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by Morris Jones

It looks like a perfect weekend for Sidewalk Astronomy. We should have a lovely gibbous moon and views of Saturn. Tonight (Friday) in Old Town Pasadena, 7:00 'til 10:00. Come after about 8:30 to see Saturn. We'll be on the north side of Colorado Blvd. near DeLacey, somewhere between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Ave. Saturday night in Monrovia at the corner of Myrtle and Lime, in Library Park, 7:00 'til 10:00. And this new page on the Old Town Astronomers site introduces you to the fine people who join us on the sidewalk to show you the moon and planets: http://www.otastro.org/astronomers/ Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org http://twitter.com/mojo_la

17 years, 7 months

See the space station tonight

by Morris Jones

There is an excellent pass of the International Space Station tonight visible from the Los Angeles area. The station will first be visible low in the northwest (to the right of where the sun set) at about 8:44 p.m. By 8:46 it will reach its maximum visible altitude of 58 degrees, and will fly past Mars, Saturn, and the first quarter moon, in that order. By 8:50 it will disappear in the southeast entering earth's shadow. The station is so bright now with its added modules and solar arrays, it will be the brightest thing in the sky besides the moon. Space shuttle Discovery is currently docked to the station, and it's fun to keep in mind that there are ten astronauts on that bright moving star as it passes overhead. For predictions based on your own location, visit http://www.heavens-above.com The station has no lighting of its own. The brightness is sunlight reflected off the station. If you're following an object with red or blinking lights, that's not the space station. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org http://twitter.com/mojo_la

17 years, 7 months

Crescent moon - watch it this weekend!

by Jane H Jones

This weekend the moon glides past several planetary way points, including Saturn. All you'll need to enjoy this show is a clear evening sky . On Friday, June 6th - that's tonight - the slender crescent is below Mars and might be difficult to see, but give it a try. You'll be looking low in the western sky after sunset. On Saturday June 7th you'll spot the crescent moon just a little below Mars. On the 8th, take another look! The moon is now closer to Saturn, forming a little triangle with Leo' bright star, Regulus! And on the 9th, the much larger crescent will be higher still above Saturn, tracing an imaginary line along the ecliptic plane. There's a different bright planet coming into view a little later in the evening, too. Jupiter! You'll have to wait until about 11 p.m. or later to see Jupiter. Look low in the east for a view of the king of the planets. Over the next few weeks Mars and Saturn draw closer together. On July 10 and 11 both planets will be visible in the same telescope field-of view. Next week - June 13 and 14 will be our sidewalk astronomy nights. See you then! Jane and Mojo -- 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, 8 months

NASA'S Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing

by Jane Houston Jones

PASADENA, Calif. NASAs Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars today to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the landers robotic arm. It also sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars. The images from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within reach of the lander's robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site's soil and ice. "We see the lack of rocks that we expected, we see the polygons that we saw from space, we don't see ice on the surface, but we think we will see it beneath the surface. It looks great to me," said Peter Smith of the University of Arizona , Tucson , principal investigator for the Phoenix mission. Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) confirmed the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown 15 minutes earlier. The signals took that long to travel from Mars to Earth at the speed of light. The signal confirming that Phoenix had survived touchdown was relayed via MarsOdyssey and received on Earth at the Goldstone, Calif., antenna station of NASAs Deep Space Network. You can read more, see first images, follow the blogs and more on the JPL website: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm Next press conference - the post-landing briefing, occurs on NASA TV 11 a.m. Monday morning: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ I know you all join me in congratulating the Phoenix team on a successful soft landing on Mars! It was great fun to be at JPL today and tonight supporting the landing! <http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov> - Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 8 months

Watch Mars buzz past a swarm of stars

by Jane Houston Jones

Hello local stargazers and space enthusiasts! NASA's Mars Phoenix touches down on the Red Planet's north polar plain tomorrow, Sunday May 25th a little before 5 p.m. If you'd like to follow the landing, on the internet or television here's a one stop link: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm. From here you can click on NASA TV, view the landing schedule and news briefing schedule, blogs and more. Here is a list of museums with Mars Phoenix programming in case you'd like to participate in a group event. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/events/Mars_Events.html Follow Phoenix on Twitter and Facebook http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/release.php?ArticleID=1700 If the clouds clear tonight or Sunday night, why not step outside and look up! Mars is easy to see in the early evening sky right now. With binoculars or telescopes on Sunday night, you'll spot Mars near the edge of the Beehive cluster, Messier 44. Tonight, Mars will appear to be a red star against the fainter stars of the cluster. Here's a little Mars-gazing feature I wrote yesterday: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2109 Jane - who will be supporting the Phoenix landing tomorrow at JPL - let's all send Phoenix a big good luck for a soft landing tomorrow! -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 8 months

Weekend sidewalk astronomy

by Morris Jones

Jane and I find ourselves being out of town this weekend, so we're canceling the Friday night telescope viewing on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. But our gang will be in Monrovia Saturday, if the May Gray fog clears, to see the first quarter moon and Saturn, 7:00 - 9:30 or so at the corner of Myrtle & Lime. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 9 months

May "What's Up" up

by Jane Houston Jones

My May What's Up podcast is up on the JPL website. To me it's special because Mojo took the amateur images used in the podcast. Look for the constellation (the big dipper) and galaxy images (M81, M82 and M51) which were taken by Mojo on a recent night out under the desert skies. http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html Here it is on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHO2uRxOsQM Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 9 months

Things to do this weekend

by Jane H Jones

1. Attend JPL Open House. Information and directions http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-067. I will be in the Solar System exhibit, located in Building 303, way down Mariner Road. But our exhibit will be inside, where it is nice and cool. :-) NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will welcome members of the public to its Open House on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4. Children will be able to participate in many hands-on activities. JPL's Open House begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on both days. JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, Calif. Parking is free. Please note that all vehicles entering NASA/JPL property are subject to inspection. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes -- no buses will be provided from JPL parking lots to the lab. JPL will provide vans for mobility-challenged guests. Please note that the following items are banned from entering NASA/JPL property: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, all types of skates including skateboards, Segways and bicycles. No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, except small purses and diaper bags. 2. Attend Joshua Tree's Turtle Days Festival Saturday May 3: http://www.joshuatreechamber.org/ Saturday May 3rd is the Turtle Days Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Community Center. There will be food, drinks, pet parade and much more! 3. Attend the Andromeda Society's monthly Star Party in Joshua Tree National Park (after the Turtle Festival) http://www.andromedasociety.org/ May 3, 8:00 PM Star Party at Hidden Valley Picnic Area, Joshua Tree National Park. Next one is May 31 same place 8:15 starting time. We'd probably be there except I am working at JPL Open House all weekend. 4. Thank a firefighter! Here's one way to donate: http://cityofsierramadre.com/ or ask at City Hall City of Sierra Madre City Hall 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024 T: 626.355.7135 Next weekend will be our sidewalk astronomy weekend - Friday in Pasadena and Saturday in Monrovia. Information for May is on our website now. Check it out! Jane and Mojo -- 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, 9 months

Sidewalk Astronomy Made Easy

by Jane H Jones

Kelly Beatty, the Executive Editor of Sky and Telescope Magazine has a nice little article today in his "Homepage News" web feature. It's all about International Sidewalk Astronomy Night (ISAN) and he used one of our Old Town Pasadena sidewalk astronomy pictures taken by Mojo (of my telescope and people looking through it) in the article. Kelly mentions that Donna Smith, our intrepid Burbank sidewalk astronomer came up with the idea. Congrats to Donna - she is on this email list, and will be out with telescopes at San Fernando and Palm (near Ben and Jerry's) in Burbank tomorrow night. Here's the article, http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/17550004.html but if you don't see the image, try this link: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/17550004.html That's all for now - we will have gorgeous weather and sky conditions both tonight and Saturday night too! Yay! 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, 9 months

Telescope viewing, ISS Pass this weekend

by Jane H Jones

This is our sidewalk astronomy weekend. Join us in Pasadena Friday night from 7-10 p.m. somewhere along colorado Blvd in Old Town Pasadena, and Saturday Night from 7-9:30 in Monrovia. Weather looks good! Also, on Saturday night in Hollywood there is a local Yuri's Night Celebration at Cinespace 6356 Hollywood Blvd. Tickets can be purchased at www.groovetickets.com. Saturday the 12th is also International Sidewalk Astronomy Night http://www.sidewalkastronomynight.com/ and there are some more local events posted on the website's world map. At the Marine Mammal Center in San Pedro, and at Keystone and Chandler in Burbank , and also at San Fernando and Palm (near Ben and Jerry's) in Burbank. If these are more convenienbt than our locations, join these nice sidewalk astronomers at some other events this weekend. :-) In the spirit of Yuri's Night, celebrating the anniversary of human exploration of space, here is a map of the moon showing all the landing sites. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=804 And finally, there is a good ISS pass on Saturday night 8:23 p.m. PDT - the space station will be visible in the north and will pass right through the big dipper's bowl - at 52 degrees above the horizon. It will enter Earth shadow at 8:27 p.m. to the East below Saturn. More challenging, and closer to the horizon is the Hubble Telescope pass on Saturday night. Beginning at 9:07 p.m. look low in the west 10 degrees above the horizon. It reaches maximum altitude 25 degrees above the horizon, and also enters Earth's shadow at 9:13, when it is near the bright star Sirius in the SSW. The Hubble Telescope is much fainter than the ISS. ISS: http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&Session=kebgcpakg… Hubble: http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.asp?satid=20580&Session=kebgcpakgc… April 2008 Highlights Saturn is the major planet visible in April. Nothing elicits a wow like Saturn does! It's visible all night now, and it is higher in the sky and visible right after sunset. Mars dims a bit this month, but it's still nice and high in the sky and well worth a look. What's Up for March talks about these, plus a fun planetary nebula recently studied by Spitzer, and visible through medium sized telescopes. http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html Here's a fun project for you - if you can see some bright stars from your home, then you may be able to see the winter circle of stars. No telescope required - just look up! The winter stars rotate towards the west, making room for the galaxies of spring. The constellation of Orion and its neighbors contain what is called the Winter Circle of Stars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wintersky.jpg. Most of these bright stars are even visible from the city! Look on any star chart and find Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Gemini, Auriga and Taurus, circling westward as winter ends. These six constellations contain a visible "circle" of very bright and colorful stars. If you can imagine the circle as a clock, we'll begin with Capella, yellow like our sun in the one o'clock position. Capella is the bright yellow star in the constellation Auriga, found above the shoulders of Orion. Red Aldebaran, the eye of the bull Taurus is at the three o'clock position. Red stars are the oldest and coolest. At five o'clock stands Rigel, the brilliant blue knee of Orion, the hunter. Rigel is young and very hot! Diamond white Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is below Orion in the constellation Canis Major, the great dog. It fills the seven o'clock position. At nine o'clock is Procyon, another yellow star like our sun, in the constellation Canis Minor. The Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux complete the circle at 10 o'clock. Castor is white and Pollux (the brighter of the twins) is red. Within the circle are red Betelgeuse, the shoulder of Orion, and blue/purple stars Alnitak and Mintaka, the pretty belt stars of the constellation Orion. Yearning for more views? Spring galaxies require dark skies. We occasionally drive to the Colorado Desert South of of Joshua Tree National Park. Where we go is off I-10 about 30 miles east of Indio, on a 2-mile dirt road on BLM land, with no "facilities." There is not room for a lot of cars, but if you are interested, contact me or Mojo for details. Or join the regularly scheduled dark sky parties held by the Andromeda Society http://www.andromedasociety.org/ in Joshua Tree National Park. April 4, May 5, May 31, July 5, August 2 are the next star party dates. This location is more public friendly with a paved parking lot, restrooms, and a nearby campground. 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, 9 months

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