Mojo and I are going to our favorite observing location this afternoon,
Amboy Crater, to try and view comet PanSTARRS just after sunset at 5:57
p.m. From now through the end of March, the comet should be naked-eye
visible very low on the western horizon - low meaning about 10 degrees
above the unobstructed horizon for those at latitude 40 (we are at 34
degrees North latitude here in the LA area), so it will be even a few
degrees lower than that here throughout March. But it will be visible
in April and May (through a telescope) higher and fainter in the sky.
This month, use binoculars to scan the western horizon.
Ten degrees can be measured by holding your clenched fist at arms-length
distance, then with thumb-up, place the bottom of your fist on the
horizon. The top of your fist (put your thumb back down first) will be
ten degrees above the horizon. You'll see it's not very high. The
comet's tail will be like your thumb up - because the tail will be
pointing straight up. It's easy to see why -- comets tails point away
from the sun.
Any spot where you have an unobstructed view of the western horizon just
at sunset is where you should look. Here in LA, looking west on the
horizon generally means looking through a hazy (smoggy) or foggy layer
of our atmosphere. The viewing window is just about a half hour after
sunset right now - sunset until about 6:30 p.m. Longer window next week,
but still very low. Watch my video for tips.
Youtube: http://bit.ly/ZzW1bt
You are welcome to join us - sorry for the late notice, we were waiting
to see how the storm affected the deserts before deciding where and when
to go. Amboy, CA 92304 is an unincorporated town in San Bernardino
County, in California's Mojave Desert, west of Needles and east of
Ludlow on historic Route 66. It is roughly 60 miles northeast of
Twentynine Palms. Amboy Crater is a BLM landmark with a big parking lot.
It takes us about 3 hours (including a sandwich stop in Barstow) to
get there, and we'll arrive at about 4:30 p.m. to set up our equipment.
It will be cold and windy tonight, so we plan to observe for about 4
hours then drive back home. It is not a campsite, so no tents, but you
can sleep/rest in your car overnight and take a hike in the morning to
the volcanic crater. There are pit toilets in the parking lot.
We set up our two telescopes at the very end, next to the rest room.
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2011-10-22-amboy/Site%20Pictures/index.html
If you do come, there are some universal courtesy tips to avoid blinding
the observers. The San Jose Astronomical Association has a great list
http://www.sjaa.net/etiquette.html
To this list, most important is to arrive before sunset. It is
virtually impossible to see the turnoff from Route 66 in the dark, and
you will miss the comet hunt unless your are all ready to look at
sunset. Park with your car lights pointed away from the telescopes
closer to the entrance end of the lot. Switch your car's interior lights
off if you can. We always bring some red carlight repair tape to place
over very small flashlights, leave those big flashlights at home, you
won't need them. No iPad, tablet, cell phones light near the (my)
telescopes, please. Just step away and face your light away from the
telescopes if you'd like to use them. They are fun to use, but will ruin
(this) observer's dark adaption. Bring a chair, layers, binoculars,
hydration. Oh there are trains with lights all night long, but I set up
away from that light. You'll love to hear them in the dark. :-)
Since this is short notice, you may want to consider joining us on May
11 at our campground star party at Mojave National Preserve instead.
Hopefully, the comet will still be visible. The light pollution rules
are a little more relaxed (except right near the telescopes) since it is
a public star party. Last fall's flyer is here with
directionshttp://mojavepreserve.org/index.php/site/article/star_party_in_th…
If you do see the comet from LA let us know! Your chances are good if
you can see the western horizon with no clouds or haze. Try with
binoculars. We'll share what we see, how hard it was, tips and tricks
tomorrow! Wish us luck!
Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
What's Up Video March 2013: Comet PanSTARRS
On Youtube: http://bit.ly/ZzW1bt
2013 Preview: http://bit.ly/13NrNHy
Monrovia High School has been one of six schools in the nation chosen to
host a downlink from the International Space Station this year! The
downlink event will take place on Tuesday, March 5^th . All the 5^th
graders and all the 8^th graders in MUSD will travel to the MHS
Auditorium to be part of this amazing event!
As the kick -- off for this event, MHS is hosting their first Science
Expo tomorrow, Saturday March 2 10-2 p.m. and a star parety 6-8 p.m.
This fun, free, public family event includes demonstrations from the
Santa Fe Dam RC Modelers Club, UniTek lazers, FIRST Robotics, and GAVRT
Radio telescope.
Other booths will include glider making, Pinewood Derby and MHS Chess
Club workshops, and information from the Deep Space Network, NASA/IPAC
(CalTech Infrared Processing and Analysis Center) , the Planetary
Society. The Sidewalk Astronomers will be sharing views of the sun
through several different solar telescopes. Food will be sold, including
hot dogs, pizza, and smoothies. This event will be on Saturday, March
2^nd in the MHS Quad from 10am to 2pm. You can stay later, and there wil
be a star party from dusk until 8 p.m. The school address is 845 W
Colorado Blvd Monrovia, CA 91016
In other news, I talk about the appearance of Comet PanStarrs in our
skies beginning about March 10 through early May in my monthly video.
The comet will be naked eye visible (somewhere between the magnitude of
the bright star Sirius below Orion, and the dipper stars, but also
extremely low to the horizon. An unobstructed view down to the horizon
will be necessary - the comet will not get above 10 degrees above the
horizon in March, higher but fainter in April and May. Binoculars will
help you pull the comet out of the murky horizon.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWC5xAxKTU0
Archive site with many formats
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=1424
Hope to see you Saturday for some fun with the sun!
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/http://twitter.com/jhjones
What's Up For March? Will Comet Pan-STARRS be bright?
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm
Youtube:http://youtu.be/jYs6Mw744VA
2013 At A Glance
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/
There will probably be a few telescopes in Monrovia Saturday night (not
Mojo and mine, we are on travel), and for sure a few other telescopes,
including ours next weekend, weather permitting. The moon and Jupiter
will be fabulous both weekends.
No on to the email of many links:
2013 - monthly highlights - lots to look forward to this year!!
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/
Asteroid flyby - explanatory video, some charts, and frequently asked
questions: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2523
A few of the most asked FAQs:
*Q: What is asteroid DA14*
A: Asteroid 2012 DA14 is a small near-Earth object - approximately 150
feet (45 meters) in diameter. On Feb. 15, 2013, the asteroid will pass
by our planet at a remarkably close distance, but the asteroid's path is
understood well enough that there is no chance of a collision with the
Earth.
*Q: What date and what time will the asteroid be closest to Earth?*
A: Asteroid 2012 DA14 will be closest to Earth on Feb. 15 at
approximately 19:24 UTC (2:24 p.m. EST/11:24 a.m. PST). This time may
change by a minute or two as the asteroid is tracked on its approach and
predictions are refined.
At the time of closest approach, the asteroid will be over the eastern
Indian Ocean, off Sumatra -- approx. latitude: -6 deg South. /
longitude: 97.5 deg East.
These near earth asteroids are not very easy to spot in telescopes. This
one will be extremely faint (as faint as Pluto at Magnitude 13 when in
our night sky, moving swiftly past earth, about 10pm tomorrow night.
Here is my tale of near earth asteroid watching - one in 2002,one in
2011 http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2011/11/10/watching-asteroids-fly-by/
Breaking news at 10:30 pm: I'll report more tomorrow when I see news and
videos that have been verified, but seems a bolide exploded over Russia
- Urals-city of Chelyabinsk
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
What's Up Podcast for Feb:Asteroid flyby, comet preview
On Youtube: http://youtu.be/uEqt0yE6EG0
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Yosemite Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch
We'll have a couple telescopes out tonight in Monrovia from 6:30 - 8:30
or so. On display will be the 13-day moon (nearly full) and Jupiter.
Stop by if you're in the neighborhood.
Also, we now have a date for our twice-annual Mojave National Preserve
Star party - May 6. Though this flyer is for last fall's event, you
can get a feel for the event, and can RSVP if you'd like to attend.
Free camping, bring something for saturday night potluck. You might
want a chair to sit in and gaze at the night sky.
http://mojavepreserve.org/index.php/site/article/star_party_in_the_mjave_na…
Free camping, unlimited stargazing, Comet Pan-STARRS (our March comet)
should still be visible.
Weather permitting, Mojo and I are planning dark sky observing outings
to Amboy Crater March 9 and April 6. Amboy Crater is not a campsite -
it's a large parking lot, and we usually snooze in our car a little
after observing, and sometimes take a hike to the crater in the morning.
If you are interesting in joining us, sent me an email!
Jane
2013 What's Up - at a glance
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
What's Up Podcast for February: Asteroid flyby, comet & planet previews.
On Youtube:http://bit.ly/WM4Ka4
Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones,CassiniSaturn,NASAInSight,otastro
My Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Sorry we have to cancel sidewalk astronomy this weekend. Clouds, rain or
both don't mix well with telescopes.
Luckily we've been able to work in 4 (or more) school/public star
parties over the last 2 weeks or so. Two of them had a Disney
connection. First, the Sidewalk Astronomers and the Los Angeles
Astronomical Society were invited to set up telescopes on the sidewalk
outside Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles on the 10th,
11th and 12th of January. http://twitpic.com/burd6f The concert? Gustav
Holtz's The Planets, Opus 32, naturally! Then on the 22nd, Mojo set up
our big refractor telescope outside his Disney Grand Central Creative
Campus office in Glendale. http://twitpic.com/bxgwt3 We dodged clouds
but moon and Jupiter popped out every now and then.
In between, we had successful school star parties at Andres Duarte
Elementary and Hamilton Elementary in Pasadena. This time of the year
is perfect for school star parties since it gets dark by 6 p.m. A note
to teachers thinking of asking us to bring telescopes - ask several
months in advance, and let us recommend the date to maximize the chance
of seeing something :-)
We are planning a Mojave National Preserve spring star party, but I have
not heard a final date. I put in for March 9, or April 6 or May 11.
I'll let you know which date is - those from our email list who have
attended can vouch for the fun and fabulous skies! Mojo and I will
likely head to Amboy Crater on the other two dates, and you are free to
join us - it is a large parking lot, not a campsite, tho.
So what's Up? January has been spectacular for the doorstep astronomer
- all you had to do is step outside and see planets and moon pairings at
dawn and in the evening. Our friend Jack learned a good tip -- hold on
to something sturdy when looking straight overhead at the moon and Jupiter!
My January podcast is all about those pairings, and is linked to my blog
below. And February's podcast will be about a near-Earth asteroid on
the 15th (won't be visible easily, and only through telescopes), Mercury
as high as it gets on the 16th, Mercury moon and Mars near one another
from the 6-11th) and moon and Jupiter on the 18. And some other stuff. :-)
I sat down and mapped out monthly What's Up in 2013 previews to offer a
tantalizing peek into the future. It's right here on my blog post,
which I'll be updating as we learn more about the two potentially great
comets in 2013 - one in March and one in December!
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Our next astro dates, weather permitting, will be Feb 9 (potential dark
sky trip, weather and schedules permitting) Feb 15 Pasadena, and 16th
Monrovia.
Take care, everybody!
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
What's Up Podcast for January: Close Encounters (planets & moon)
On Youtube:http://is.gd/kPUtSx
Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
My Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Hi everyone, our sidewalk astronomers are all visiting family (or
working or traveling) this first quarter moon weekend, so we won't be
setting up telescopes in Pasadena or Monrovia Friday or Saturday night.
There is plenty to see if you step outside and look up! I've been
exchanging emails with one of our loyal Monrovia/Duarte telescope
viewers over the last week. Jack has been looking up, wondering the name
of this star or that planet. It's been fun to exchange emails with
him. We are so thankful for our Sidewalk Astronomy family, both those
with and without telescopes.
So, in lieu of telescopes on the sidewalk, and thanks to Jack's
questions, here are some pointers to great views you can see tonight,
and for the next month.
In the evening sky, you can't miss Jupiter alongside (to the left of)
bright red Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the
bull. Aldebaran is classified a K star -- an orange giant, and is one
of the brightest stars in our sky. Look east to see them both, you can't
miss Jupiter, and now you know something about that pretty star to the
right of Jupiter! Now look above these two. Do you see the Pleiades
star cluster?
Jack asked me what the bright star an out-stretched hand away from
Jupiter is called. To the left of Jupiter, is Capella, the brightest
star in Auriga. It's a G stellar classification "yellow" star 10 times
the diameter of our G classified Sun! But that's not the star Jack was
viewing. He was noticing a brilliant white star rising above the
building obscuring his eastern horizon, and to the right of and below
Jupiter at about 10 p.m.
I stepped out in my jammies at 10 p.m. to see. It was Rigel! The knee of
the great constellation Orion was rising above my building obscuring
eastern horizon, too. Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation
Orion and the sixth brightest star in the sky! Through binoculars, you
may see it's companion. Rigel is a blue-white Class B super-giant
117,000 times as luminous as our sun!
Here's a star chart for 9:30 p.m. tonight - and the next month.
http://img.whiteoaks.com/jane/Public/Starchart_11_22_930pm_east.jpg
Now, if you are up before sunrise tomorrow morning, and have a clear
view to the east, you'll see bright Venus, Saturn below, and Mercury, if
you can see clear down to the southeast horizon. Here's a star chart for
you morning stargazers:
http://img.whiteoaks.com/jane/Public/Starchart_11_22_930pm_east.jpg
I bet many of you know the little acronym for stellar classification
OBAFGKM - or Oh, Be A Fine Girl/Guy, Kiss Me. If not, here's what those
letters and colors mean:
http://www.astronomygcse.co.uk/AstroGCSE/New%20Site/Topic%203/o_b_a_f_g_k_m…
Our next sidewalk astro weekend will most likely be Dec 21/22, so we may
run into the same travel/work/family comes first scenario with our
telescope wranglers. If you wander down to our sidewalk corner at Myrtle
and Lime streets over the next month, you'll see a whole bunch of new
"stars" of many stellar classifications, draped on trees, and
everywhere. If we miss next month too, we'll return once those
artificial stars are put away for another year, and instead, I'll
regale you with a bad poem, a new starchart, and wish you the most
happiest winter solstice season. :-) Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
What's Up Podcast for Sept: Observe and wink at the moon
On Youtube:http://is.gd/kPUtSx
Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
My Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Yosemite Videohttp://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch
The skies over Monrovia are covered with marine layer right now. The
skies at Mount Wilson, on the other hand, are clear, sort of. Take a
look at the Mt. Wilson 150-foot towercam, and you'll see clear skies at
the peaks, but creeping marine layer almost reaching to the observatory.
http://obs.astro.ucla.edu/towercam.htm#imagetop
So, sadly, we're cancelling Sidewalk Astronomy tonight. Next Saturday
night, is a not-quite-full-moon, and we'll tentatively reschedule for
that night -- Saturday, October 27th, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
This cloud layer will also wash out meteor watching overnight, too, most
likely. The forecast calls for a slight chance of drizzle after 8 p.m.
Some of our astronomers will be heading east to catch some shooting
stars. If you are so inclined, take a look at all these astronomers
maps - the Clear Sky charts, and head for an area not showing white in
the hourly grids - those indicate cloud cover.
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/California_charts.html
Finally, since it's an indoor-stargazing and meteor-gazing kind of
night, here's a writeup about the huge meteor (probably a small
asteroid, actually) that broke up over northern California last
Wednesday night. There were reports from Long beach to Red Bluff, with a
sonic boom and a terminal burst - like a roman candle as the meteor
broke up into pieces. It broke up over Marin County, where I grew up!
Dr. jenniskens is out looking for dark pieces this weekend. if you find
one, take a picture and send it to him by email petrus.m.jenniskens
<http://petrus.m.jenniskens>@ nasa.gov
Over and out, Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
What's Up Podcast for Sept: Observe and wink at the moon
On Youtube: http://is.gd/kPUtSx
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Yosemite Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch