Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday April 21

There are a lot of astronomical events coming up! Saturday night we'll most likely be moving to another corner of Library Park because our corner will be used by a check-in booth for the Monrovia Wine Walk http://www.cityofmonrovia.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/4937/ The registrants will be collecting their tickets near our usual setup area and they've almost asked us to move (I called about it --  talked to two people about it, but the person who would call me back with a decision in an hour never did).  I tried.  So if you don't see telescopes on that busy corner, walk around the Library Park block. Primrose/Lime corner looks promising, we'll check it out tomorrow when the wine even gets started. We'll have a great moon view, and no planets Saturday night. But all this wind and cooler weather may mean an exceptional moon viewing night. If you are up early Saturday or Sunday morning, you might see some Lyrid Meteors, early am hours, and the moon will wash some out, but observing from home:  just get to an area where the moon is blocked, and look up!  What's Up April (linked in my signature line, has the info: May 5th:  launch of a mission --> to Mars, InSight will be visible from Central California to Mexico. 4:05 a.m. on Cinco de Mayo with a launch window until June 8th.  I talk about it in May What's Up video, because Mars and the moon will be visible in the sky at the exact time of the first launch opportunity on May 5th. How cool is that?  To see an interplanetary launch from SoCal if you have a West and South unobstructed horizon). I worked on InSight for three years, and it is near and dear to my heart. :-) Next Mojave National Preserve star party the following weekend, May 12th. RSVP here as the free group campsite gets crowded. https://www.facebook.com/events/159520131414032/ I thing that's all for this month..... -- Jane Houston Jones Solar System Public Engagement What's Up April: Moon,Mars,Saturn plus Lyrid meteors https://youtu.be/f2svvMGSwW8 NEW! FaceBook Watch What’s Up video page! https://www.facebook.com/NASAWhatsUp/