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498 discussions

by Morris Jones

No sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia tonight. It's not raining, but it's very unsettled in advance of the next storm. Monrovia is pretty well clouded out right now. We may try again next weekend, and may try for a special event on a Monday evening soon. We'll let you know! Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://whiteoaks.com

10 years

Jupiter season!

by Jane Houston Jones

March 8 is Jupiter Opposition - when Jupiter is on the opposite side of Earth from the sun, rising at sunset, setting at dawn and closest to Earth in its orbit. It will be a little brighter and a little closer to Earth before, during and after March 8. So don't worry if it is cloudy, you have several more months of excellent Jupiter viewing opportunities. The planet, with all its cloud patterns above and below the equator show well, even in the smallest telescope, and even with steady binoculars. The four Galilean moons Io, Europa, Callisto and Ganymede are also easy to see through steadily held binoculars, but much more easily seen in telescopes of all sizes -- except when they are passing behind the planet -- or in front. Near opposition, as a moon passes in front of Jupiter the sun, the moon's shadow appears against the clouds of Jupiter. Astrophotographers are capturing images showing the pearly spheres of Io and Europa and their shadows marching across the face of Jupiter all month long. There are 11 of these double shadow transits in March, and three of them are visible from the US. Unfortunately, they are all on Monday nights and end between 9:30 p.m. and 1:25 a.m. I doubt we'll get telescopes out after work, but we'll let you know if someone is available. In the meantime, make friends with that neighbor with a telescope! Dates and times March 15 02:22 UTC March 14 7:22 p.m. - 9:34 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) March 22 04:23 UTC March 21 9:23 p.m. - 11:23 p.m. PDT March 29 07:00 UTC March 28, 12:00 a.m. - 1:25 a.m. PDT of the three, March 14/15 had the added bonus of volcanic Io overtaking Europa at the end of the transit. We animated both the shadow transits and a depiction of the view from above Jupiter and from Earth in my March What's Up Video https://youtu.be/MmTINt3vCSw If you have trouble with YouTube, here's the JPL version http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1417 We're hoping to do sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia, weather and schedules permitting on either March 12 or 19th, maybe both. Jane and the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @NASAInSight What's Up March 2016: Jupiter, its moons, their shadows https://youtu.be/MmTINt3vCSw

10 years

Sidewalk Astronomy tonight!

by Jane Houston Jones

We've been weathered out and also many of us have been unavailable more than usual lately. But tonight should be a great night for Sidewalk Astronomy. Several of our gang will be out in Monrovia at the Library Park corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets tonight from about 6:30 until about 9. I say about, because Mojo and I won't be there, and I haven't hear the start time from the group. Have a good tone, look up, and I'll see you next month, hopefully. I'm almost recovered from hip replacement surgery, but haven't handled the telescopes yet. Jane Oh, the morning planet lineup is still gorgeous. Look southeast to southwest - the lineup spans the sky just before dawn. Here's my video all about it! https://youtu.be/EOo_qBNWpbc -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones What's Up February 2016 video: Morning moon/planet meetups, a comet near Polaris, icy Uranus and icy Vesta meet near Valentine's Day. https://youtu.be/EOo_qBNWpbc

10 years, 1 month

NIce high ISS pass over LA area tonight, plus What's Up December!

by Jane Houston Jones

HI everyone, tonight, Saturday the 5th of December step out to see a nice high ISS pass (LA residents primarily). Here are the details: Time: Sat Dec 05 5:40 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 61°, Appears: 34° above WSW, Disappears: 19° above NE . You can get your own alerts by signing up here. http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ Mojo and I took a walk last night (first longish walk on my 2-week new hip) and marvelled at Orion rising sideways in the eastern sky. Have a look! Also, I talk about preparing for Mars Opposition in 2016 in my December What's Up video. Although you need to get up and look low to the eastern horizon around 3am to See Mars rise this month, it's visible until dawn - very pretty right now between brighter Venus and Jupiter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv8hVvJlcJQ I talk a bit about the Geminids and Ursids here on our sidewalk astro page (scroll to upcoming events) http://www.otastro.org/ Finally, Dec 19 would be our next sidewalk astronomy night, but I'm not sure who will be in town with telescopes. We'll update closer to the date. Keep looking up! Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA @jhjones What's Up December: Mars now, even better in 2016 https://youtu.be/hv8hVvJlcJQ

10 years, 3 months

Sidewalk Astronomy in Monrovia tonight!

by Jane Houston Jones

A few of our sidewalk astronomers will be out at Myrtle and Lime Street Saturday night for a few hours, say 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. I'll sit this one out since I'm a few days post hip-replacement surgery -- healing well, but not up to telescope viewing yet. If you can't get out or are clouded out, have a look at the moon phases in this month's What's Up Video: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/…/…/11/03/whats-up-november-2015 <http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsolarsystem.nasa.gov%2Fnews%2F20…> I've also started a new feature - the Star Tool Box. It's a work in progress right now, but contains supplementary info about the topic of each monthly video. So for November, not only can you print out a star chart(a few, actually) showing you the Apollo landing site locations on the moon, you can also find the Apollo Mission patches, landing site geology, and more. Here's the link: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/startoolbox Hope you join us under the moonlight or at the armchair for some lunar sights. Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA @jhjones What's Up #101 Moon Phases, Apollo landing sites https://youtu.be/2njQdqPvwm8

10 years, 4 months

Cancelling Sidewalk Astronomy tonight

by Jane Houston Jones

It's a little too hazy to drag us off the sofa and out to a mediocre sidewalk astronomy night. And none of the other astronomers are available tonight, it seems. In the meantime: Try really hard to wake up early tomorrow morning! There is a great planet lineup worthy of a wake-up call this week. The lineup of the three planets just above the rising sun in the east has been visible all month long, culminating in a tight cluster of the planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter from now until month end. Sunday morning, the brightest of the two Venus and Jupiter are very close together -- from our earthly vantage point. Don't miss Mars below the two bright ones. Fainter, but worthy of a look! Just use you eyes, binos if you have them. So step outside, look East and enjoy the show! Here's the lineup go.nasa.gov/1VHmy2E <https://t.co/uSm8UUS5YC> -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @NASAInsight What's Up podcast #99 Sept Eclipse! https://youtu.be/jXMZmEOGLRc

10 years, 4 months

Nice ISS Pass (SoCal) Tonight (Fri. 10/23), Sidewalk Astro Saturday night

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, a few of us will be out for Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday night at Monrovia's Library Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. or so. And tonight (Friday the 23rd), look up from 7 p.m. until 7:06 p.m. to see the International Space Station The maximum altitude will be 59° above the horizon (90° is overhead) at 7:04 p.m. The Space Station will travel from the Northeast to the East-Southeast, dissappearing into the shadow of the earth at 7:06 p.m. Hope to see you tomorrow, and good luck tonight!! Max at 7:04 PM, 59 degrees above the NE. Event Time Altitude Azimuth Distance (km) Brightness Sun altitude Rises 18:58:53 0° 316° (NW) 2,308 1.1 -10.8° Reaches altitude 10° 19:00:59 10° 320° (NW) 1,448 -0.1 -11.2° Maximum altitude 19:04:11 59° 42° (NE) 466 -3.3 -11.9° Enters shadow 19:06:34 17° 119° (ESE) 1,117 -1.6 -12.4°

10 years, 5 months

Mojave Star Party cancelled due to rain and risk of flash floods.

by Jane Houston Jones

Sorry everyone, but based on the weather outlook, including the torrential rain/flooding in southern California (Death Valley, Highway 58, I-5 yesterday) and a dismal forecast for today through Sunday, we are cancelling the Mojave National Preserve Star Party slated for Saturday night. We'll reschedule in the spring. Take care, stay safe and dry and we'll see you out under an urban sky soon, if we have a telescope quorum, we may be out next Saturday, Oct 25th, I'll let you know. We're also cancelling a potential Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy event tomorrow night, as the local forecast is fog. Flash Flood Watch through Sunday evening: http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ524&warncounty=CA Weather forecast: Centered on Cima, a little north of Black Canyon Campground: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=35.2378&lon=-115.4992#.ViE-P2t… * Today (Friday) * Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. *Tonight* Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. *Saturday* Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. *Saturday Night* Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. *Sunday* Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South southwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA @jhjones What's Up #100! My Top Ten! https://youtu.be/DebUcfb0lmE

10 years, 5 months

Some clouds but we are heading to Library park, Monrovia tonight.

by Jane Houston Jones

We have some clouds right now, but we are still heading to Monrovia's Library Park, corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets to hopefully see the Total Lunar Eclipse. For people at home, or with a nice eastern horizon, you will already be seeing the moon rise!! Good luck everyone!! The partial lunar eclipse begins at 6:07 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. It will last a little more than an hour, and observers can watch as, crater by crater, the moon is engulfed in Earth's shadow. West Coast viewers take note: when the eclipse begins, the moon won't have risen yet for you. The total eclipse begins at 7:11 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time and also lasts for more than an hour, ending at 8:23 p.m. The moon's reddish color you'll see is caused by sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere on its way to light the moon's surface. Then it's the whole show in reverse order, ending at 9:27 p.m.. http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/MnrviaCAkey.html?1 -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @NASAInsight What's Up podcast #99 Sept Eclipse! https://youtu.be/jXMZmEOGLRc

10 years, 5 months

Sunday Eclipse, October 17 Mojave National Preserve Star party

by Jane Houston Jones

The weather appears to be looking great for Sunday Night's total lunar eclipse! Some of your Sidewalk Astronomers will be at Myrtle and Lime streets in Monrovia to give play-by-play commentary, provide views through binoculars or telescopes once the moon clears the eastern-facing buildings/trees. If you have a nice eastern horizon you may want to watch from there for a better and longer show. We won't see the 30-40 minutes due to buildings in the way, but we'll be there from about 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Just think, easy parking, and no long lines! Bring your own binos, and maybe even a camp chair. Here's my September NASA What's Up Podcast, for more details: https://youtu.be/jXMZmEOGLRc Here's the timing here on the west coast: 1.The _partial_ lunar eclipse begins at 6:07 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. It will last a little more than an hour, and observers can watch as, crater by crater, the moon is engulfed in Earth’s shadow. *West coast viewers take note:****when the eclipse begins, the moon won’t have risen yet for you. Moonrise is 6:39 p.m.* 2.The _total_ eclipse begins at 7:11 PDT and also lasts more than an hour, ending at 8:23 p.m.. The moon’s reddish color you’ll see is caused by sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere on its way to light the moon’s surface. 3.This month the moon skims Earth’s shadow, just as it did in the April lunar eclipse. In April the north pole appeared a bit brighter during totality.This time, the southern pole will appear a bit brighter, a bit like a partial eclipse. 4.Then, it’s the whole show in reverse order, ending at 9:27 p.m. Now, about our twice-a-year star-trek to Mojave National Preserve. Here is a Facebook Event, in case you want to check it out. https://www.facebook.com/MojaveNationalPreserveConservancy Here are the details and directions. *If you are willing to share driving or carpool let me know. At least one of our regular attendees would like to share the driving or carpool. She will be at the Sunday night event, and I can be the go-between to connect you.* Maps of Mojave National Preserve http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/maps.htm Star Party Details When/Where: Saturday October 17th 2015 Potluck starts at 5 p.m. Sunset is at 6 p.m. Black Canyon Group Campsite, 10 miles north of I-40 on Essex Road, then ten miles north of Essex Road on Black Canyon Road. Allow three hours drive from Pasadena area, and do not arrive after dark, roads are unlit, last half mile unpaved (but good gravel) What to bring: Camping Gear, layered clothing, food to share, and your personal plate, silverware and cup for the potluck. Dinner - Potluck or bring a dish to share, breakfast is on your own RSVP: The event is free, but there is limited space for tents and parked cars, so register on the Facebook Event or email Dlamfrom(a)ncpa.org or call 760-219-4916 See you under the equinox blood super moon eclipse! :-) Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @NASAInSight Whats Up 99th podcast! Lunar Eclipse Sept 27th https://youtu.be/jXMZmEOGLRc

10 years, 5 months

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