It looks like we'll have a great weekend for the moon and Saturn.
Jane and I will be in Old Town Pasadena tonight from about 7:30 'til 10
p.m., somewhere near Colorado and Delacey depending on parking.
Tomorrow in Monrovia there's a 24-hour cancer fund-raising event at
Library Park, and they're expecting us at our regular corner, at Myrtle
& Lime. We'll be there about the same time, 7:30 p.m. 'til at least 9:30.
Sunset is close to 7:30, and we should be able to see Saturn by about
8:00. The nearly full moon should provide a great view.
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Tonight's forecast is a difficult call! It looks certain that there
will be clouds, even though we'll probably have periods with our targets
in the clear.
But other events are conspiring to call off tonight's Monrovia sidewalk
astronomy, and try again next weekend.
We'll be hoping for clear skies on Friday the 27th in Pasadena, and
Saturday the 28th in Monrovia, where we'll be joined by a cancer fund
raising event at Library Park. (They're looking forward to having us. :) )
Hope to see you then ...
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
We're going to keep our telescope optics dry tonight, instead of setting
up in Old Town Pasadena. We can't see through clouds either!
Saturday night in Monrovia doesn't look too promising at the moment, but
I'll give it another day to decide for sure.
We'll try again next weekend, April 27-28, same locations -- Friday in
Pasadena, Saturday in Monrovia. We'll have an almost-full moon to enjoy
and Saturn high overhead. Weather permitting. :)
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
HI Old Town Astro folks
I have a request from a JPL colleague for some help at a school star
party event on Friday April 20 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Longfellow
Elementary in Pasadena. I have another telescope event that night
(Sidewalk Astronomy in Pasadena), and I can't be in two places at the
same time.
He is looking for some enthusiasts who could either:
Answer questions about the planets or be excited about their work in
science or about science in general (or enthusiastic about answering
kids questions) from the K-5th graders. It's the schools star party
night.
Aim telescopes at moon, Saturn or Venus - I have several simple to
use and easy to carry reflectors in the 4.5-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch
aperture range if someone has the interest but doesn't have a
telescope. I'm happy to lend them out. I'll have an info sheet
available with facts about moon, Venus and Saturn, too.
I have one volunteer from the JPL Astronomy Club who will help out.
He does a lot of school events. I'll help out by creating some star
chart handouts for the night, provide some NASA handout material,
supply a human solar system activity. If you have the time or the
inclination, send me a note, and I'll connect you with Sven, or
provide the logistics. I also asked my fellow JPL Astronomy Club
members, but we JPLers often live far from work, making it hard to
volunteer locally in Pasadena. If you haven't done a school star
party before there is usually a flurry of setup, then it seems like
in an hour the whole event is over and you take your equipment down
and go home. Telescopes with a quick setup time usually are the
easiest to use at a school. Let me know if you're interested. 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
What's Up?
There's a new video feature debuting on the JPL web pages today. The
new monthly feature, which I host :-), is called "What's Up". It
will highlight an astronomical viewing opportunity everyone can
enjoy, usually even without a telescope, and usually in the most
light polluted sky. All of you on our Old Town Astronomers list know
all about light polluted skies - it's where we set up telescopes
every month!
In April there is a fantastic viewing opportunity all of you can
enjoy right from your own back (or front) yard. No telescope
required! The moon rises from near Venus on April 21, (which is
National Astronomy Day) through April 25, when the moon is above
Saturn. Most of the images in the video came my 350+ worldwide
volunteers, called the Cassini-Huygens Saturn Observation Campaign.
The video is here on the JPL home page : http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ .
On the JPL Education Gateway page is the video plus amateur astronomy
resources: http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html
Here you can download the sky chart which will show you where to find
Venus, Saturn, and watch the crescent moon rise in-between the two
planets later this month. You might try looking for the moon April 19
or 20 below Venus. it'll be a very thin crescent.
Please forward this to your own network of friends or students if you
think they'd be interested. Or link to the JPL Education's Amateur
Astronomy page
http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html so that
your pals can use the charts, and listen to the video, and use the
other great links on the page.
I have one more tidbit. April 21 is National Astronomy Day. Mojo
will be set up as usual in Monrovia (weather permitting), and
possibly in Pasadena on April 20, but I will be in England that
weekend. Here is a really nice (and free) astronomy chart for April.
It usually is available only by subscription, but the Abrams
Planetarium has made it available for Astronomy Day. I know a lot of
you are members of other astronomy clubs or may be holding your own
observing events on April 21 which is why I am sharing this link.
Print it out and enjoy! You might even want to subscribe! I used
this chart when I was a brand new amateur astronomer unsure what to
aim at. It provided me years of enjoyment!
http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/SkyCalendar/Index.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 Saturn Observation Campaign
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
I thought some of you might be interested in this exhibit - There
will be a talk by the artist, who is a co-worker here at JPL, on
March 18 at 7 p.m. followed by telescopes provided by JPL and
sidewalk astronomers. Dan says: "I'm giving a talk on Sunday March
18th @ 7pm in conjunction with the "hidden light" show at PMCA. It
will be and a Kepler Mission scientist and engineer talking about
planet finding as well as space art that is not paintings. The museum
has an amazing deck and we were hoping to have a couple telescopes,
weather permitting."
JPL visual strategist Dan Goods applies some of the complex
principles studied at the Laboratory to his artwork in a project
called "The Hidden Light," now underway through April 8 at the
Pasadena Museum of California Art.
Goods' work makes scientific phenomena more accessible and
meaningful. The Hidden Light begins with the idea that some physical
entities in the universe are hidden or invisible until scientists
discover new ways for understanding or seeing them.
In the installation, the film projection depicting planets in space
is washed out by another projection until the viewer casts a shadow
on the wall. The process directly refers to how astronomers at JPL
invent tools with which to find and see planets in the far reaches of
space that are hidden by the light of stars. By activating the space
of the installation, the museum visitor will also discover how to see
the unseen.
The Hidden Light is presented in the museum's Project Room, a
700-square-foot gallery devoted to installations by early and
mid-career California artists. Artists chosen to participate are
charged with transforming the space through site-specific
installations. With a selection of artists working in a variety of
media, the Project Room was designed to present a vital cross-section
of the diverse work being produced in California.
The museum is located at 490 E. Union St. Admission is free for
museum members, $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and students. Call
626-568-3665 or visit www.pmcaonline.org.
--
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
It's clear tonight in Monrovia, and Saturn is in the evening sky, so
Jane and I thought we'd set up our telescopes at Myrtle & Lime. We'll
be there from at least 6:00 'til 8:00 p.m.
You might have heard that there is a total lunar eclipse today.
Unfortunately by the time the full moon rises here in California, the
most visible part of the eclipse will be over. We'll have a full moon
with no shadows and lots of bright highlights to explore.
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Sorry for the late announcement - we've been busy.....
The forecast for Friday and Saturday nights is mostly clear. That
means the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be setting up telescopes
for public views of Saturn (and the moon) both nights. Venus will
also be a beautiful sight, in the west, no telescopes needed.
The same locations as every month - (weather will be clear and cold)
Friday Night Feb 23, 6:30 -9:30 p.m. Colorado Blvd somewhere between
Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenues depending on parking. 2 telescopes,
long lines (there is no room for more telescopes, and we pick them up
and move them to get out of the trees and lights.
Saturday Night Feb 24, 6:30 9:30, or later if there is a big crowd)
Library Park, corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets, Monrovia. Our usual
group of astronomers bring 4 to 8 telescopes usually, less crowded,
lots of free parking. :-)
Website: http://www.otastro.org/ You can always check the weather
in the top right of the page. Click on "weather permitting".
Other events for the astronomy enthusiast: http://www.mwoa.org/events.htm
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
We've been watching the weather forecasts and satellite images all day
and unfortunately, the clouds and rain predicted for tonight are
beginning to arrive. I can see the bands of clouds on the western
horizon already. So we're officially cancelling our Saturn viewing for
tonight. Luckily, we'll plenty more viewing opportunities in the coming
weeks and months.
If you enjoy weather watching, the National Weather Service website is
fascinating. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/
We have a link to a local weather page from our Old Town Sidewalk
Astronomers wepage, too, right next to where we cancelled tonight's
event. http://www.otastro.org/
You can watch the storm as it nears on this infrared satellite loop
http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/satloop.php?wfo=lox&type=ir&size=2
Sorry, we'll rescheule. 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
This coming Saturnday :-) we are hoping to hold a Saturn viewing
event in Monrovia, but the weather forecast is poor. If it is partly
cloudy or clear, of course we'll be there - beginning when Saturn is
visible at 8 p.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. If it is raining, or
threatening rain, we'll cancel the event, and we'll make a note on
our website under "Next Sidewalk Opportunity"
Our next viewing nights for Saturn and the moon will be February 23
(Colorado Blvd between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenues) in Pasadena
and on February 24th (Library Park, Myrtle and Lime Streets) in
Monrovia. We'll begin at 6 p.m. both nights, but Saturn won't rise
above the trees or buildings until after 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, sit back and enjoy this article about Saturn.
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/feature20070207.cfm
Part of my job at JPL is to manage a 350 strong volunteer group
called the Saturn Observation Campaign.
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/members.cfm We have 350 members in 52
countries, and in 45 states of the USA.
On Saturday night many of us all around the world will be looking at
Saturn from their back yard, or conducting a community Saturn
Observing event, or visiting a classroom. If it is cloudy and we
can't show Saturn on Saturday, you can look on the link below and see
where Saturn is lurking beyond the clouds. And then you can pretend
you are looking through the eyepiece of one of the telescopes at
Saturn and it's moons. http://www.whiteoaks.com/jane/2007socsaturn/
Hope it is clear Saturday, but luckily we have many more months of
prime Saturn viewing!
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
