No public event due to the late hour, but you can easily see tonight's
eclipse from your doorstep!
Pacific time, the total eclipse begins at 12:06am just after midnight
tonight, aka Tuesday morning, and ends at 1:24am. We are watching the
moon right now (10pm) and of you step outside, that's Mars above the moon.
Here's details http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2629
It's easy to see the progression of the eclipse with your eyes - just
step outside: maximum eclipse is at 12:45am!
I'm posting pictures on @JHJones, @NASAsolarsystem , and @Mojo_la will
also cover it.
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition
http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE
Hi everyone!
Last night's pass of the International Space Station was fun to watch
from Myrtle and Lime Streets. We had a big crowd out to watch with us.
There is another excellent pass tonight from the LA area. It begins at
7:58 PM Pacific time, is 6 min in duration, with a maximum height of 78
degrees, begining in the South-Southwest sky at 7:58 pm. The
International Space Station reaches its highest elevation at 8:01 p.m.
and ends at 8:04 p.m. in the East-Northeast.
I signed up for an email alert from this website and get a notice the
day before the next pass. Here's the link.
http://spotthestation.nasa.gov <http://t.co/FnACewXJOw>
I also use this website for more satellite passes and nice maps,
Heaven's Above, http://www.heavens-above.com/. I set up dozens of our
commonly used observing locations, but the SpotTheSyation email is easy!
I also updated our Old Town Astronomers with hightlights of the month
(Lunar Eclipse in April 14) and upcoming event dates. On the west coast
the eclipse begins at 9:53 p.m. and ends at 3:38 a.m. If you just want
to catch the *total eclipse*, set your alarm clock for midnight on the
West Coast. The total eclipse will last *an hour and a half from
beginning to end*.
Several people asked us last night about observing from a dark sky. Our
next public dark sky star party is on May 31, in Mojave National
Preserve's Black Canyon Group Campsite. It's highly recommended to
arrive before dark (sunset is at 8:30 p.m.), enjoy the potluck, set up
your tent in the large group campsite (RSVP required but there is no
cost), and visit the Hole in the Wall visitor center open 10-4
Saturdays, or take some of the nearby hikes. Then near 8:30 p.m. we'll
share views through an assortment of telescopes for as long as there are
people wishing to observe with us (or until we poop out). We typically
leave some telescopes up all night to catch special views before dawn.
More on that closer to the date. The Mojave National Preserve doesn't
have the Spring Star party flyer up yet (I owe them a "what we'll see"
writeup) but you can look at the November 2013 flyer to get the flavour
of the event. You can see the park map here to plan your driving, where
the visitor centers and attractions are.
http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping-groups.htm
We drive from Monrovia by driving to Barstow, then I-40. Wen we get to
Ludlow it's 49 miles east past Ludlow to the Essex Road turnoff on I-40.
After 10 miles you bear right on Black Canyon Road. Follow Black Canyon
Road another ten miles to Hole-in-the-Wall Campground/Visitor Center (to
the left, and Black Canyon Group campground to the right) The large
group campground, with pit toilets, a water pump, covered picnic tables,
fire pit and flat cement pad for telescopes is 1/4 mile further on a
gravel road (not suitable for motorcycles, we learned last year)
I'll let you know the RSVP # soon, but you can always send me an email
and I'll pass on any names/numbers to the Mojave National Preserve
Conservancy folks. Hope to see some of you this year! It's a long
drive, but with dark skies, a free campsite, and plenty of daytime hikes
nearby it's an experience you'll cherish as much as we do!
See you on our next sidewalk date, May 3! Jane
<http://t.co/FnACewXJOw>
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition
http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE
There is so much to see this month in our night skies! Mars at opposition, a lunar eclipse and April's Lyrid meteor shower.
We can show you some of these objects on the Monrovia Sidewalk Saturday night, April 5th. We can show you Mars, which will be low in the eastern sky, but it's better later in the evening than our sidewalk hours.On April 8 Mars reaches opposition, in its nearly two-year orbit, when it's directly opposite the sun in our sky. This year Mars will be closer to Earth than it has been since 2007. Mars rises in the East in the early evening and is visible all night long.
We'll show you the crescent moon, but in another week you can see a total eclipse, but not during our public sidewalk astronomy hours. The lunar eclipse will be visible to everyone in North and South America
and the Pacific on April 14 and 15. On the west Coast the eclipse begins at 9:53 p.m. and ends at 3:38 a.m. If you just want to catch the total eclipse, set your alarm clock for midnight on the West Coast. The total eclipse will last an hour and a half from beginning to end.
Finally,this month's Lyrid meteor shower peaks on the night of April 22 and the morning of April 23. The third quarter moon rises an hour past midnight, brightening the sky. But the moon will only obscure the fainter meteors. Luckily, the Lyrids are known to produce bright meteors, many with persistent trains. I am betting some LA Urban skywatchers will see some. If not, watch my What's Up video to enjoy these objects vicariously, here: What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition
http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE
Hope to see some of you tomorrow night in Monrovia!
NOTE: Calendar for public dark sky National Park star parties: Next Mojave National Preserve Star Party is May 31, next Yosemite Glacier Point Star Party (Jane and Mojo will be there with our friends from the San Jose Astronomical Association) July 25, 26. But there are public star parties at Glacier Point each non-full moon weekend between July 4 and Labor Day. Members bring telescopes, public invited and at no charge. These two are some of the best dark skies in the country, and dedicated to public astronomy, and free of charge.
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition
http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE
