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/
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.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Hi everyone, I'm heading out to Mojave National Preserve's Black Canyon
Group Campsite tonight for a star party! I've announced this before to
you all, and I doubt anyone will make the trek on Halloween eve, but the
weather is improving, and I'm packing right now! We'll be celebrating
the preserve's anniversary, creating awareness of the pristine desert
dark skies, and take star tours. We'll probably see some slow, yellow
Taurid meteors too! http://www.preservethemojave.org/index.php
Here are news and events:
Comet Hartley 2 was seen from La Canada Fintridge a few days ago. A
colleague of mine at JPL took out a medium-sized telescope the other
night at his house and he was able to see the comet. I haven't managed
to see it myself and it is my project for the desert tonight. It'll be
faint and unimpressive, but comets are always worth hunting down.
Here is a comet finding chart - the comet is skimming by the "feet" of
Gemini over the next few days. Look for Gemini rising in the east to
the left or north of Orion after 10:30 p.m, the later and higher the
better. Try with binoculars and telescope if you have one.
On November 2nd, Malcolm Hartley, the comet's discoverer will be giving
a public talk at JPL,
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.cfm?year=2010&month=11#myCo…
Back on March 15, 1986, while observing in Siding Spring, Australia,
Hartley discovered the comet that would officially be designated Comet
103P/Hartley2 (Hartley 2). On November 4th, 2010, NASA's EPOXI mission,
the extended mission of the Deep Impact Spacecraft, will capture
close-up images and other data as it flies within 750 kilometers (460
miles) of the comet's nucleus, estimated to be about 1 kilometer (0.6
miles) in diameter.
My What's Up podcast for November is online, too.
Here's the many-versioned webpage, complete with recipes for edible
comets and spacecraft.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=604
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/0/ZgtrPsXXqmg
Our next sidewalk astronomy night will be November 13th in Monrovia.
I'll be in Canada -- Winnipeg, Thompson, Nelson House, Churchill and
back to Winnipeg via the 1000 mile train ride for the next two weeks, so
I'll catch up with you in December. Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
My What's Up Podcast: November-Planets and Meteors
NASA http://is.gd/guuXF Youtube http://is.gd/eSMnh
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
You don't really need this email to know that it's cloudy outside.
We'll be canceling our Monrovia sidewalk astronomy night tonight as a
result. Here's something you "can" try at home, once the clouds go
away, that is:
*Periodic Comet Hartley 2* remains about 6th magnitude, appearing big,
round, and dim in binoculars. This week it's crossing Auriga and passing
its closest to Earth (on October 20th). Here are some nice charts from
Sky and Telesocpe magazine.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/102632669.html
This chart is through the 18th, and the above link has more charts for
the next few weeks and months. I think it's easiest to tip this week's
chart 90 degrees counter-clockwise so Capella is at the bottom and
Cassiopeia is at the top. Capella is a very bright star, and you'll be
able to see it from the city. Then look to your north and find the "W"
shape of Cassiopeia, and then scan the cloud-free sky night by night. I
have not seen it from the city, but I will still try. After next week,
it will require a late night or - after midnight wake-up to see the
constellation Gemini. Good luck!
My monthly podcast this month is about the solar system, and includes a
solar system you can make! Several "How to make" activities are on the
"related links" section below the podcast versions.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=584
Finally, when I was researching this month's podcast I came across a
solar system necklace kit. I ordered one, made it in a couple hours,
and I've been wearing mine every day. Here is what it looks like:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58924445/kit-solar-system-necklace-proportional
. Mine cost $24.50, tho' there are several more expensive versions. I
requested a "movable" comet to represent Comet Hartley 2, and the artist
has added this to the products she sells, and I have the prototype on my
necklace. http://www.etsy.com/listing/59022470/comet-pendant-re-positionable
That's all for this month, November 12 and 13 are the likely Pasadena
and Monrovia sidewalk astronomy nights next month, and I'll be heading
to Mojave National Preserve (MNP) on October 30th for dark sky stargzing
with the National Park Conservation Association, and the MNP friends and
staff. Limited campsites at Black canyon Group Camp site available,
RSVP for a free campsite to: David Lamfrom <dlamfrom(a)npca.org>.
Let me know if you will bring a telescope. Telescopes are not required,
I just want to know how many as there is a small platform to put up to
5-6 scopes on.
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
My What's Up Podcast: Oct 2010-The Solar System
NASAhttp://is.gd/fILSF Youtubehttp://is.gd/eSMnh
Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
I know we've been lazy about updating the web site, but there's always
another sign:
When you start seeing the crescent moon in the evening sky, growing
bigger every day, you know it's coming up on a sidewalk astronomy weekend.
Unfortunately the weather isn't looking very good this weekend. We're
going to call off Pasadena tonight for fog, clouds, and a chance of
rain. Tomorrow in Monrovia could be better, but I'll send an update
tomorrow morning as the forecasts come out.
Meanwhile if you do get some clear sky, glance up in the evening and
enjoy seeing the bright gibbous moon growing towards full a week from
tonight. Brilliant Jupiter is in the east in the evening, and crossing
the southern sky all night as the earth turns.
More tomorrow ...
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Hi everyone! This Saturday, September 18th will be our regular Old Town
Sidewalk Astronomers viewing event in Monrovia, but it is also
International Observe the Moon Night, and there will be many lunar
viewing events around the world. Ours, at Library Park, corner of
Myrtle and Lime in Monrovia will go from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. To see where
other events are happening, check this map:
http://observethemoonnight.org/ or look at this list:
http://observethemoonnight.org/getInvolved/eDescriptions.cfm
We will have a few special handouts - a gorgeous lunar map made just for
this night and some little red flashlights. I don't have a lot of the
flashlights (combo keychain, flashlight and whistle) , so they will be
distributed to the first 75 or so attendees. When they are gone, they
are gone. ;-)
There are other events that day and night which our little band of
sidewalk astronomers will be supporting. Some of us will be at Griffith
Observatory for their all-day and night event, which also serves as a
95th birthday party for Sidewalk Astronomers founder John Dobson. Mojo
and I will be there in the afternoon for the cake and candles. John and
friends will build a 12-inch sidewalk telescope in the daytime and use
it in the evening to view the moon. If you want to go to that event I
wouldn't blame you, and won't be mad or anything. ;-) There are events
at Monrovia High School, the Huntington Library, and the aforementioned
Griffith Park event - all for your viewing pleasure. Attend one or
many! Or host your own event at home or on your sidewalk.
I will bring my beloved homemade 10-inch Dobsonian telescope Saturday
night. I made it in John's telescope making class in 1988, and it gives
gorgeous moon views. John taught the class and was old back then! :-)
Today, September 14th is John's actual 95th birthday. Happy birthday
John! Thanks, for igniting a fire within me, and starting me on the
path to become an astronomy educator and public service science
advocate. It's all John's fault! :-)
**********
Here's the volunteer opportunity I put in the subject line. If you have
questions, please contact the DPS volunteer coordinator, Dr. Bidushi
Bhattacharya (bhattach(a)ipac.caltech.edu)
Dear Amateur Astronomer,
The upcoming Division of Planetary Sciences (DPS) Meeting, American
Astronomical Society, is in need of volunteers. We need individuals to
support various tasks in the DPS cyber cafe, press office, speaker ready
room, and at the registration desk. The meeting will be held in
Pasadena, October 3-8, 2010 at the Pasadena Convention Center.
Volunteers will have their meeting registration fees waived if they
work a minimum of 16 hours. You will also receive a free t-shirt, making
you part of a select and fashionable group!!
This is a good opportunity to learn more about solar system (and
exoplanet) astronomy at a professional meeting, become familiar with
recent research results, and network with potential advisors/employers.
Full details regarding the conference, including a list of talks and
posters, can be found at: http://dps.aas.org/meetings/2010/index.shtml
The volunteer form can be accessed at:
http://aas.org/meetings/dps/volunteerform
If you have questions, please contact the DPS volunteer coordinator,
Dr. Bidushi Bhattacharya (bhattach(a)ipac.caltech.edu)
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/http://twitter.com/jhjones
What's Up for September? Observe the Moon Night http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/news/index.cfm
Getaway weekend suggestion! Come up to Yosemite's Glacier Point! Mojo
and I are heading up to Glacier Point with the San Jose Astronomical
Association this labor day weekend . Jupiter should be magnificent. The
only moon we expect to see is early in the morning when a slender
crescent rises above Half Dome as seen from the Glacier Point
amphitheatre.This magic happens from July through Labor Day.
But speaking of the moon, the countdown is on! International Observe
the Moon Night is September 18th! There is a fantastic website here:
http://observethemoonnight.org/downloads/. I linked to the page with the
awesome moon map handout. :-)
Anyways, my September 2010 What's Up Podcast is all about this moon -
check it out here!
Many versions and a link to iTunes
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=564
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/0/wq0XfghpHH0
If you want some NASA lunar lithographs handouts for your club's
September 18th International Observe the Moon Night event, send me a
note with mailing address and telephone number at that address and I
will send out a nice handout -I can handle 50-100 handouts. Request
before the 10th and my package should arrive in time. Now back to your
regular programming! :-)
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
My What's Up Podcast: Sept 2010:
NASA http://is.gd/eSMhz Youtube http://is.gd/eSMnh
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Tonight we'll have a slender crescent moon, a slender crescent Venus,
and our last glance at Saturn until next year. Venus, Saturn, and Mars
are grouped nicely in the west at twilight, and set quickly.
We'll be at Myrtle & Lime in Old Town Monrovia, Library Park, from about
7:30 'til 9:00 tonight.
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Not everyone will be able to get to a dark sky or stay up late enough to see
the Perseid Meteor shower tonight, so I have a little warm-up act for you to
view.
In the hour after sunset the planets and moon make a beautiful diversion
and one you don't have to leave home to see. Tomorrow's view is pretty too,
with the moon, so check out the view on both nights.
Here's a little writeup about the planetary view with some fun graphics and
photos:
http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2010/08/10/a-warm-up-act-for-the-perseids/
It was fun to run the JPL Solar System Simulator and see the planets in
their orbits. Take it on a spin to see where the Voyagers are right now.
In case you are wondering, I'm heading out to Amboy Crater tonight with a
couple of the other Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers. Amboy Crater is just
south of Mojave National Preserve on US 40. It's the closest "darkest of the
dark spots" on the International Clear Sky Chart.
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/California_map.html?Mn=eyepiece
If you decide to make the long drive (over 200 miles), you are welcome to
join us. We will be trying to preserve our dark adaption as best we can from
11pm until 4am, so be careful with your car lights, flashlights, cell
phones, Ipods, cameras and other bright things. Use them away from the
observers. :-) No telescope required, just a comfy chair and plenty of
water. The forcast low overnight will be in the high 80's. :-(
To follow the Perseids vicariously watch or comment on the JPL Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/NASAJPL?ref=ts and /or watch any of these
Twitter hashtags: #perseids, #IMOmeteors #meteorwatch ;-)
Jane
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov
What's Up For August? Perseids!
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm