OTEvents May 2008

otevents@otastro.org

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5 discussions

NASA'S Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing

by Jane Houston Jones

PASADENA, Calif. NASAs Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars today to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the landers robotic arm. It also sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars. The images from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within reach of the lander's robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site's soil and ice. "We see the lack of rocks that we expected, we see the polygons that we saw from space, we don't see ice on the surface, but we think we will see it beneath the surface. It looks great to me," said Peter Smith of the University of Arizona , Tucson , principal investigator for the Phoenix mission. Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) confirmed the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown 15 minutes earlier. The signals took that long to travel from Mars to Earth at the speed of light. The signal confirming that Phoenix had survived touchdown was relayed via MarsOdyssey and received on Earth at the Goldstone, Calif., antenna station of NASAs Deep Space Network. You can read more, see first images, follow the blogs and more on the JPL website: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm Next press conference - the post-landing briefing, occurs on NASA TV 11 a.m. Monday morning: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ I know you all join me in congratulating the Phoenix team on a successful soft landing on Mars! It was great fun to be at JPL today and tonight supporting the landing! <http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov> - Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 11 months

Watch Mars buzz past a swarm of stars

by Jane Houston Jones

Hello local stargazers and space enthusiasts! NASA's Mars Phoenix touches down on the Red Planet's north polar plain tomorrow, Sunday May 25th a little before 5 p.m. If you'd like to follow the landing, on the internet or television here's a one stop link: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm. From here you can click on NASA TV, view the landing schedule and news briefing schedule, blogs and more. Here is a list of museums with Mars Phoenix programming in case you'd like to participate in a group event. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/events/Mars_Events.html Follow Phoenix on Twitter and Facebook http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/release.php?ArticleID=1700 If the clouds clear tonight or Sunday night, why not step outside and look up! Mars is easy to see in the early evening sky right now. With binoculars or telescopes on Sunday night, you'll spot Mars near the edge of the Beehive cluster, Messier 44. Tonight, Mars will appear to be a red star against the fainter stars of the cluster. Here's a little Mars-gazing feature I wrote yesterday: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2109 Jane - who will be supporting the Phoenix landing tomorrow at JPL - let's all send Phoenix a big good luck for a soft landing tomorrow! -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 11 months

Weekend sidewalk astronomy

by Morris Jones

Jane and I find ourselves being out of town this weekend, so we're canceling the Friday night telescope viewing on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. But our gang will be in Monrovia Saturday, if the May Gray fog clears, to see the first quarter moon and Saturn, 7:00 - 9:30 or so at the corner of Myrtle & Lime. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

18 years

May "What's Up" up

by Jane Houston Jones

My May What's Up podcast is up on the JPL website. To me it's special because Mojo took the amateur images used in the podcast. Look for the constellation (the big dipper) and galaxy images (M81, M82 and M51) which were taken by Mojo on a recent night out under the desert skies. http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html Here it is on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHO2uRxOsQM Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

18 years

Things to do this weekend

by Jane H Jones

1. Attend JPL Open House. Information and directions http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-067. I will be in the Solar System exhibit, located in Building 303, way down Mariner Road. But our exhibit will be inside, where it is nice and cool. :-) NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will welcome members of the public to its Open House on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4. Children will be able to participate in many hands-on activities. JPL's Open House begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on both days. JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, Calif. Parking is free. Please note that all vehicles entering NASA/JPL property are subject to inspection. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes -- no buses will be provided from JPL parking lots to the lab. JPL will provide vans for mobility-challenged guests. Please note that the following items are banned from entering NASA/JPL property: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, all types of skates including skateboards, Segways and bicycles. No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, except small purses and diaper bags. 2. Attend Joshua Tree's Turtle Days Festival Saturday May 3: http://www.joshuatreechamber.org/ Saturday May 3rd is the Turtle Days Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Community Center. There will be food, drinks, pet parade and much more! 3. Attend the Andromeda Society's monthly Star Party in Joshua Tree National Park (after the Turtle Festival) http://www.andromedasociety.org/ May 3, 8:00 PM Star Party at Hidden Valley Picnic Area, Joshua Tree National Park. Next one is May 31 same place 8:15 starting time. We'd probably be there except I am working at JPL Open House all weekend. 4. Thank a firefighter! Here's one way to donate: http://cityofsierramadre.com/ or ask at City Hall City of Sierra Madre City Hall 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024 T: 626.355.7135 Next weekend will be our sidewalk astronomy weekend - Friday in Pasadena and Saturday in Monrovia. Information for May is on our website now. Check it out! Jane and Mojo -- Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

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OTEvents May 2008