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by Jane Houston Jones

I hesitate to compile local science-related lectures each month, because there are dozens of them every month. But golly, there are so many amazing lectures every month - by JPL, Caltech, MWOA, Carnegie Observatories, local astronomy clubs, and more! If anyone wants to do the research, and compile the info in a monthly email, I'd help you get started, and authorize you to post the info to our 206-member list. We don't post commercial or charity fund-raising type events - just free and public science-related lectures or events. In the next two weeks there are some notable lectures that I'll be attending (or wishing I could attend) and I thought you'd enjoy knowing about them. First - this Sunday - Caltech Seismologist Kate Hutton, who is a member of our own otastro email list will speak to MOWA (Mount Wilson Observatory Association) on Sunday Jan 25 2:30 p.m. at Altadena Public Library. Yes there will be refreshments, beginning at 2:00.Mojo and I will be there. We feel bad, as sustaining MWOA members that we have never gone to a MWOA meeting, we've even volunteered as docents, but just can't afford the time to be more active in this very worthwhile local observatory. http://www.mwoa.org/index.html We'll be there Sunday to hear Kate! Jan 25 2 - 4 p.m. Altadena Public Library 600 E Mariposa St, Altadena Kate is also a member of AAVSO - the American Association of Variable Star Observers, and has attended our sidewalk astronomy events. :-) Next, MWOA newsletter editor Bob Ekland, author (and amateur astronomer) of a fantastic astro poetry book called First Star I see Tonight http://www.bobeklund.com/ sent me a note about an event on Monday the 26th. Don Benito Wilson: From Mountain Man to Mayor, Los Angeles. Nat B. Read reveals the amazing tale of the “pioneer, beaver trapper and trader, grizzly bear hunter, Indian fighter, justice of the peace, farmer, rancher, politician, horticulturist, vintner, real estate entrepreneur, and one of the great landholders in Southern California.” He faced near death experiences with Indians, grizzlies, and a firing squad. Mount Wilson was named after him. This is a story people of all ages will want to hear! This joint presentation is sponsored by the Altadena Historical Society and the Friends of the Altadena Library. Monday, January 26th @ 7:30 pm, Altadena Community Center: 730 East Altadena Drive. Finally, Discover Magazine, National Science Foundation and Caltech's Thirty Meter Telescope present Mysteries of the Cosmos. January 30 7 p.m. Beckman Auditorium, California Institute of Technology. RSVP to cpe(a)caltech.edu. Leading experts including planet hunter Mike Brown of Caltech and dark energy guru Saul Perlmutter of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory who will debate the most compelling issues in astronomy today: How do Black Holes affect the evolution of the universe. This event will be moderated by Bad Astronomy's Phil Plait - another friend of ours, since we seem to be name dropping in this email. Although this is our Pasadena Sidewalk astronomy night, I am checking to see if they'd like a few telescopes out for this event. If not we'll probably be nearby at our usual Colorado Blvd Sidewalk event.Or not! Clear skies to you all. I just updated my Saturn Viewing in 2009 webpage for JPL http://www.mwoa.org/index.html andjust looked on the JPL website to see what was the hot news. Darn it if our Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy Night video isn't on the front page of JPL right now! Wow! http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ (shameless plug) updates on local sidewalk astronomy events here: http://www.otastro.org/ dates here -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up Podcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones Facebook: http://www.facebook.com MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/janehoustonjones

17 years, 1 month

Monrovia Star party video

by Jones, Jane H

Hi everyone! Some of you were at our last Monrovia star party, which was filmed by a JPL film crew. Just in time for the film award season (darn it, we missed the Golden Globes I'm afraid) here it is! It shows the joy of conducting a local star party, and I hope you enjoy it - you might even see yourself in the video! Its available in HD and Standard Definition, and there is a written transcript too. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=804 Mojo put it on our Otastro website, too. http://www.otastro.org/ You Tube version: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews&view=videos NASAs International Year of Astronomy "Go Observe" sub-section for January 2009 is all about Venus, with lots of resources and good articles, including my January What's Up podcast about Venus - a link on the right side bar. You might enjoy reading the article about Venus or use some of the educational materials. http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov/observe.htm Next sidewalk events are Jan 30 Pasadena, January 31 Monrovia. Hope to see you then! Weather permitting, of course! Happy new year to everyone and happy birthday to Mojo January 18 (and happy anniversary Jane and Mojo January 15) -- 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 Cassini SOC http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ (new) What's Up? http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html (new)

17 years, 2 months

Full moon tonight

by Jane Houston Jones

Watch the full moon rise tonight, Saturday January 10. Does it look bigger than usual? Well, test the moon illusion by holding a paper tube at your eye and sight the moon through it. You'll see it looks "less big". this month's moon will look much like the December 2008 moon in size. Our brains trick us into "seeing" a huge full moon every month at moonrise. It's called the moon illusion. http://facstaff.uww.edu/mccreadd/ or wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_illusion Read about the "closest moon" here at Science@Nasa http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/08jan_bigmoon2009.htm Or just go out and enjoy the rising moon tonight! And we'll see everyone on the sidewalk when we aim at the moon Jan 30 pasadena and Jan 31 Monrovia (weather permitting, that is)! Jane and Mojo -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up Podcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones Facebook: http://www.facebook.com MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/janehoustonjones

17 years, 2 months

no sky tonight ...

by Morris Jones

Monrovia is clouded over tonight. We'll have to try again on January 30 and 31 when we'll have a crescent moon in the sky. Stay tuned 'til then! Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 2 months

Burminco closing

by Jane Houston Jones

I just stopped by Burminco (Bugnham Mining Company) on Encinitas in Monrovia to pay my respects to the staff and family of George Burnham, who died at 94 last month. The obituary said the store would remain open through December 31, but the future was uncertain. The store is open today but it is definitely closing sometime soon. The store may or may not reopen at a different location. So this note is for all you rock and mineral lovers, collectors, teachers who may have purchased classroom materials at Burminco, or made up gifts or rock collections. You might want to visit today or soon! For information, call (626) 358-4478 or visit www.burminco.com http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_11196943 Jane Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up Podcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones Facebook: http://www.facebook.com MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/janehoustonjones

17 years, 2 months

What's Up for January? Venus! + Sidewalk Astronomy January 3

by Jones, Jane H

Our January 2009 Sidewalk Astronomy night will be Saturday January 3rd in Monrovia, weather permitting. We'll skip Pasadena on January 2nd due to the proximity of our observing location to Rose Parade route and cleanup, not to mention New Years Eve and Day events and recovery from same. We'll be set up from 6 - 9 p.m. Saturday night. If you wish to join us with your new (or never used) telescope drop us a line ahead of time so we can arrange to meet you earlier for setup. It's not easy to do a new scope setup after dark with a crowd nearby..... Each month during 2009 we'll be celebrating International Year of Astronomy in my 2-minute What's Up podcasts. January 2009 is all about Venus, the featured NASA IYA Celestial object. Here is where you can find the podcast on the JPL site: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm It is also available on You Tube in 2 formats - which are easy to download if you have a slower connection (according to my parents) http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=JPLnews&p=r&page=1 Here is the NASA IYA website: http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov/observe.htm (What's Up isn't there quite yet) Don't forget to have a look at Saturn on New Years Eve! That was the December 2008 What's Up topic, available on both JPL and You Tube, or simplify and get it directly to your iPod via iTunes. :-) Thanks for a great year of public astronomy - we do this to share the wonders of the night sky with you! Jane, Mojo, Dave, Todd K, Caroline, Gary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Tom, Daphne, Katherine, Becky, Todd B, Scott, Ed and Roseann - your Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org/astronomers/ 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 Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

17 years, 2 months

Bad weather tonight

by Morris Jones

Clouds are rolling into Monrovia tonight, but we plan to make an effort to do a little bit of moon viewing. The moon is our only viable target tonight -- Jupiter and Venus are likely to be below the local buildings. Even if we get some views of the moon, they'll probably be through a layer of thin clouds. We'll try to start early, about 5:00, to have our best chance of getting in a few looks before the clouds get too thick. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la

17 years, 3 months

December 2008 What's Up video is now available, weekend star parties planned

by Jones, Jane H

Hi everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful moon and planet conjunction over the past few nights! We were lucky to have clear skies on Sunday and Monday nights! My December's What's Up Podcast is available in several standard and high definition formats on the JPL HD Video page now. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm Also on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=JPLnews&p=r&page=1 Next Sidewalk Astronomy event reminder: Friday night Dec 5th instead of telescopes on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, I'll be at Farnsworth Park in Altadena from 6-8 p.m. The address is 568 East Mount Curve Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001 626-798-6335. I'm doing a short JPL talk, followed by stargazing at the park's outdoor theatre. John Sepikas from PCC will be joining me with telescopes. Saturday night Dec 6th our whole Sidewalk Astronomers gang will be in Monrovia, Myrtle and Lime Streets for our monthly first quarter moon star party. 5:30 -8:30 p.m. (maybe a little later) Hope to see you at one or the other of these events, 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 Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

17 years, 3 months

Sidewalk date clarification

by Jane Houston Jones

The sidewalk dates are December 5th and 6th, just to clarify... Step outside at dusk on November 29th and try to see the slender crescent moon below and to the right of the pair of planets. If you don't see the moon on the 29th, try again on the 30th when the moon will be larger and easier to see just a little below the two planets. Jupiter is larger, but Venus is brighter because it is closer to the Sun. On December 1st, you'll see that the moon is now above Jupiter and Venus. Throughout December Venus rises higher in the sky while Jupiter sinks toward the horizon. We won't see the king of the planets again in the early evening sky until next summer. Star charts courtesy of NASA/JPL. Next weekend is our sidewalk astronomy weekend. We'll be changing the venue Friday night Dec 5th- moving from Old Town Pasadena, our usual location, to Farnsworth Park in Altadena. We'll be sharing the telescope stage with John Sepikas from PCC's Astronomy Department on Friday night from 6-8 p.m. Farnsworth Park is located at 568 E. Mount Curve Ave., Altadena, 91001, (626) 798-6335. Weather permitting, of course. Saturday night December 6th we'll be out in full force in Monrovia 6-9 p.m. Myrtle and Lime Streets. Hope to see you! This will be a great night to see many types of telescopes, ask questions, find out how much the different telescopes cost, and drop telescope and accessory hints to Santa. :-) Enjoy this weekend's planetary lineup and see you next weekend! Jane and Mojo -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up Podcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones Facebook: http://www.facebook.com MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/janehoustonjones

17 years, 3 months

Jupiter, Venus and the moon

by Jane Houston Jones

The last weekend of both November and December will be fantastic times to see the solar system from your own backyard. Step outside at dusk on November 29th and try to see the slender crescent moon below and to the right of the pair of planets. If you don't see the moon on the 29th, try again on the 30th when the moon will be larger and easier to see just a little below the two planets. Jupiter is larger, but Venus is brighter because it is closer to the Sun. On December 1st, you'll see that the moon is now above Jupiter and Venus. Throughout December Venus rises higher in the sky while Jupiter sinks toward the horizon. We won't see the king of the planets again in the early evening sky until next summer. Star charts courtesy of NASA/JPL. Next weekend is our sidewalk astronomy weekend. We'll be changing the venue Friday night - moving from Old Town Pasadena, our usual location, to Farnsworth Park in Altadena. We'll be sharing the telescope stage with John Sepikas from PCC's Astronomy Department on Friday night from 6-8 p.m. Farnsworth Park is located at 568 E. Mount Curve Ave., Altadena, 91001, (626) 798-6335. Weather permitting, of course. Saturday night we'll be out in full force in Monrovia 6-9 p.m. Myrtle and Lime Streets. Hope to see you! This will be a great night to see many types of telescopes, ask questions, find out how much the different telescopes cost, and drop telescope and accessory hints to Santa. :-) Enjoy this weekend's planetary lineup and see you next weekend! Jane and Mojo -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up Podcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones Facebook: http://www.facebook.com MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/janehoustonjones

17 years, 3 months

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