We were really hoping to get in some sidewalk time this weekend, with an
excellent first-quarter Moon nearly overhead in the sky, and Saturn
keeping up its grand appearance.
At least we were able to get in an excellent school visit -- science
night at La Fetra Elementary in Glendora last Tuesday evening. We had a
perfect night with clear skies and good seeing. Over 300 kids, parents,
and teachers stopped by for looks at Saturn.
So we're rained out this weekend. Next week (Easter weekend) we'll be
visiting Anza-Borrego state park, staying at the Borrego Springs resort,
and hopefully setting up telescopes to view and show the Moon, Saturn,
Jupiter, and maybe a few interesting deep sky objects. During the day
we'll be enjoying the desert wildflowers.
New information is available on the web site <http://www.otastro.org>
about April sidewalk astronomy, and summertime dark sky astronomy in the
national parks. Jane and I plan to visit Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, and
Yosemite on several occasions this summer with telescopes and step
ladders in tow.
If you're planning to get out from under the Los Angeles light dome this
summer, drop me a note and I might be have some suggestions for viewing
the universe beyond this little solar system.
I'll paraphrase a quote by John Dobson: A park ranger wondering about
the use of telescopes in his park asked, "Do you believe the sky is part
of the park?"
John replied, "Oh certainly not! The park is part of the sky!"
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
The conditions don't look very promising for sidewalk astronomy in
Monrovia this evening, but Jane and I plan to visit our favorite corner
(Myrtle & Lime) and take a look.
Last night was delightful on Colorado Blvd., with about 325 visitors
before the fog formed about 9:30.
The web site has a new article by Jane about our observing session in
Joshua Tree earlier this month. We plan to return to their dark skies
on March 5. <http://www.otastro.org/joshuatree/>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
It was a real treat to see stars again last night, if only for a little
while. Jane and I set up a pair of telescopes at JPL outside Von
Karmann Auditorium for their public lecture series. About a hundred
people stopped by for a look at Saturn after the lecture, and before the
fog made it totally invisible.
Tonight there's also a chance for fog on Colorado Blvd., but there's
also a good chance for some looks at Saturn. Jane and I will be on the
north side of Colorado Blvd. tonight from about 6 'til 10.
Sunset tonight is at 5:45. The waning gibbous Moon rises at 7:25, and
should clear the buildings for us to get a good look after about 8:30.
Tomorrow evening in Monrovia at Myrtle and Lime.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
With the nice Moon phase, we were hoping to be out in Pasadena and
Monrovia this weekend, but (a) we can't see through the clouds, and (b)
rain isn't good for our telescopes. :)
We're going to try again next weekend. The Moon will be large and three
or four days before full.
This past week we were the guests of Santa Fe Middle School for their
Founder's Day celebration. The forecast wasn't good for Tuesday
evening, but just as the event was wrapping up and people would be
coming out to the telescopes, we caught a break of clear sky between the
storms. About 200 kids and parents got great looks at Saturn, the first
quarter Moon, and even the Pleiades star cluster.
I've added a fascinating article by Jane on observing Saturn's moon
Iapetus to the web site.
Keep dry this weekend!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
John Dobson will be joining us again tonight (Saturday) in Monrovia at
Myrtle and Lime.
For those who haven't met John, this is a special treat. He is one of
the founders of the Sidewalk Astronomers, and famous worldwide as the
inventor of the sidewalk telescope we all call the dobsonian. His
favorite thing (or maybe second to discussing physics and cosmology) is
setting up one of his telescopes on a sidewalk and showing the Moon or
Saturn. John will be turning 90 this year, and puts us all to shame
with his energy, charm, and enthusiasm.
Last night we had a record for Colorado Blvd. with 471 people stopping
by the telescope for eye-popping views of the Moon and Saturn. The
foggy conditions indicate the kind of calm still air that makes all
those great details pop out on the Moon and bright planets.
Tonight should be about as good as last night, and if I can track it
down, we'll have the added treat of Comet Machholz to show. This
fuzzball comet was a real hit last weekend. It was discovered about six
months ago by our friend astronomer Don Machholz from Colfax, California.
We'll be out from about 6:00 p.m. 'til 9:00 p.m. tonight at the corner
of Myrtle and Lime, Library Park, Monrovia.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Will there be sky tonight or not? It's hard to guess! The forecast
calls for clear skies with foggy conditions. If the fog isn't too
thick, we should have a good view of the not-quite-full Moon and Saturn
from Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.
Which leads me to a great new feature linked from our website,
<http://www.otastro.org/> the Clear Sky Clocks for our usual observing
locations.
Mr. Attilla Danko uses forecast data from the Canadian Meteorological
Center to produce a graphical spot forecast of interesting weather for
astronomers.
The Clear Sky Clock predicts cloudiness, transparency (fog and
humidity), and seeing (wavery views or scintillation) over the next 48
hour period. Here is the Clear Sky Clock for Old Town Pasadena:
<http://cleardarksky.com/c/OTPsdnCAkey.html> He can explain it better
than I can.
Mr. Danko was gracious enough to add our two favorite sidewalk astronomy
locations to the list of Clear Sky Clocks.
So tonight (Friday) falls under the category of "look and see." I'll be
out on Colorado in the early evening, and if it looks like there will be
some sky, then we'll certainly set up the telescopes.
Saturday evening conditions look a bit better, so we'll be hopeful at
Library Park in Monrovia, at Myrtle and Lime.
Hope to see you there!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
We have lots of things to celebrate this weekend:
It's Saturn opposition, meaning Saturn will be back in the evening sky
for the next several months.
The Huygens probe appears to have successfully returned data from the
atmosphere of Titan (at the time of this writing).
And it's finally stopped raining for a while!
Jane and I will set up telescopes in Pasadena on Colorado Blvd. near
Delacey this evening (Friday), starting at about 6:00 p.m.
Saturday we plan to set up in Old Town Monrovia at Myrtle and Lime, and
joining us will be the founder of the Sidewalk Astronomers, John Dobson,
inventor of the sidewalk telescope bearing his name.
The weather forecast looks better for Friday than for Saturday, but
we're holding out hope for enough clear skies on both evenings to give
out some great views of the waxing crescent Moon, Saturn, and possibly
even comet Machholz (if we can find it under the city lights).
(Our telescopes are good, but we still can't see through clouds!)
I'll send a weather update on Saturday.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
LAAS will also have telescopes at the Griffith Observatory Satellite
next to the zoo in a week on Saturday, December 18.
Donna Smith reminds us that traffic is likely to be heavy because of the
ongoing Festival of Lights. Allow some extra time.
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
There's a great astronomy event this coming Thursday in Griffith Park at
the Museum of the American West, that's Thursday, December 16.
Information here from the Sidewalk Astronomers:
7-8 p.m. Wells Fargo Theatre - Cassini's Kevin Grazier offers a
presentation about the history of astronomical discoveries that have
occurred right here in Southern California - for reservations call
323.667.2000 ext. 354
8:30 - 9:30 - South Lawn - Join Native American storyteller Geri Keams
around a campfire as she spins Navajo tales about the stars in the sky.
8 - 10 - take a close-up and personal look at celestial objects as
Friends of the Observatory (FOTO), Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Los
Angeles Astronomical Society provide an array of telescopes for public
viewing.
Free to the public, museum admission is free from 4 to 8 p.m. every
Thursday. The Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of
Western Heritage) is located in Los Angeles's historic Griffith Park,
across from the LA Zoo, with plenty of free parking.
Museum of the American West, Where the 5 and 134 meet in Griffith park,
Los Angeles 323-667.2000 www.autrynationalcenter.org
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
