Here's a good article about the moon illusion from NASA's Science@NASA series
"On Saturday night, June 30th, step outside at sunset and look
around. You'll see a giant moon rising in the east. It looks like
Earth's moon with the usual craters and seas, but something's wrong.
This full moon is strangely inflated. It's huge!
You've just experienced the Moon Illusion"...Read the whole article here
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/27jun_moonillusion.htm
--
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
Mojo and I have often set up our sidewalk telescopes at local
bookstores when a popular book such as one of the Harry Potter
series is released. It's especially nice when there is a midnight
(or evening) book release which coincides with a first quarter moon.
Wizards and muggles alike set aside their differences and stand
peacefully in line for a look at the moon.
July's first quarter moon Friday night happens to coincide with the
release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Donna Smith of the
LA Sidewalk Astronomers is wondering if one or two telescope
operators could help her out at the Barnes and Noble in Burbank on
Friday the 20th. The event starts at 6 p.m. and the book goes on
sale at midnight. They set up the telescopes up on the roof.
If you have telescope and will travel :-) let Donna know. She's
interested in having kids there - kids with telescopes, that is.
Contact Donna directly. Her email is dsmith1055(a)earthlink.net, if you
are interested in bringing a telescope to this event.
If Burbank is not convenient for you, why not ask your own favorite
bookstore if they'd like to have your telescope out on that night.
The moon and Jupiter will make great targets! Mojo and I will try to
set up our telescopes near the Colorado Blvd Barnes and Noble,
parking permitting. Our two telescopes are plenty for that busy
sidewalk.
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
Normally we don't send this many emails to our list, but it's a really
great weekend for astronomy.
First of all, we have great weather, warm with clear skies, and fairly
good seeing.
Second, we have a great array of planets. Venus and Saturn are setting
quickly in the west, and this will be our last month for Saturn.
Jupiter is rising low in the south east, and the moon this weekend is
high with lots of detail. Something for every telescope we should have
out on Saturday night!
Third, we have a great pass of the International Space Station. It will
enter the sky from the northwest, cross between the Big Dipper and the
north star, then pass all the way across the sky to the east, just above
the rising summer triangle. It'll be first visible at 8:50, reach its
highest altitude of 58 degrees at 8:53, then disappear at 8:55.
So join us in Old Town Monrovia Saturday night. Sunset is late, but we
can see the moon before the sun sets. We should be at Myrtle & Lime
from about 7:30 'til 10 p.m.
And just to follow up on the landing of the space shuttle, I did indeed
step out my front door in Monrovia to hear a nice "boom boom" pair of
sonic booms from the shuttle on approach. Five minutes later it was on
the ground. That was a first for me!
Finally, pictures from the Grand Canyon and Bryce are here:
<http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2007-06-grand-canyon/>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
A bunch of us walked outside the Space Flight Operations Facility
here at JPL http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/iged/sfof.html a few
minutes ago to watch and listen for the STS117 as it passed the LA
area on it's way to landing at Edwards Air Force base.
A couple people from the Cassini Team were there, since we work in
this historic building, and several folks had their laptops in their
arms with the NASA commentary and imagery running. We could see the
shuttle on the screen, but could not see ourselves. But we did hear
the subtle and very low double sonic booms, and minutes later, the
shuttle had successfully landed.
In case you were wondering.....why does the space shuttle have a
double sonic boom?
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec97/874604921.Eg.r.html
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
I have no idea if we'll be able to see or hear anything, but space
shuttle Atlantis will be landing at Edwards AFB at 12:49 today. I
expect it to pass north of the city, on the other side of the San
Gabriel mountains.
There could be a couple of good sonic booms from the shuttle!
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Here's a friendly reminder that this is the weekend for our moon and
planet sidewalk astronomy!
But first, there was a good (but low to the horizon) ISS/Shuttle
pass last night. at about 9:30 p.m.
The brighter Space Station led the way, followed several seconds
(and about 15 degrees away) by the fainter shuttle.
Anyway, look up the shuttle and ISS passes for tonight and the future
on this website http://www.heavens-above.com/ . Sorry I forgot to
mention it, but I figure those who enjoy these satellite passes are
already checking this website, especially when there is both a ISS
and a shuttle to see.
Tonight there is a good ISS pass at 9:44 p.m. (that's for Monrovia
and environs) - the space station will reach a maximum elevation of
69 degrees at 9:47 p.m. It's good to check the website shortly before
the viewing to see if anything changed. maybe the shuttle info will
have been updated (it still shows planned reentry of this morning,
which has changed).
Back to Earth - Friday night we'll be in Pasadena someplace on
Colorado Blvd between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenues from 7:30 to 10
p.m. Saturday, we'll be at Myrtle and Lime Streets in Monrovia about
the same times. We expect large crowds because of the warm weather.
Mojo and I attended both the Grand Canyon Star Party and the Bryce
Canyon Astronomy Festival last week, and conducted our own small star
party in the Kaibab National Forest in-between the two bigger events.
Here's our pictures for those who like vacation pictures.
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2007-06-grand-canyon/
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
June marks the beginning of our annual tour of some of the great
national parks of the US. Our motto beccomes "Have Telescope, Will Travel!"
During the warm summer months we take telescopes, and occasionally other
sidewalk astronomers away from the city and into the national parks for
a couple of the annual star parties.
In June, we'll be in Northern Arizona and Utah for the annual Grand
Canyon Star Party and the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival. During these
events, the dark skies of the national park become rich tapestry for
amateur astronomer volunteers who introduce thousands of park visitors
to the dark splendor of the summer Milky Way. Closer to home, the
Joshua Tree Mational Park has a similar ongoing astronomy program, in
conjunction with the Yucca Valley based Andromeda Society.
http://www.andromedasociety.org/
Our OTASTRO website http://www.otastro.org/ has all the summer star
party dates, but I'll recap June here:
We'll be at the Kaibab Lodge June 11 - talks at sunset, and later,
telescopes out on the Lodge grounds. http://kaibablodge.com/events.htm
Sidewalk barry Peckham from hawaii and John Dobson from San Francisco
will be with us.
We'll be at the Grand Canyon - North Rim June 12-13. The star party
takes place at both the North Rim Lodge and the South rim Yavapai Point
parking lot June 9-16. http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/gcsp.html the
public is welcome to hear the talks at sunset and look through the
telescopes. All the telescope volunteers have registered with the
national park as volunteers (aka lots of paperwork) and gone through a
brief park training and orientation. If you're interested for next
year, you can get information via the website above.
Then we'll head north to Bryce Canyon National Park on June 14 - 16.
Again all the volunteers have registered and even documented what types
of telescopes they are bringing - as there is only room for 45
telescopes at the star party site. this event goes on for 3 days, and
there are activites both day and night. It's all free, but some events
require tickets due to space limitations. Read all about it here:
http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/astronomyprograms.htm
June 22 and 23 will be our monthly sidewalk Astronomy nights in Pasadena
and Monrovia.
Finally, my monthly video, "What's Up" for June is up on the JPL
website. Have a listen! It's only 2 minutes long and is packed with
great amateur images of planets and more. There's lots to see this
month!. :-)
http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
HI everyone,
We've updated the Old Town Astronomers website to include all the
summer National Park astronomy events we'll be attending. During the
summer months "Have Telescope, Will Travel" becomes our motto.
We'll be hauling 4 Dobsonian telescopes and John Dobson and Barry
Peckham from Hawaii to the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon in June. In
July and August we'll join our fellow members of the the San Jose and
San Francisco astronomy clubs at the Glacier Point Star Parties in
Yosemite.These free public astronomy events are held every year for
guests at the national parks. Read all about it here:
http://www.otastro.org/
And on Saturday night May 19, we'll be showing a slender crescent
moon near Venus, and Saturn from 7:30 to 9:30 at Myrtle and Lime
Streets in Monrovia, CA. We'll hit the Pasadena sidewalk Friday May
25, when there is more moon to show.
Saturday the 19th is also the first International sidewalk Astronomy
Day. Even if you don't join us in Monrovia, why not look up at moon,
Venus and Saturn. Or show these solar system wonders to your
neighbors . No telescope is needed, but if you have one, why not
place it out on your own sidewalk and share the views? Here's where
all the international sidewalk astronomy night events are being held.
http://www.sidewalkastronomynight.com/
Finally, last month a reporter from American Public Radio's "Weekend
America" interviewed sidewalk astronomers in both northern and
southern California for this week's 2-hour show. It airs locally on
Saturday, May 19 on KPCC 89.3 FM from 1-3 p.m. If local for you is
someplace other than KPCC, you can look at the station list here:
http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/about/list.php (it's on Sirius
and XM satellite too) ! Listen live on Saturday http://www.scpr.org/,
or you can subscribe to the podcast for convenient listening later.
We don't know how long the segment is, what or who is included, or
during which hour of the show the Sidewalk Astronomer segment will
air. http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/collections/podcast/
See some of you at JPL Open House this weekend? 9-5 Saturday and
Sunday. Look for me in the big Cassini Mission tent, right next to
the full size Voyager model. :-) http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/pso/oh.cfm
--
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 Saturn Observation Campaign
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
The JPL website has a lot of fascinating stories for you astro folks right now!
There's one story about new evidence of ancient volcanic explosions
on Mars and another about the molten core of Mercury. Ice on Mars?
Read all about it! There are also details about JPL Open House and,
drumroll please......What's Up for May, my new monthly podcast!
You can get to the 2 minute podcast from the JPL main page:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/ The JPL education page has the video,
and tools for amateur astronomers, such as sky charts you can
download, links to amateur astronomy networks, and this is where the
What's Ups will be archived. This month we feature the Dawn mission's
Amateur Observer Program, since I talk about observing the asteroid
Vesta - that's where the Dawn Mission will be heading later this
summer.
For those of you with iPods you can subscribe to the NASA Jet
Propulsion Laboratory video and audio podcasts (podcasts are free and
on iTunes under science podcasts) and have "What's Up" and other JPL
podcasts downloaded automatically every month when you sync your
iPod. Of course you can watch them on your computer too!
Our next sidewalk dates will be May 18 and 19. May 19 is also JPL
open house. Se you then! 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 Saturn Observation Campaign
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
This notification just went out to all the people who like to get
email announcements from JPL, so I thought I'd pass it on to you.
Our annual JPL Open House occurs May 19 and 20. I'll be in the
Cassini Tent in person, and also a 1/4 scale model of me will be
stationed next to a 1/4 scale model of the Cassini Spacecraft, so you
can see two of me, possibly at the same time!
You can find me (and Cassini) near the entrance to the laboratory -
I'll be there all day, both days. The large Cassini tent will be the
first exhibit when you enter the west entrance to JPL on Open House
days. Saturday night, May 19 is International Sidewalk Astronomy
Day, too, so we'll be setting up telescopes in Monrovia that night.
Check out our Old Town Astronomy website for information - we'll
update the pages soon for our June trip to both the annual Death
Valley and Bryce Canyon Star Parties, July and August Yosemite (at
Glacier Point) star parties, and proposed trips to the Southern
California desert for stargazing without city streetlights or LA
lights.
Here's that announcement - stop by and say "hi"! There can be up to
15, 000 to 20,000 people at JPL open house on each day. It's best to
arrive early, plan for the heat (wear a hat and sunblock), Sunday
morning seems a little less crowded than Saturday. Jane
JPL Open House Takes Visitors on a Journey to the Planets and Beyond
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., invites the
public on a "Journey To the Planets and Beyond." The laboratory will
open its doors during its annual Open House on Saturday and Sunday,
May 19 and 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitors will learn about JPL's exciting space missions and see
robots in action. Scientists and engineers will also answer questions
about the solar system, the universe and our home planet.
A giant balloon that may someday explore Venus will be on display in
JPL's Spacecraft Assembly Facility, the clean room where spacecraft
and instruments are built.
Visitors can see unique 3-D images from space, including
stereoscopic views of the sun, and view movies highlighting current
and upcoming JPL missions. At the Robo-Dome, a pair of 700-pound
robots will glide in a high-tech arena under artificial stars, while
the Saturn Moonwalk will display the ringed planet's vast system of
unique moons.
JPL Open House will offer lots of fun activities for kids of all
ages who want to learn more about science and technology. Kids can
get rolled over by a mechanical Mars rover, fly in outer space and
view the sun with high-powered telescopes.
Admission is free and reservations are not required. No backpacks or
ice chests are allowed; visitors may bring small purses and diaper
bags. Visitors, vehicles and personal belongings are subject to
inspection. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, along
with space souvenirs and JPL and NASA merchandise. Vendors will only
accept cash. ATMs will be available.
JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive. Exit the 210 (Foothill)
Freeway at the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit in La
Canada-Flintridge. Parking is available near the Oak Grove Drive main
gate and on the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from Windsor
Avenue via the Arroyo Boulevard exit off the 210 Freeway. Buses and
tour guides will move people between different locations around the
facility. Walking is required to some locations. Comfortable shoes
are recommended.
--
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 Saturn Observation Campaign
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
