Hi everyone! Several of our Sidewalk Astronomers will be out tonight at
the Monrovia Myrtle and Lime corner, from about 7:15 p.m. to 9:00 or so.
I won't be there, but will be with you all in spirit, as you look up at
the beautiful first quarter moon.
I have a lovely photo to share - of my mom and dad doing Sidewalk
Astronomy in San Rafael, CA. My dad died yesterday at 95.6 years old,
and my mom died Oct 2 last year at 92. Two lives well lived and they
were well loved, and made me the inquisitive person I became. Here they
are sharing views through their own sidewalk telescopes at their San
Rafael church. I often joined them with my own telescopes in the 1990's
and early 2000's before I moved south for work at JPL, and Mojo and I
discovered our beloved Myrtle and Lime Sidewalk Astronomy corner. Some
old timers on this email list probably bumped into my mom and dad on the
sidewalks up in Marin County :-)
Sidewalk Astronomy with mom and dad
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2007-11-18-churchastronomy/slides/churchastro5.h…
My mom was an artist and often illustrated astronomy articles I wrote.
Here aremy two favorite writeups she illustrated for the Sidewalk
Astronomy newsletter in the 1990's, which definitely led to my love of
writing about astronomy, and led me to theMyrtle and Lime corner. <3
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2009-galileo&me/slides/moonwriteup004.htmlhttp://photo.whiteoaks.com/2009-galileo&me/slides/swpleiades.html
Over and out from Jane and the wonderful members of our little gang of
Sidewalk Astronomers
What's Up April from JPL - still awesome! https://youtu.be/MeiGUv5jF5Y
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro
Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats
Sorry, but iffy skies + astronomer unavailability led to no sidewalk
astronomy this past weekend. We'll try again next month. In the
meantime, check out this month's What's Up video from NASA. It's filled
with great observing tips - planets and constellations visible with your
unaided eye from your city location this month.
Here's the link! https://youtu.be/7FyEAPcvErQ
Of particular notice is the moon occulting, (passing in front of) Mars.
Even with binos this will be visible as the red planet disappears behind
the moon. Timing for our timezone: Mars disappears behind the moon 6:31
p.m. and reappears at 7:31, weather permitting Tuesday night December
7th. The video shows a great animation, so you can see what to look
for. I highly recommend it, if the expected clouds don't interfere.
Take care everyone! Jane and the Sidewak Astronomers
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro
Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats
Hi everyone, I've had a couple questions about the lunar eclipse, which
begins at midnight. Sadly we'll be rained out tonight - tomorrow
morning, during this eclipse, plus it's too late to be bringing
telescopes out for the public this time. But should you have a clearing
between midnight and 4 am, and are awake, you mght step outside and have
a look Lunar eclipses are great to view with the unaided eye. You don't
need a telescope or even binoculars.
Here's a great resource, with lots of information about the eclipse.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-november-8
I've copied the times here, so if there is a break in the storm, step
outside and have a look! You might be rewarded with a photo using your
cell phone :-)
When the Eclipse Happens Worldwide — Timeline
Lunar eclipses can be visible from everywhere on the night side of the
Earth, if the sky is clear. From some places the entire eclipse will be
visible, while in other areas the Moon will rise or set during the eclipse.
Event UTC Time Time in Los Angeles* Visible in Los Angeles
Penumbral Eclipse begins Nov 8 at 08:02:15 Nov 8 at 12:02:15 am Yes
Partial Eclipse begins Nov 8 at 09:09:12 Nov 8 at 1:09:12 am Yes
Full Eclipse begins Nov 8 at 10:16:39 Nov 8 at 2:16:39 am Yes
Maximum Eclipse Nov 8 at 10:59:11 Nov 8 at 2:59:11 am Yes
Full Eclipse ends Nov 8 at 11:41:36 Nov 8 at 3:41:36 am Yes
Partial Eclipse ends Nov 8 at 12:49:03 Nov 8 at 4:49:03 am Yes
Penumbral Eclipse ends Nov 8 at 13:56:09 Nov 8 at 5:56:09 am Yes
* The Moon is above the horizon during this eclipse, so with good
weather conditions in Los Angeles, the entire eclipse is visible.
Before I sign off, here's great resource you might like to have: Guy
Ottowell's Astronomical Calendar. It was a wonderful full-year almanac
- 2 pages per month, I relied on from the 1980's until 2016. Well, it
is back both in a digital and hard cover version. Here is the link if
you are interested in a public-friendly list of all the monthly
astronomical goings-on, with additional pages explaining things like
eclipses. https://www.universalworkshop.com/astronomical-calendar-2023/
Jane and the Sidewalk Astronomers
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro
Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats
Hi everyone, first things first: An ISS pass tonight! Time: Tue Aug 02
8:25 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 48°, Appears: 10° above NW,
Disappears: 12° above ESE
We should have a few astronomers out at Myrtle and Lime in Monrovia this
coming Saturday night, weather permitting. There will be just one main
target, the moon, but some astronomers may show some interesting stars,
double stars or other objects. Sunset is a little before 8 p.m. but the
bright moon will be visible before that, so astronomers may be setting
up by 7:30 or so.
August is famous for the Perseid meteor shower, but this month, the peak
nights will be marred by the moon. You can read more about the
perseids, morning planets, and the lovely constellation Cygnus in this
month's What's Up for August podcast: https://youtu.be/KdNHpX-u9w0
That's all for now! Jane, and the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy, travel, music, food, cats
As our member David posted on Facebook yesterday:
We hope you got up early to see the planet alignment. This iPhone shot
is from up on Mt. Wilson on 6/23, showing an over-exposed Moon, Mars,
Jupiter & Saturn; followed by the dome for the 60-inch telescope.
While we only really have the Moon to view (and perhaps a few double
stars or bright "deep sky" objects), we will be on the sidewalk at
Myrtle & Lime this Saturday, starting about 8 pm. We hope to see you there!
Be like Dave,and come see the moon from the sidewalk, with the Old Town
Sidewalk Astronomers.
And here is the July What's Up video from NASA - still going strong
since April 2007! https://youtu.be/upFsgDxgV70
Jane and the Sidewalk Astronomers
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy, travel, music, food, cats
Bonus! There's a 7 minute ISS pass to enjoy while you step out to see
the eclipse tonight. Highest at 8:26 p.m. 90° above the horizon --
straight overhead.
Time: Sun May 15 8:23 PM, Visible: 7 min, Max Height: 90°, Appears: 10°
above the SW horizon, Disappears: 10° above the NE horizon. Enjoy!
As a reminder, here is a short timeline for us Pacific Time Zone folks
so you can step out and look up!
*Partial eclipse begins* May 15 (7:27 p.m. PDT on May 15). Note sunset
is at 7:47 p.m. tonight
*Totality begins* (moon engulfed in Earth’s shadow) (8:29 p.m. PDT)
*Totality ends* May 15 (9:53 p.m. PDT)
*Partial eclipse ends* May 15 (10:55 p.m. PDT)
*Penumbral eclipse ends* May 15 (11:50 p.m. PDT).
*Duration of totality:* About 90 minutes.
Time and Date has a great graphic!
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-may-16
Here's JPL's What's Up video for May, which talks about the lunar
eclipse: https://youtu.be/1Bn349KyGzE
Have fun and let me know if you have a great view!! Jane and the
sidewalk astronomers :-)
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro
Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats
Eyes up! We have a really convenient local total lunar eclipse Sunday
night May 15th after sunset until about 10 p.m., visible for those of us
with clear skies and good eastern horizons.
Here is the best link for times and details for where ever you are.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-may-16. Check it out and
set it for your times, other than LA locals.
Your sidewalk astronomers will not be at Library Park, but if you are
there in the park for the Monrovia Days https://www.monroviadays.org/-
celebrating the 136th anniversary of our beloved town, look toward the
eastern horizon after sunset, opposite the sunset -- and look for
moonrise after 8:30 p.m. Eclipses are easily visible with your unaided
eyes and binoculars, from home or anywhere, no telescope or crowds are
necessary.
Locally, the total eclipse begins when the moon is below our horizon
*before sunset* on Sunday the 15th.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/los-angeles
Start looking East near sunset 8:30 p.m. (and you'll be looking to the
east *on the horizon*, opposite the sunset). Closer to 9pm the maximum
eclipse begins, where the entire moon should be visible, and should
appear reddish. So a view of the eastern horizon is needed early, which
we wouldn't have at Library Park anyway.
Between 9:11 p.m. and 10:55 p.m and later you should have a great view,
higher in the eastern sky - an awesome view, and I want to see your
images, if you get some! Why not find a nice stable spot near a fence
in your yard or deck to stablilize your cell phone, and take cell phone
photos every 20 minutes or so?
The timetable for the eclipse is:
8:29 pm Total eclipse begins
9:11 pm Maximum eclipse begins
9:53 pm Maximum eclipse ends
10:55 pm Partial eclipse ends
Some great links:
What's Up from NASA:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/https://www.space.com/33786-lunar-eclipse-guide.html
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro
Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats
Hi everyone, we will have a couple telescopes out at Monrovia's Library
Park tonight, March 12 starting at abut 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the moon, another target will be the Pleiades Star
Cluster (aka "The Seven Sisters", Messier 45, and Subaru, and many other
names). I'm sure you all will be on the lookout for the Subaru auto
emblem now. :-)
The Pleiades are a beautiful open cluster visible with the unaided eye,
in binoculars in addition to telescopes.
No planets tonight, you have to get up early to see Venus, Saturn and
Mars forming a triangle low in the SE sky. The crescent moon joins the
trio on the 23rd. This month's What's Up podcast shows when and where to
look for these objects and also shows you where to find the Pleiades and
Hyades star clusters using Orion's belt as a pointer.
https://youtu.be/_uBdv1IOqZo
That's all for now! Jane and the Sidewalk Astronomers
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy, travel, music, food, cats
We tentatively scheduled sidewalk astronomy for tonight, but will try
again next month on February 5th or the 11th instead.
There's lots of great space news, and I've added two interesting topics
that are great citizen science projects, or just interesting reading
topics: Meteors and variable stars!
For your astronomy update, how about that JamesWebb Telescope? Lots of
amazing coverage, graphics and more here: https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/
International Meteor Organization has great monthly articles, and more!
https://www.imo.net/
AAVSO - The American Association of Variable Star Observers has
interesting articles on interesting stars, and observing campaigns.
https://www.aavso.org/
And the long running :-) monthly stargazing video is right here every
month!!
What's Up for January? Lots, plus great skywatching content from my old
stomping grounds <3 https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/
That's all for this month from Jane and the Old Town sidewalk astronomers.
--
Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer
Twitter: @jhjones @otastro
Instagram @janehoustonjones
http://www.otastro.org/
Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats