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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

9 years, 1 month

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

9 years, 1 month

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

9 years, 2 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

9 years, 2 months

Perseid tips

by Jane Houston Jones

The Perseid rates started to riselast week! This chart will be a fun way to see what worldwide observers are seeing in real time hour by hour. http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2016/. The best location is one devoid of any nearby light pollution, so if you are observing at home find the spot against a shielding wall without direct streetlights, motion sensor lights, etc. Mojo and I will be in Lockwood Valley Thursday night till dawn Friday morning, and at our annual "Stars Over Yosemite" star parties Friday and Saturday nights. Free with entrance to the park,every weekend excepting full moon thru Labor Day, a different astronomy club's members hosts the weekend events. Here are some tips and times. I cut out the pertinent few sentences, but the writeup is very good and written by a personal friend, Bob Lundsford who Mojo and I have worked with on NASA Meteor Counting Campaigns since 1998! Excellent graphics, too! http://www.amsmeteors.org/2016/08/viewing-the-2016-perseids/ * "Every year, the dust particles from the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet pass the Earth orbit and burn in our atmosphere (about 70 miles / 110km above us) from mid-July to the end of August. When the dust and ice hits our atmosphere at around 37 miles / second (59km/s) they disintegrate high up in the atmosphere after making a brilliant flash of light. Most of these particles are the size of sand grains, while a few are as big as peas. * *Maximum activity is predicted to occur on the morning of August 12^th *, when rates in excess of *1 per minute* may be seen from dark sky sites. On the morning of maximum the waxing gibbous moon will set between midnight and 0100 local daylight time as seen from mid-northern latitudes. This will free up the prime observing hours from interfering moonlight. * As the night progresses the Perseid activity will slowly rise as the radiant gains altitude in the northeastern sky. Not until after midnight will the Perseid radiant gain sufficient altitude to produce pleasing results. Anytime from moonset to dawn will be the best time to see the most activity. Perseid meteors will appear in every portion of the sky. I would suggest facing toward the direction with the flattest horizon, devoid of any trees or hills that may block you view of the meteors. If all directions are favorable, then face toward the darkest portion of the sky, opposite any terrestrial lights that may interfere with viewing. * The best Perseid rates will occur on a 5 night segment centered on August 12^th . So if August 12^th is cloudy you can still see good Perseid activity over the weekend. Just be sure to wait until the moon is low or has set before attempting to observe. * *The best night for viewing the Perseids will the morning of August 12^th .* This year predictions by Mikhail Maslov and Esko Lyytinen predict that we will cross a part of the stream which has shifted closer to the Earth’s orbit by Jupiter. Therefore rates could be up to twice as high compared to a normal Perseid display. Normal rates for this shower are usually around 60 meteors per hour as seen from rural observing sites. *Therefore this year rates could exceed 100 per hour.* Note that meteor activity is notoriously bunched, meaning that there are periods in which you will see no activity and other times when you will see several within seconds of each other. The quoted rates are an average over an hour’s time. Here is a great collection of locations from KCET blogger (and friend) Chris Clarke Inland empire https://www.kcet.org/socal-wanderer/7-stargazing-spots-in-the-inland-empire <https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?REF=eOwE0CCBTZ3GhIcXBpM9q6AL_LP….> LA County https://www.kcet.org/socal-wanderer/8-of-the-best-places-to-see-the-night-s… <https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?REF=J9i_It53a5lppfzOjyAQVNuvkRN….> San Diego County https://www.kcet.org/socal-wanderer/7-of-the-best-places-to-stargaze-in-san… <https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?REF=XfzPduZ5-3zVti_faCvA95WvfI1…> High Desert https://www.kcet.org/socal-wanderer/9-mindblowing-stargazing-sites-in-calif… <https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?REF=7hJiRdGKSLn1Y5-BQe3rIOgQeix….> Finally, What's Up for August is about planets and Perseids: Video https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2016/07/29/whats-up-august-2016 Blog https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/meteors/perseids#! <https://webmail.jpl.nasa.gov/owa/redir.aspx?REF=yunUNv2tFN89Hq6paa8DUFdep01…> -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up August? Perseids https://youtu.be/0vE5Jr6HttU

9 years, 3 months

What's Up August? Part 1

by Jane Houston Jones

Busy month ahead. Tonight (Wednesday August 3) we are bringing telescopes to Altadena, CA's Descanso Gardens for their End of Summer Festival. 5-10 p.m. telescopes from about 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. https://www.descansogardens.org/programs-events/calendar/ Next week is the famous Perseid Meteor Shower. Friday morning peak, but good rates the days before and after too. We'll be at Glacier Point for public Star Party August 12/13 Perseids writeup https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/meteors/perseids Perseids podcast https://youtu.be/0vE5Jr6HttU Another nice version: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2016/07/29/whats-up-august-2016 Short Instagram version: https://www.instagram.com/p/BIlUTWghVTQ/?taken-by=nasajpl Awesome Tumblr version: http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/148352903509/whats-up-for-august-2016 More later, gotta pack telescopes for tonight!! Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up August? Perseids https://youtu.be/0vE5Jr6HttU

9 years, 4 months

Fwd: SpotTheStation

by Jane Houston Jones

Late notice 8:41 pm tonight Wednesday night)! Really high International Space Station pass! -------- Original Message -------- From: HQ-spotthestation(a)mail.nasa.gov Sent: July 27, 2016 8:57:16 AM PDT To: jane(a)whiteoaks.com Subject: SpotTheStation Time: Wed Jul 27 8:41 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 77°, Appears: 11° above SW, Disappears: 10° above NE -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

9 years, 4 months

Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday night in Monrovia

by Jane Houston Jones

A few of us will be out on the corner of Myrtle and Lime tomorrow night Saturday July 16. We'll have nice views of the moon, Saturn and Mars, and early birds may see Jupiter, either with the unaided eye (probably) or telescope ( trees/buildings). Upcoming dark sky events: August 12/13. Yosemite Glacier Point. Telescopes via selected club members only ( we are with the San Jose Astronomical Assn) this weekend) but all park guests welcome at the Glacier Point ampitheatre. If you are at Yosemite this summer, check the schedule ( no full moon weekend) Just come up, park an Mojave Star Party November 5th - Many list members attended June event. One comment: "So many kids for my daughter to play with" Another - kid with telescope wowed everyone. We do travel to dark sky areas - typically 90 - 200 miles one way most new moon weekends. If you want to join us, send me a note for more info on our dark sky events. Plan to sleep in car or drive 3 hours there/ 3 hours home. I will make a small list of who ever wants to join us for super dark skies, bring your own telescope or use ours. Many local asto clubs with less trvel. You can find. Finally, this month's What's Up features many astrophotos from Mojo - all taken at our favorite Amboy Crater dark sky locations. It's 180 miles from Monrovia, no camping (car camping ok, terrain is LAVA, so no place to pitch a tent. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1431 Tumblr http://nasa.tumblr.com/post/146998847019/whats-up-for-july-2016 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BHwlU3kgZwQ/?taken-by=nasa -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones What's Up July 2016: A Summer Road Trip to the Milky Way https://youtu.be/vQ9yrZuxSFE

9 years, 4 months

Telescopes in Monrovia tonight!

by Jane Houston Jones

Several of us are out of town or on vacation, or welcoming a new baby but Mojo and I want to get out with telescopes and show Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, plus the moon tonight. Sunset is at about 8 p.m. so wander by our Sidewalk Astronomy corner -- Myrtle and Lime streets in Monrovia between 8 and 9:30 p.m. It should cool to about 79 or 80 degrees by sunset. :-) -- Jane Houston Jones What's Up June 2016: Saturn opposition, planets and a comet! https://youtu.be/M7RtIa9zBYA

9 years, 5 months

Clouds and drizzle, not Saturn,

by Jane Houston Jones

Well, no chance of sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia tonight. Bu behind those clouds are some gorgeous views of the planets Saturn, Mrs and Jupiter. Learn what's up this month in my monthly podcast https://youtu.be/M7RtIa9zBYA, transcript here (and feel free to share!) http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1427 Tonight's weather isn't this "reverse clearing" but still, this is a very interesting chance in our May Grey/June Gloom weather - clearing at the coast, high fog lingering up against the mountains. http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/05/18/60754/la-s-may-grey-unusual-this-year-t… And just as a reminder, our free dark sky star party in the Mojave National Preserve is June 25th - just two weeks away. Weather permitting, the Milky Way will be glorious! A few links and info I have sent our to several of you who plan to attend: Our star party is held at the Black Canyon Group Campground (close to the Hole-In-The-Wall visitor center and campground) in the middle of Mojave National Preserve. about 170 miles from Monrovia. A*RSVP* is required, but there is no charge for the event -- the RSVP is for # of tents/cars. There is a facebook group and you can RSVP there https://www.facebook.com/events/695749230564590/, or you can call or email our wonderful coordinator from the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy David Lanfrom dlanfrom(a)ncpa.org or 760-219-4916 - he is the best person to answer more questions. The directions are here -- the last quarter mile is not paved: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/directions.htm Directions to Hole-in-the-Wall From I-40:/ Exit Essex Road and drive north 10 miles to the junction with Black Canyon Road. Hole-in-the-Wall is 10 miles north on Black Canyon Road. And here is a zoomed in version of the area centered on the Black Canyon Campground -- https://www.google.com/maps/@35.04204,-115.3879753,2413m/data=!3m1!1e3 It is a very large group campsite, with plenty of parking. Arrive before sunset (which is at 8:08 p.m.), and there will be a potluck beginning at about 6 p.m., with rangers from the National Park Service, members of the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy and the sidewalk astronomers and all our guests all sharing the potluck, and a few saying a few words to the group. There is a large firepit, covered pavilion with 8 picnic tables, trash/recycling critter-proof cans, a pump with water for washing dishes, and pit toilets, which you can see if you zoom in close on the google map. You can also see the circular parking area and the large sandy/brushy area for tents. So bring a tent, sleeping bag (or car camp), pot luck or bring something to eat for dinner, there is room for camp stoves on the picnic tables if you want to cook. The Conservancy provides lots of drinks, chips, some food, there is always vegetarian food, but you can bring your own. A local family often makes tamales (both meat and vegetarian), and/or soup or stew, again veg/meat. All the guests come up and spend time at the telescope, white flashlights are not appreciated at the telescopes, we suggest not using the flashlight at all at telescopes. As your eyes adapt you can see very nicely without lights. But our star party is very informal, and we just ask people to cover flashlights with your hand, and turn them off at the telescopes, no cell phones or iPads or other light emitting devices up at the telescopes preferred. Most people spend time at the tables eating or snacking, or talking and storytelling at the big fire pit, Dogs are permitted and there are usually several -- some on leashes and some not, all very nice dogs. Kids are welcome. -- Jane Houston Jones What's Up June 2016: Saturn opposition, planets and a comet! https://youtu.be/M7RtIa9zBYA

9 years, 5 months

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