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Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - tho' it may be cloudy

by Jane Houston Jones

If you look at the sky from Monrovia right now, you'll see thick heavy clouds snuggling up to the the San Gabriel Mountains, with a few shafts of sunlight piercing through. But the conditions should turn from poor to below average by 8 p.m. - that means partly cloudy with wobbly views through the telescope. That being said, if you are nearby and want to see the moon, and possibly a poor view of Saturn, come on down to Library Park - we should be there from 8- nearly 10 p.m., unless it continues to be completely cloudy. Even a poor view of Saturn (from the eyes of this jaded long-time telescope wrangler) is still better than no view of the ringed beauty. We'll be showing Saturn for many months now, as it gets higher in the sky, so there will be more chances to see Saturn. A couple dark sky public events coming up will feature Saturn in a dark sky location. Join us (you'll have to RSVP for a camp site) at Mojave National Preserve on the evening of April 23. I know the 24th is Easter, but you can go on a desert tortoise photo hike, and maybe see some jackrabbits and spring blossoms on Sunday instead. :-) Maps, directions, and information about Mojave National Preserve will be found soon (not yet unfortunately) at the Conservancy's website http://www.preservethemojave.org/events.html. You need to contact David Lamfrom to RSVP for a campsite or ask questions at dlamfrom(a)npca.org <mailto:dlamfrom@npca.org> . The event is free, but it is being sponsored by the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy, and they will welcome your membership! Bring a potluck item, there will be a group potluck dinner before stargazing on Saturday night. If you plan to bring a telescope, you can let me know, but be sure to RSVP for a campsite with David too. Then in August, Mojo and I and other members of the San Jose Astronomical Society will be bringing telescopes to share with the public at Glacier Point, Yosemite. Only members of this club can bring telescopes, but all visitors to the National Park can partake of the views. Our weekend is August 26-27, 2011, but there is a different Northern California Astronomy club presenting weekend star parties at Glacier Point every weekend from July 4th to labor day, excepting full moon weekends, and subject to snow clearing the roads. So if your visiting the park this summer, check it out! Finally, check out my April podcast - it features Saturn this month :-) There are stunning views of Saturn in the video! YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/1/pBUkTMk-Icw More formats and educational links: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=804 -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA My What's Up Podcast for April: Saturn NASA podcast: http://1.usa.gov/ggypW3 Youtube site: http://bit.ly/hXVHK7 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

15 years, 1 month

No sidewalk astronomy tonight

by Morris Jones

Funny thing, most of L.A. county seems to be fairly clear, but Monrovia, sitting up against the Sierra foothills, is mired in moist air making clouds over us. They don't show any sign of dissipating for some looks at the moon tonight. So no sidewalk astronomy tonight. If you happen to be near the El Monte library on Monday evening, we'll have at least one telescope there for looks at the moon. Hope to see you next month, and maybe we'll have some Saturn late in the session. :) Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

15 years, 2 months

Impromptu sun viewing

by Morris Jones

Jane and I are going to set up early in Monrovia with solar telescopes and show sunspots, like now!. If you're nearby and have a chance, stop on by. Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

15 years, 3 months

Sidewalk Astronomy this weekend

by Morris Jones

It looks like it's going to be great couple of nights for sidewalk astronomy this weekend. We'll have a bright first-quarter moon nearly overhead, and probably our last look at bright Jupiter for this year, before it disappears behind the sun. It sets a little earlier every day. Jane and I plan to be in Old Town Pasadena tonight. We set up on Colorado Blvd., somewhere in the two block stretch from Fair Oaks to Pasadena Ave., depending on where we find to park. Our plan is to be there from about 7:00 'til 9:00 p.m. Tomorrow evening we plan to be at Library Park in Monrovia, on the corner of Myrtle and Lime, from about 6:30 'til 9:00. Cheers! Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

15 years, 3 months

Dark sky observing, and sidewalk astronomy dates

by Morris Jones

Jane, and I had a great weekend in the desert along with our fellow sidewalk astronomer Dave, and will quite possibly have another one this coming weekend. I'll put it this way: We left the van packed. :) We took pictures, terrestrial and astronomical, and I wrote about it here: http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2011/01/30/january-observing-a-monoceros-evening/ Our favorite spot is about 150 miles from Monrovia out I-10, so it's quite a commitment to visit with us. Nevertheless, the invitation is always open to come out to the desert, bring your own telescope and binoculars, and mooch views from ours. Our trips to the desert are mostly our own time to do some observing, so it's not necessarily a good time to expect lots of entertainment or a sky show. Even so, it is a social event, and we love the chat, sharing views, having a little picnic, and helping folks find their way in an amazing sky. Our favorite spot has no services, and 4-wheel drive can be handy but not required. We've had some difficulty in the past with heavy vehicles or RVs on the sandy surface. We generally don't announce our desert observing trips widely, so it's up to you to find the Saturday evening closest to the new moon. Hint: It's usually the weekend before our sidewalk astronomy weekends, which feature a first-quarter moon. Another hint: This coming Saturday is a good one, if the weather holds. If this sounds like it's your cup of tea, drop me a note and I'll send you more information. On the other hand, for a more concentrated tour of the real night sky at a location that includes some services (read: bathrooms), make plans to join us in the Mojave National Preserve on April 22 and 23. Meanwhile the Old Town Astronomers web site http://otastro.org has been updated with likely sidewalk dates for the rest of 2011, starting with Pasadena and Monrovia on February 11-12. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

15 years, 4 months

Re: Sidewalk Astronomy tonight in Monrovia

by Morris Jones

I meant to say 5:30 'til 7:30, or maybe a little longer if the astronomers can cope. :) Morris Jones <mojo(a)whiteoaks.com> wrote: >The Old Town Astronomers will be at Myrtle & Lime tonight from about 5:30 'til 6:30 p.m. at Library Park. Drop by for what should be some great views of the moon and Jupiter! > >Mojo >(Who is at Zion Nat'l Park right now with family!) >_______________________________________________ >OTEvents -- Astronomy announcements for the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers >OTEvents(a)otastro.org >http://mail.otastro.org/mailman/listinfo/otevents

15 years, 4 months

Sidewalk Astronomy tonight in Monrovia

by Morris Jones

The Old Town Astronomers will be at Myrtle & Lime tonight from about 5:30 'til 6:30 p.m. at Library Park. Drop by for what should be some great views of the moon and Jupiter! Mojo (Who is at Zion Nat'l Park right now with family!)

15 years, 4 months

What's Up for January 2011? Quadrantids (and a demoted constellation)

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone! The January Quadrantids peak early next week - in the morning hours of Tuesday January 4th. It's a good night with no moon, but the sharp shower peak favors observers in Europe. Regardless, if it's clear and you are awake, look between and below the big and little dippers and you might see some belated but beautiful fireworks. My JPL podcast this month features the Quadrantids, the morning planets and a preview of next month's spacecraft flyby of comet Tempel 1. I also wrote a blog post featuring the demoted constellation, Quadrans Muralis. Did you even know that planets weren't the only thing to get demoted by the International Astronomical Union? There is a good reason for it, (for naming variable stars with a standard set of constellations), but I sure wish Felis the cat, Gallus the rooster, and Officina Typographica <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officina_Typographica> were on my modern star charts. On to the links: JPL website videos: Top right http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ NASA page: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Many formats of the podcast and extra super related links: _http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=684__ _ My NASA blog - read about the shower's radiant -- the demoted constellation Quadrans Muralis _http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=724 __ _Youtube - January podcast http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/0/HvIHDwYSwIk Subscribe (free) to iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nasacast-whats-up-video-podcasts/id25287… -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ http://twitter.com/jhjones What's Up For January Video and Blog: Quadrantids! http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews

15 years, 5 months

What's Up this month? Lots!

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, we had several really successful November sidewalk astronomy events, and now we're halfway through December. Some of our members will be out at Monrovia's Library park both Saturday the 11th and the 18th so stop by for views of Jupiter and the moon. 6:30 to 8:30 is the timeframe on both nights. So what else is up this month? Geminid meteor shower peaks the morning of the 14th PST. The night of the 13th/morning of the 14th actually, with the best viewing after the moon sets about 2am to dawn. More info here: http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids2010.html And even more info here http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/06dec_geminids/ We have a total lunar eclipse on winter solstice, December 20/21. For us on the west coast, totality lasts from about 11:30 p.m. to 12:45 am. onthe 20th. Start watching at about 10:30 p.m. to see the earth's shadow "bite" the moon. Look for a trio montage of lunar eclipse images at the beginning of the podcast. They were taken by our own sidewalk astronomer Dave Hasenauer of Monrovia! :-) You can just step outside and look up, weather permitting. The moon will be nice and high! The total lunar eclipse is the topic of my podcast this month, available in these many formats: The NASA page http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html where you can subscribe to it on iTunes On the front of the JPL website: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ YouTube http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/0/wRkCyfIxPpE (this is easiest to share with friends, as it is just one click, my folks like this one the best. ) The my NASA blog and podcast page has all the podcast in the series (now halfway through the 4th year), educational activities, including a moon cookie recipe this month, links to NASA's detailed Eclipse page and more, plus the most versions (gif, to HD) http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm So happy late fall and winter skywatching, everyone!! Monrovia, CA My What's Up Podcast: December- A Lunar Eclipse! NASA http://is.gd/igv0r Youtube http://is.gd/igv4X Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

15 years, 5 months

Pasadena and Monrovia this weekend

by Morris Jones

Clear and a bit chilly, but should be great views of the moon and Jupiter tonight and tomorrow. Tonight (Friday) we'll set up in Old Town Pasadena, on Colorado Blvd., somewhere in the two-block stretch from Fair Oaks to Pasadena Ave. We use the north side of Colorado in order to face the ecliptic (where the moon and planets are) to the south. The exact spot kind of depends on parking. Expect us to be there from about 7:00 'til 9:00. But if you're really wanting to hang out with telescopes and astronomers, pop over to Monrovia's Library Park on Saturday evening. There we have room to spread out with several telescopes of every imaginable configuration. You can compare views and chat with the owners. It's much more relaxed than in Pasadena. I plan to arrive about 6:00, with others joining us as the night goes on. This month Jupiter is "that star" that's always there, bright and high towards the south most of the evening. If you're up before dawn, you'll see Venus has swung around to be the morning star for the next few months. Favorite Twitter quote from the past month by "canislatrans," Chris Clarke: "It's a beautiful night sky in Los Angeles. I just spent a little time outside looking up at the star." Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

15 years, 6 months

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