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For a quick overview of amateur astronomy and the CCAS see this Acrobat PDF file
Cuesta College Astronomy Symposium CCAS Introduction

Welcome to the virtual home of the Central Coast Astronomical Society, located on the Central Coast of California, USA, in beautiful San Luis Obispo County, halfway between the cities of San Francisco (to the north) and Los Angeles (to the south).  For a map, click HERE.  We appreciate your visit and welcome any comments you may have about our organization or our website.  If interested, please sign our Guest Book.

The CCAS is an informal non-profit service organization that exists solely for the enjoyment of citizens of all ages who have an interest in studying the wonderful and fascinating world of astronomy and space exploration.

The CCAS, established in 1979, promotes human understanding of the cosmos by providing an enjoyable, friendly and rewarding astronomical experience for beginners and experts alike.  Community outreach is part of our operation, with CCAS members occasionally conducting slide show presentations and star parties for schools and the community.

Our Earth, 3rd of nine planets (or more ?) from the Sun, exists in a solar system that is huge by Earth standards, but is incredibly tiny in comparison to the infinite vastness of the cosmos, the Universe.  The following quote, from the Discovery Channel book "Night Sky", helps provide a glimmer of what astronomers attempt to study and understand.

To further excite your curiosity, here are a couple of additional points that can stir deep thought.  This can easily form the basis for many amateur astronomer's burning interest in our cosmos.

And, finally, to give you a little perspective and understanding of just what we are all about here on tiny Earth and our place in the Universe, take a look at us from outside the Milky Way Galaxy using the "Powers of Ten" concept.  Are you ready for a fascinating ride right down to our molecular makeup?

As you can see, the field of astronomy, and the efforts of organizations such as the Central Coast Astronomical Society, have an unbelievably immense subject to study and comprehend, at least a little.  But it is a task that astronomers relish and thrive on performing day-in and day-out.  To study our universe is to study everything that mankind is, learning about our past and looking into the crystal ball of our future.  Literally everything on our Earth, including the human race, every man, woman and child that has ever lived or ever will live, owes its existence to the birth and evolution of our Universe.  When you study the cosmos, you study everything known to our world and those things that will someday be discovered by our world.

Someday, maybe much sooner than we think, we will outgrow the fragile and limited resources of our small planet's natural resources.  And, the recently recognized changes in the Earth's climate will have a profound impact on life as humans know it.  So, it is imperative to the survival of the human race that we "boldly go" where we have never been before, to learn what the cosmos contains and prepare Earth's civilizations to venture to the stars.

But before this becomes a reality, the entire human race must very seriously address as soon as possible what will someday be a very real worldwide life threatening single event ... the arrival of a sizable asteroid, meteor or comet that directly impacts Earth.  If we don't study the heavens in more detail, more quickly and develop proactive plans to fend off such an event, then we face dire consequences.  Astronomy is the tip of the iceberg but also a major key in the survival of Earth's civilization.

Astronomy is based on scientific observation, analysis and theories, with new and revised ideas on the creation of our Universe always emerging.  We really know very little about our fascinating Universe and welcome new views that have a scientific foundation as we are always in a continual state of learning about the cosmos.  That is the way of life.  It drives us.  We are adventurers and explorers.  We must always climb that next  hill or round the next bend in the road to see what lies beyond.  A never-ending quest to understand where we came from, what the future has in store for us and how we can shape that future for mankind's progress and survival.

There is a considerable amount of interesting and useful information on our website.  Aside from the web pages describing CCAS operations, one highly recommended web page that is an excellent starting point is the CCAS Reference page which is loaded with a large amount of useful information for beginning and experienced astronomers, especially Beginner Stargazing & Telescope Tips.  Another very interesting starting point for beginners and people who are about to participate in their first star party is the CCAS Tour of the Universe  (accessed from the Reference page).

We are what we see in the night sky and billions of light years beyond.  In the words of a famous contemporary beloved astronomer, cosmologist and staunch believer in the possibilities of life beyond our fragile Earth ...

Please take your time studying our website, starting with a thorough study all of the links on our Home page.  And seriously consider participating in our meetings and activities and possibly becoming a CCAS member.  The larger our membership and participation in meetings, the more enjoyment and benefit to our members and the more support we can provide to our community.  We welcome families and individuals of all ages who enjoy interfacing with other folks who have the same love and fascination of the heavens.

And if you can't participate, that is just fine.  Take advantage of our website.  We are here day and night, rain or shine.  Enjoy!

Thank you for visiting the Central Coast Astronomical Society.  Here's wishing you "Clear Skies".

Is there other life out among the stars?
"If it is just us, it seems like an awful waste of space."
Ellie Arroway's father from the motion picture "Contact"

"Live Long and Prosper"
Spock from Star Trek TV and motion picture series