 PM - 11/12/2025 07:00 PM
  •   Nichols Elementary, 3401 Renegade Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93306

STEAM Family Night, Show time for us would be 4 pm. This is an early evening event, sunset at 4:53, last light: 5:20. Our show time is 4:00 pm

  •  11/19/2025 05:30 PM - 11/19/2025 07:00 PM
  •   Emerson Middle School, 801 4th St, Bakersfield, CA 93304

This event will take place in the evening after 5:50 PM to 7:00 pm, the show time for us is 4:00.

  •  02/18/2026 05:00 PM - 02/18/2026 06:30 PM
  •   Cesar Chaez Elementary, 4201 Mesa Marin Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93306

Family night

  •  09/11/2026 10:25 AM - 09/13/2026 01:00 PM

Annual Dark Skies Festival. Details TBA

  •  10/09/2025 05:00 PM - 10/09/2025 06:30 PM
  •   Washington Middle School, 1101 Noble Ave, Bakersfield, CA, 93305

We need volunteers for this event. We will be the primary presenters at this event. Because of the time limitations, this will be a solar event.

  •  10/04/2025 07:00 PM - 10/04/2025 08:00 PM
  •   Riverwalk 11200 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA, USA

Come and observe the moon with us at Riverwalk. Details of the event can be found on: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/about/overview/. This event has been registered on the website.

  •  09/27/2025 09:00 AM - 09/27/2025 11:00 PM
  •   Panorama Vista Preserve, 901 Roberts Lan

There will be solar telescopes from Kern Astro, a presentation of snakes and other reptiles, skulls of animals, and how they adapted to fill niches in the environment, and an American Indian Health Program and Cultural Center will be talking about baskets and cultural elements of the people living in the southern San Joaquin Valley. There will also be a donkey-drawn wagon, and there will be horses after 11. Show time for us will be 8 - 8:15 for setup

  •  09/20/2025 06:04 PM - 09/20/2025 06:04 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

Sunset at 17:57, Astronomical Dusk 19:48. If the weather is good, I will be there at 4:30.

  •  09/11/2025 10:00 AM - 09/14/2025 11:00 AM
  •   Fir Group Campground

This year's Dark Sky Festival will be held from (officially) September 11-14. For those who desire to go on Thursday (the 11th), the campground will be available. The campsite is the "Fir Group Campground." For directions, this campground is available for search in most map apps. There will be a presentation by NASA on Thursday (times tba). Participants are also going to receive a special tour of the Crystal Caves, which will be closed to the public during this event. On Saturday night, there will be a presentation by the Webb Space Telescope Team; unfortunately, this is when we are working with the public. There may be a special presentation for us; more to come on that later.

  •  08/24/2025 06:00 PM
  •   Mount Wilson, CA, USA

The club has rented the 100" telescope at Mount Wilson. The cost was $200.00, but is sold out

  •  08/23/2025 07:00 PM - 08/23/2025 07:00 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 7:56 am and will set at 9:34 pm. The Moon will only be at 4%, so it should not hinder viewing.

  •  07/26/2025 07:00 PM - 07/26/2025 11:59 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 7:56 am and will set at 9:34 pm. The Moon will only be at 4%, so it should not hinder viewing.

  •  07/18/2025 09:00 AM - 07/18/2025 11:00 AM
  •   MLK Junior Park

This is an educational event where we bring out equipment for viewing the Sun. Any member is welcome to attend; you do not need to have a scope to attend. The actual event runs from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The early arrival is for set up.

  •  07/17/2025 09:00 AM - 07/17/2025 11:00 AM
  •   Silver Creek Park

This is an educational event where we bring out equipment for viewing the Sun. Any member is welcome to attend; you do not need to have a scope to attend. The actual event runs from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The early arrival is for set up.

  •  06/28/2025 07:00 PM - 06/28/2025 11:59 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 09:07 am and will only be at 12%, so it shouldn't cause too much interference.

  •  06/25/2025 03:30 AM - 06/25/2025 01:35 PM
  •   Informational event

The New Moon for June is on the 25th. You are welcome to go up to the Frazier Mountain Trailhead and look at the Cosmos. This is not an official Star Party, but letting you know when there will be no Moon in the sky

  •  06/21/2025 07:00 PM - 06/21/2025 11:59 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 2:52 am, so there will be no moon; even then, it will only be 10%.

  •  05/03/2025 10:35 AM
  •   Jastro Park, 2900 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA, USA

This is our annual picnic with opportunity drawings.

  •  04/23/2025 08:00 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

The annual Lyrid Meteor shower will peak on April 22-23. 5-20 Meteors per hour at brightness +2.

  •  03/29/2025 05:00 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

This is the normal Star Party for the period for those not participating in the Wind Wolves Preserve on the 29th.

  •  03/29/2025 08:00 AM
  •   16019 Maricopa Highway, Bakersfield, CA, USA

We are participating in this year's Wind Wolves Preserve Nature Days on the night of the new moon. I have reserved 3 campsites for this event, as we can stay overnight. Just so you know, you must stay until 8 a.m. on Sunday! This is a public event for the Preserve, but the star party portion is private.

  •  03/27/2025 05:00 PM
  •   Lincoln Junior High School, 815 Eureka Street, Bakersfield, CA, USA

Volunteers needed

  •  03/13/2025 11:58 PM

There will be a Total Lunar eclipse on March 13, 2025. Start time: 8:57 pm, Full Eclipse at 11:58 pm, and ends (officially) at 3:00 am on the 14th. This event can be viewed over the entire Continental US. If you want to image the event, try to find a good background. I may go to the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine California, but have imaged at the beach where I can follow the moon to the ocean horizon. You don't have to go anywhere though for this event, If you see the sky, you can see the eclipse. Go to: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/bakersfield?iso=20250314 for more information.

  •  03/01/2025 05:00 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trailhead

We will have our star party on March 1st, weather permitting. Sunset at 17:52, Last light: 18:18, Astronomical Dusk 18:44, and Night 19:18. All are welcome. Please observe headlight etiquette (parking lights at night).

  •  02/27/2025 06:00 PM
  •   Bakersfield College

We will be having an astronomical show at the Bakersfield Planetarium put on By Nick Strobel. The cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Tickets go on sale to the public After February 7, 2025.

  •  02/11/2025 06:00 PM
  •   7310 Monitor Street, Bakersfield, CA, USA

This is a closed event for Olivier Middle School. If you are interested in bringing a scope to the event, please text me at 805-331-1078. This is an education event for the school kids, be prepared to answer questions from the students.

  •  01/28/2025 05:00 PM
  •   Frazier Mountain Trail Head

If the weather is clear, there will be a star party at the usual spot at the Frazier Mountain Trailhead (this is Google Maps searchable). Sunset is at 17:09, Nautical dusk at 17:37, Astronomical Dusk at 18:10, and finally darkness at 18:40. The temperatures should be in the 30’s and possibly in the 20’s, no joke, dress very warmly as fires are not allowed. For those doing astrophotography, the dew point will be at or below the temperature, if you have dew heaters, bring them, if you don’t have one, I suggest ordering one for your telescope. All this said I would be there at about 15:30. I have a portable weather station that I will set up for accurate weather and temperature. From what I hear, 7 of our planets will be in alignment that night, so it should be an interesting night. Let me remind you, this is all contingent on the weather.

  •  12/06/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  11/01/2024 07:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  10/04/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  09/14/2024 07:00 PM
  •   11298 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  09/13/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  09/06/2024 12:00 AM - 09/08/2024 12:00 AM
  •   Lodgepole-Sherman Tree, California, USA
  •  08/02/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  06/07/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  05/18/2024 12:00 PM
  •   400 Montclair St, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  05/03/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  04/12/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard
  •  03/01/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  02/02/2024 06:30 PM
  •   7700 District Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  •  01/05/2024 06:30 PM
  •   4200 Gosford Road, Bakersfield, CA, USA
  • General Meeting Site (first Friday each month): Roundtable Pizza, 4299 Gosford Rd.,
  • Bakersfield, CA 93389