Normally Jane and I set up telescopes on the city sidewalk to introduce
"accidental astronomers" to the Moon and planets. We also like to
escape the city's light dome for a night with the beautiful deep sky
objects that can't be seen under city lights.
Excursions away from the city are most worthwhile when there's no bright
Moon in the sky, so we usually pick the weekend closest to New Moon.
This weekend on Saturday, February 25, we'll visit Joshua Tree National
Park with the Andromeda Society of Yucca Valley for their monthly star
party under dark skies. Imagine a sky filled with about 1,700 stars,
instead of the 20 or so you usually see from L.A.!
Early in the evening we'll have great views of the winter sky and Milky
Way, full of star clusters and nebulae. Later in the evening our planet
will spin toward the spring sky, and we'll be able to look toward
galactic north into the giant Virgo cluster of galaxies. You'll also
see meteors and earth-orbiting satellites crossing overhead.
From a dark location, you can see enough stars to see the shapes of the
constellations and easily imagine the figures for which they're named.
It's better than the best planetarium show you'll ever see!
But it is colder. If you come along, be sure to dress in lots of layers
and bring lots of water or sports drinks to stay hydrated. You also
might want to bring along a comfortable chair and a pair of binoculars
for cruising through the Milky Way and counting meteors.
The star party officially starts near sunset at 5:30 p.m. at the Hidden
Valley Picnic Area of Joshua Tree National Park.
If you are planning to come, let us know so we can be sure to connect.
The star party is sponsored by the Andromeda Society of Yucca Valley:
<http://www.andromedasociety.org/>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Hi everyone, I thought you'd enjoy this feature about observing
Saturn, the moon and the Beehive cluster. There's a nice pairing of
the cluster and Saturn from now through June, with a nearly full
moon above, next to and below Saturn.
Over the past weekend, we showed this starry view, along with Saturn
and the moon, to about 500 people through 6 telescopes in Monrovia.
We all had a great time, despite partial clouds.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=990
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 have a request from a parent at Marengo Elementary School, whose
students are studying the Moon now, for a small telescope party on
Sunday evening in South Pasadena. Is there anyone on the list who would
like to visit with a telescope? Unfortunately Jane and I are out of
town this weekend.
If you're available, drop me a note and I'll put you in touch.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
The National Weather Service issued an update at 10:00 a.m. that shows
improving conditions over the area this evening. The forecast for
Monrovia right now is "mostly clear."
The Clear Sky Clock forecast is for bad conditions, but the current
satellite loop seems to confirm clearing skies tonight.
It may not be perfect tonight, but the prospects look good enough for
now. We'll plan to be at Myrtle & Lime in Old Town Monrovia tonight
from about 6:00 'til 9:30. Featured performers will be the first
quarter Moon and Saturn!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
The forecast tonight (Friday) looks very promising for sidewalk
astronomy in Old Town Pasadena.
We plan to be there from about 6:30 'til 10:00 p.m. on Colorado Blvd.
within a block either side of Delacey -- that's somewhere between Fair
Oaks and Pasadena Ave. (It depends on where we find parking!)
We usually set up on the north side of the street, and we plan to do so
again tonight -- but there's one thing that might change that. Both
Saturn and the Moon are very much in the northern part of the ecliptic
tonight. With Saturn rising shortly after sunset, it'll be appearing on
the horizon somewhat north of east. That means from the north side of
the street it'll be blocked by buildings for much of the early part of
the evening.
The Moon will be very high in the sky, so it may be visible from both
sides of the street.
We're more familiar with the north side of the street, so that's our
preference. But if you don't find us there, look across the street for
two large telescopes!
Tomorrow evening's weather is a bit more problematic for the Monrovia
outing. I'll send an update on Saturday.
In any event, it's definitely Saturn season. Hope you can join us for a
look!
Here's our approximate location on Google Maps:
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=75+W+Colorado+Blvd.,+Pasadena,+CA&ll=34…>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Mojo just arrived on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. He then looked up
and called me to report that he sees nothing but clouds overhead. I
have all the telescopes in the old green sidewalk astronomers van,
but It looks like they wont be seeing any stars tonight and either
will we. Sorry! Better luck next month. In the meantime, here are
some planet viewing tips I've cobbled together:
Saturn: http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/viewing.cfm
Mars: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/nightsky/viewing-tips-2006.html
Fun with the weather http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/satl.php
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
Jane and I are planning to set up telescopes in Old Town Pasadena this
evening, but right now the forecast is "mostly cloudy."
We'll take a look this evening, and watch for updates to the forecast
later this afternoon. As of Friday morning though, I would not plan a
special trip to Old Town Pasadena to see Saturn -- unless of course you
want to enjoy the excellent restaurants and shopping in the area. :)
If the weather changes, we'll have a full Moon to observe, and perhaps
some looks at Saturn after about 8:30 p.m.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Apologies for not posting our Monrovia outing last night, but we did
have it listed on our website. Regardless, I thought you'd all enjoy
this stargazing recap from last night. Take a look at the moon tonight
- Sunday night January 8th if you get a chance to stop out and look up.
You'll see Mars nearby just to the right of the moon as soon as it is
dark. Look at this writeup in sky and Telescope magazine's website for
more moon and Mars / moon and Saturin pairings this
month.http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/article_110_1.asp
Jane
Last night, January 7, 2006 was our first southern California sidewalk
astronomy event of 2006. We set up in our usual spot in old town
Monrovia, CA at charming Library Park. Two young girls brought their
holiday telescope, an Orion Starblast, for first light.
I brought my own little Starblast, too, since I had invited them to the
star party. I asked them if they wanted to set up the telescope off the
main sidewalk where it was a little more secluded, and they said "no".
They wanted to share their views. While the first of 100 viewers stepped
up to the eyepieces of our two telescopes, the girls unwrapped their
present. First they removed the tissue paper protecting the tube during
shipping. Next I explained how the telescope worked and how it moved in
altitude and azimuth, and placed it on a sturdy ice chest, placed on top
of a not as sturdy plastic storage box for a little additional height --
not the most sturdy of mounts, but easier than bringing their back yard
picnic table out to the sidewalk Each girl comfortably swiveled and
tilted the tube in its mount.
Before we did anything like affix the supplied finder, we had a 25 power
first light view of the first quarter moon through the supplied
eyepiece. This is a low power view for those of you without a
telescope. it's a view similiar to a binocular view. After the oooohs
and ahhhhs subsided, we completed the first setup of the telescope. We
affixed and aligned the red dot finder. The girls were estatic as they
took turns sighting the moon and Mars through their own telescope and
through my matching green telescope. They spent the next 3 hours
running back and forth between the two little scopes and over to Mojos'
larger 14.5-inch f/4.8 Litebox reflector. Whenever someone walked by,
they became instant sidewalk astronomers, offering views to many people.
Mom got into the action too, calling people over to see the moon, Mars
and later, Saturn.
When mom took the girls for an ice cream break down the street, I
checked the collimation of the telescope. That's the optics alignment,
for those of you with quizzical looks. It was spot on right out of the
box. We waited for Saturn.
In-between looks at the moon and Mars, showing a Syrtis Major splotch
even at low power, the girls aimed at the bright stars of winter.
Yellow Capella, red Betelgeuse, and blue-white Rigel revealed their
twinkling wonder through the eyepiece. Both girls were Harry Potter
fans, so I pointed Bellatrix and Sirius, starry names of some of the
notable characters in the books.
There were quite a few dogs and their owners out walking last night, so
I pointed out Sirius, the dog star, and the constellations Canis Major
and Canis Minor. Lola the bulldog was more interested in cuddling and
slobbering, but the two border collies paid imaginary attention as I
showed them their celestial brothers.
Soon we spotted Saturn rising. It had cleared the lower downtown
buildings. We moved the Starblast down the street a bit for a look. The
first view, using the supplied 17mm Kellner eyepiece revealed a 25x
oval, but the girls were absolutely thrilled. The younger of the two
sisters wanted to use the 6mm eyepiece for a 75x (higher magnification)
view immediately. Soon Saturn's icy rings and even the great moon Titan
were revealed in their first telescope. Through the eyepiece of Mojo's
larger 'scope, the planet Saturn was brighter and more moons were
visible, including Iapetus, which is easy to spot right now. The girls
recorded their observations in their journal, and I suggested they
capture the stargazing information such as date, time, location,
telescope, eyepiece, and objects they viewed, and then write more about
their observation at home. They are interested in sketching the moon
too, which I personally love to do!
Soon it was time to pack up the telescopes and head for home. I recalled
my first view through my first telescope many years ago. It seems like
it was just yesterday, as I recall the first view so vividly. On
December 25th 1988, I aimed my homemade, and as yet unaluminized 10-inch
f/7 Dobsonian reflector, Stardust, at both the moon and Mars, and
recorded my first observation in my own star journal. It began, for me,
a wonderful journey into our solar system and beyond.
Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Saturn hasn't quite reached opposition -- that time when it is directly
opposite the Sun in the night sky. That will come in late January.
When it does, as you might expect, Saturn rises at about the same time
as the Sun sets.
But right now Saturn rises around 8:00 p.m. a bit north of due east, and
is easily visible by 9:00. (Low eastern horizons are pretty rare around
here!) Each evening it will rise just a little earlier, as Earth
continues circling the Sun.
This weekend the waning Moon passes near Saturn in the sky from our
perspective on Earth, and it serves as a convenient guidepost to find
the beautiful ringed planet.
Here's a short feature from the JPL Saturn Cassini web site that
includes a chart for finding Saturn relative to the Moon over this
coming weekend:
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=1907>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Jane and I have a month full of travel and family plans that will keep
us away from the sidewalk, but there is some fun astronomy to be had.
Today an article about Jane and observing Mars appeared on the NASA web
site, and it has some great tips about how to find Mars in the sky over
the next couple of days. The Moon will be passing nearby and serve as a
nice signpost:
<http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/mars_mer_feature_20051209.h…>
In late January, Saturn will reach opposition and return to the evening
sky. We'll certainly be planning some outings for the occasion!
Have a great holiday season!
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
