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by Jane Houston Jones

We are cancelling Sidewalk Astronomy in Monrovia tonight. If you do get a clearing, here is a star chart for 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time tonight.https://goo.gl/ROgrsB You could break out the binoculars and try looking at Venus and Mars and the moon. Between the two planets is fainter Neptune. If you can see below Venus you canalso try for Comet 45P for about an hour after sunset, depending on your location andif you have a flat SW horizon. Neptune is blue, comet is needle-shaped with the tail pointing up as it is being blown by the solar wind! We'll have news about our next Mojave National Preserve Star Party (possibly April or May), next sidewalk astronomy night, future Huntington Garden star party, and the Solar Eclipse next time. We now have about 4 folks from our sidewalk Astronomy family joining us at the Idaho Dunes RV Park. Toggle between the map, and the reservations pages https://www.idahodunesrv.com/map.php and https://www.idahodunesrv.com/reservations.php?month=August+2017 We are in spaces 50-56, and you can several nearby spaces available. Speaking of the Eclipse, NASA's Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter LRO https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-moon-data-provides-more-accu… My two astro products (for my work at JPL) are What's Up and a new thing called Ten Things. It's a list of ten interesting things happening in the solar system each week. I sneak in a stargazing "thing" almost every week, and this one features all the 2017 Meteor showers, so it's a useful bookmark. :-) What's Up January video: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2017/01/03/whats-up-january-2016 Ten Things http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/category/10things 2017 Meteor Showers: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2016/12/12/10-things-december-12 Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Jan? Comet, moon, Venus, Mars and Quadrantids ring in the new year! https://youtu.be/e1QyhUqv1yE New: My Ten Things Blog https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/category/10things

7 years, 4 months

Sidewalk Astronomy cancelled tonight

by Jane Houston Jones

It's cloudy with a chance of rain tonight, so we're cancelling Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy. In the meantime, check out my monthly video about the December night sky here: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2016/12/01/whats-up-december-2016 And here's my new blog called Ten Things, where I select ten "need to know" Solar System stories, people or images that caught my attention this week. It's not a new blog, but I am the current author :-) https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/category/10things -- JJane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Dec? NYE Comet, Mars/Neptune https://youtu.be/8rS1zU2zB34 New: TenThings Bloghttps://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/category/10things

7 years, 5 months

Nice ISS pass tonight!! SpotTheStation

by Jane Houston Jones

-------- Original Message -------- From: HQ-spotthestation(a)mail.nasa.gov Sent: November 29, 2016 9:57:21 AM EST To: jane(a)whiteoaks.com Subject: SpotTheStation Time: Tue Nov 29 6:04 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 88°, Appears: 19° above SW, Disappears: 47° above NE -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

7 years, 5 months

Sidewalk Astronomy tonight is cancelled, also supermoon demystified

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone and welcome new members from the Mojave National Preserve star party last weekend! We are already setting up the spring date which we'll announce once its finalized. There were over 50 tents, over 120 attendees, a couple dozen attendees were urban youth, visiting MNP and camping out for probably the first time looking through about 10 telescopes! Article and photos http://www.mojavepreserve.org/news/2016/11/7/promoting-the-preserve We were expecting a lot of questions about the "Supermoon" at the telescopes tonight, but it's super cloudy, so we are cancelling our sidewalk astronomy -- we usually hold it near the first quarter moon Saturday night, but we did Mojave non that night this month since the campground was available. Both Sunday and Monday night will be about equally good to measure the "full " or what we astronomers call a "perigee" moon, so look in binos In a nutshell a supermoon new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit. Dubbed so by an astrologer in 2011. Because the Moon's orbit is an ellipse instead of a circle, its distance from Earth varies during the month from about 225,800 miles (363,400 km) at perigee, or closest approach, to 252,000 miles (405,550 km) at apogee or furthest distance in the elliptical orbit. Changing the distance causes the Moon's size and brightness to change as well. A perigee moon is on average 7% bigger and 16% brighter than an average full Moon, but during an unusually close perigee (the supermoon moon), the full Moon can be 12–14% larger than a full Moon at apogee (farthest) and 30% brighter. There are nice graphics and explanations here --> http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/see-the-biggest-supermoon-in-68-ye… If it is clear tomorrow, the full moon rises at 4:38 p.m. here in California. The moon turns precisely full on November 14, 2016 at 1352 UTC <http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/universal-time>. meaning the moon will reach the crest of its full phase on November 14 at 1352 UTC <http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/universal-time>. That translates to 9:52 a.m. AST, 8:52 a.m. EST, 7:52 a.m. CST, 6:52 a.m. MST, 5:52 a.m. PST. The moon will reach perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth for this month – within an one and one-half hours of that time. This EarthSky article gives a lot of other great information and graphics! http://earthsky.org/?p=190918 There are 4-6 supermoons every year, so have a look, and do what I am going to do -- make a moon measuring device and start comparing! All you need is an index card shown in the Sky and Telescope magazine article above, with some 5 mm to 10 mm slots cut unto it. 6mm is close to 1/4 inch, fyi. Hold your moon measurer straight out, aim at the moon, and see which slot matches the moon's diameter, write down the date, repeat next full moon. You can also hold your index finger out stretched, and see that it covers both regular full moons, closest perigee moons, as well as farthest away moons. :-) Some astronomers hate the name Supermoon, but if it raises awareness, I'm good with it. :-) Jane Houston Jones @jhjones What's Up November 2016: Venus, Jupiter and Saturn + more meteor showers https://youtu.be/aj7hDvy9bgI

7 years, 6 months

Chinese space station Weds not Tues night

by Jane Houston Jones

Although my JPL astro guy sent out the announcement that the Chinese Space Station Pass is Tuesday -- aka TONIGHT, Heavens Above - our source says it is Wednesday Nov 2. Look tonight to verify? And have a nice look at a very thin crescent moon and Venus/Saturn. And try again tomorrow night, which is what we think is the correct date. Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones What's Up Sept 2016: African Eclipse, metoers, planet pairs https://youtu.be/n_2rgiyJ5Pg

7 years, 6 months

Pretty planet/moon pairup tonight, Chinese Space Station visible, and reminders

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, my What's Up November video is out, and there is a pretty lineup of moon and planets the next 3 nights, so I thought I'd send out an additional reminder to step out and look up! From November 1^st to 3^rd , catch gibbous Venus (phase visible in telescopes, may look "oval" in binos, the crescent moon, and ringed Saturn together in the southwest sky just after sunset.The prettiest triangle of the three is Thursday night, so go out and practice just after sunset. Then also tonight, there'sa very good pass of the Chinese Space Station just after 7:00 PM for SoCal. This is probably the last real opportunity to see Tiangong 2 while the Chinese astronauts are still onboard. Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong are half way through their month-long flight. The station reaches 10 degrees above WSW horizon 7:06:53 p.m. (Very near the moon/Venus/Saturn trio) Maximum altitude 67 degrees NNW at 7:09:57 at magnitude 1.2, brighter than the most of the stars it passes until it disappears into Earth's shadow near fainter Cassiopeia stars. Let me know if you see it!! There are also some famous meteor showers -- famous from past outbursts, but rates will be lower due to bright moons nearby, but still any chance to see a Taurid on the 12th, a Leonid on the 17th or an Orionid on the 28th, is worth it if you are awake and the sky is clear on or near the peak nights! Mojave National Preserve Star Party is this weekend! RSVP here on the Facebook Event - or ask me for phone/email to RSVP https://www.facebook.com/events/310376066006443/ Eclipse info - no new news, but some of your fellow members of this email list have reserved two of the camper sites next to us in St. Anthony ID, and there are plenty more sites available. Info was on the last email. And the Idaho Museum in Idaho Falls will have some cool exhibits (and speakers :-) the day before the eclipse) It's gonna be epic!! Jane What's Up JPL http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1448 What's Up Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj7hDvy9bgI What's Up Tumblr http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/152612101714/whats-up-for-november-2016 -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Nov? Venus sunset,Jupiter dawn, Saturn, Meteors https://youtu.be/aj7hDvy9bgI

7 years, 6 months

Eclipse 2017 tips + another ISS pass tonight!

by Jane Houston Jones

ISS Pass (from LA area): Time: Fri Oct 21 6:31 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 58°, Appears: 10° above NW, Disappears: 12° above SSE- Get your own alerts for your location here --> https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ The August 21 2017 total Solar Eclipse is only ten months away! It will be visible in the US from Oregon to South Carolina -- in a thin path only about 60 miles wide. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/sun/2017eclipse If you are wondering where to go to see it, scroll down to "Find Your Spot" on the toolkit link above -- and click on the Google Interactive Map to see the eclipse path, anywhere you click, you'll get the time and totality length. In the west, totality can be seen only in a narrow path through Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming. The maximum totality (minutes and seconds) reaches 2 minutes 40 seconds near St. Louis, less in the west and east of maximum. Here are some examples of totality length near the centerline in the western states: 1 minute 55 seconds in Salem -- Bend, Corvallis and Portland all will have a partial eclipse. In Wyoming, Casper has 2 minutes 25 seconds, In Idaho, Rexburg gets 2 minutes 17 seconds of totality, while Idaho Falls, 29 miles south gets only 1 minute 41 seconds. Many hotels along the centerline are completely booked already. We wanted to drive with our telescopes for dark sky observing at night, and so we'd have flexibility to dodge clouds on the day or day before the eclipse, and rented a trailer. We found an RV park just 12 miles north of Rexburg ID, very close to the centerline. Our location will see 2 minutes 3 seconds of totality. This RV park still had lots of spaces available (and restroom/showers and a store) http://www.idahodunesrv.com/ <UrlBlockedError.aspx> The rates for "Special Events" like 4th of July, Labor Day and eclipses increase double (to $70 per night) for our large space https://www.idahodunesrv.com/reservations.php On this map is the campground layout https://www.idahodunesrv.com/map.php <UrlBlockedError.aspx> We rented the end space in the end row, space 56 on the map above for 4 nights August 19-22. We plan to join the Idaho Falls Astronomy Club at one or more of their dark sky star parties in the evenings before the eclipse, or possibly even set up in the RV space and share views with other campers, if the lights aren't too bad. There will also be livestreamed events of the eclipse for the armchair sun worshipers, more on that as time nears. And here's what the partial solar eclipse will look like here in the LA area. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/los-angeles?iso=20170821 Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones What's Up podcast August 2016: Perseids and Planets https://youtu.be/0vE5Jr6HttU http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/148352903509/whats-up-for-august-2016

7 years, 7 months

2 events tonight - ISS pass and a star grazes by the moon!

by Jane Houston Jones

A really nice ISS pass everyone!! Time: Tue Oct 18 7:32 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 79°, Appears: 10° above NW, Disappears: 45° above SE Later..... at 10:25 p.m. a lunar grazing occultation! *Who:* Magnificent red Aldebaran, the "eye" of Taurus the bull appears to approach the moon's sunlit side, close to the north pole. Soon the star will be easy to see as it moves onto the dark side of the moon. If Aldebaran was placed where the sun is now, its surface would extend almost to the orbit of Mercury. It's also about 153 times brighter than the sun. Good image here: http://occultations.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/MoonViewWithCaption.j… *What:* A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon, moving along its orbital path, passes in front of a star or other celestial object, as seen by an observer (normally on the Earth). A grazing lunar occultation occurs when one of the two edges of the moon parallel to its orbital path appears to just touch or graze the object as the moon goes by. When this happens, a properly positioned observer will see the grazed object disappear and reappear, possibly several times, as mountains and valleys on the edge of the moon pass in front of it. *Where:* Along a very thin line from Los Angeles, through Denver, Sioux Falls, Minneapolis! http://occultations.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20161019_AldebaranGra… *When:* Greater Los Angeles area 10:25 - 10:29 p.m. http://occultations.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CA_LA_6.jpeg Super detailed maps (Monrovia on the Centerline) http://occultations.org/aldebaran/2016october/ That's all for now! Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Oct? Moon phases, Astronomy Day, Meteors, Saturn! https://youtu.be/TwLaBKi3LaY

7 years, 7 months

Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday October 8

by Jane Houston Jones

Saturday is International Observe the Moon night, and also Astronomy Day or both. For us, it's just our regular Saturday night closest to the first quarter moon -- the Saturday each month we bring the moon and planets (weather permitting) to the sidewalk. There are some other events Saturday the 8th in the bandshell on the other side of Monrovia Park, so come on down and enjoy the various afternoon and evening events by walking around the park! The big Library Park would make a great scale model of the solar system, with the sun at the fountain, wouldn't it? So come out and join us! When Oct 8 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Myrtle/Lime corner Monrovia CA Other events coming up: * Pasadena Astronomy Week Oct 16-22 http://www.cityofastronomy.org/events/ * Huntington Gardens Star Party Oct 28 (check their website) * Maybe dark sky at Amboy Crater October 29 RSVP with me for directions and tips * Mojave National Preserve public star party (free camping, RSVP) Nov 5 - the centennial celebration!! https://www.facebook.com/events/310376066006443/ Here is my monthly What's Up video, it's naturally all about the moon and Astronomy day this month!~ :-) Many formats on JPL website http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1442 YouTube: https://youtu.be/TwLaBKi3LaY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nasa/ Tumblr: http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/151195307324/whats-up-for-october-2016 -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Oct? Moon phases, Astronomy Day, Meteors, Saturn! https://youtu.be/TwLaBKi3LaY

7 years, 7 months

Nice ISS Passes tonight at 8:02 and 30th

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, and welcome to a few new members of our email list!! Tonight is a great chance to see the International Space Station (ISS) pass over southern California. You'll want to step outside and familiarize your self with where your SW horizon is. the station looks a bit like a moving n on-blinking airplane. It will be visible about 10 degrees above the horizon (90 degrees is straight overhead) at 8:02 p.m. by 8:05 it will be neasrly overhead -- 78 degrees high moving from SW to SE. BY 8:06 p.m. it will be dipping to 61 degrees above the ENE horizon and it will disappear as it enters the shadow of earth. There are a couple more, on the 28th two passes beginning at 7:10 p.m. and again 8:49 p.m. - but they do not rise above about 30 degrees above the horizon. One on the 29th 7:54 p.m. and another very good one on the 30that 7:02 p.m. reaching 78 degrees above the horizon SW --> NE and another one that same night at 8:41 p.m. only reaching 11 degrees above the horizon - those two days with two passes? That is how long it takes the ISAS to orbit Earth -- a little over an hour and a half! To get your own alerts -- I don't always remember to post these -- here is the NASA Spot the Station website to sign up for your own alerts. https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ As always, my monthly video can be found all over the place -- YouTube link below in my signature line. https://youtu.be/n_2rgiyJ5Pg Always on the JPL Video Page: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/ Now on NASA's Tumblr http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/149805004869/whats-up-for-september-2016 and Instagram accounts - two 60 second shorts are here on Instagram - just scroll a few pages for the tell tale star chart or title page. https://www.instagram.com/nasa/?hl=en Next astro events: Monrovia October 8, sunset - till 9 p.m.-ish. October 8th is Astronomy day all over the world and also International Observe the Moon night -- I talk about THAT in the October What's Up, which will be published Sept 29th because month-end is all about the Rosetta Mission end of mission. Google that for more info. For dark sky events, our next Mojave National Preserve star party - Free entrance to the park, free campsite, a potluck and free looks through our telescopes November 5th. And this weekend a few of us are going to Amboy Crater for sort of personal observing. If you are interested in joining us and looking through my telescope, I'll send directions, travel time (3 hours from Monrovia, not really a campsite, we sleep in our cars) But you could see some dark skies or bring your own equipment -- important to arrive well before dark, as there are no lights on Route 66 to see the turnoff. See you all under the stars, or planets or streetlights! -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Sept? African Eclipse, Minor Meteors, Moon Neptune https://youtu.be/n_2rgiyJ5Pg

7 years, 7 months

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