March 2009 - OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

Sidewalk Astronomy this weekend
by Jones, Jane H 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

This weekend is a big one for stargazers! Not only has all of 2009 been deemed "International Year of Astronomy" by UNESCO and the IAU, but April 2-5 is one of the main -- or cornerstone events -- called 100 hours of Astronomy - a special observing event celebrated around the world. Here is a website that is chock full of really interesting events and video content: http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/ . All the events that are webcast can be accessed on this website. One special event is called "Around the world in 80 telescopes", a live 24-hour webcast from astronomical observatories. This event is organised by ESO, the European Southern Observatory, from its HQ in Garching, Germany Date: 3 April 2009, 09:00 UT (Universal Time/GMT) to 4 April 2009, 09:00 UT (Universal Time/GMT). Next comes the 24-hour Global Star Party organized by the Sidewalk Astronomers. Saturday is also International Sidewalk Astronomy Night on 4 April 2009 starting at sunset worldwide. Finally Sunday April 5 is, "Sun" day! Either get up early to view the sunrise, go for a walk on the afternoon or enjoy a wonderful sunset. Friday April 3rd, Colorado Blvd between Fair Oaks and Pasadena in Old Town Pasadena 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday April 4th, Myrtle and Lime, Monrovia in Old Monrovia Sunday (possibly) April 5th Solar Sun Day in the Park - Myrtle and Lime, Monrovia 1:00 p.m. To 3:00 p.m. With solar safe telescope. We'll send out a special announcement with the actual hours if we really have the energy to do this event on Sunday. :-) 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ What's Up for March: Saturn! http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=821

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Today is Super Science Sunday in Thousand Oaks
by Jane Houston Jones 22 Mar '09

22 Mar '09

In case anyone was planning to attend Super Science Sunday in Thousands Oaks today it is clear, and COLD - the rain has moved on! My talk is on at 5:30 p.m. but there are other talks as well. Here is the speaker lineup: *Astronaut, Marsha Ivins*, A veteran of five space flights “Space Exploration: Then, Now and in The Future”; Ms. Ivins will sign autographs *Jane Houston Jones*, JPL Sr. Outreach Specialist, “Exploring Saturn, The Cassini Program” *Stephen J. Edberg,* Astrophotographer, “Seeing the Sky, from Galileo to Hubble” *Robert Piccioni*, Physicist and educator, * *“Einstein Made Easy” *Ian McLean*, Astrophysicist, Professor, & author, “Discovering our Place in the Cosmos”* * http://www.discoverycntr.org/pages/events/sss.htm - Note that there is an entrance fee...Afterwards I'll be aiming my telescope at (hopfully) Saturn. :-) Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up podcast: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=818 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones

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Saturn videos, Saturn images, Saturn viewing!
by Jones, Jane H 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

My March 2009 What's Up Podcast is about Saturn. It's about Galileo's first views of Saturn 400 years ago, about other historical observations, and then it ends with Cassini @ Saturn right now! Here it is: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=821 Also today, the Hubble Telescope released gorgeous images of Saturn taken just a few weeks ago, while 4 of Saturn's moons crossed in front of the planet. Here is the Hubble news release: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-051 Finally, if you haven't seen Saturn yet, we'll be featuring Saturn at our next few public Star Parties.Here is my Viewing Saturn ion 2009 viewing guide: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/viewing2009/ Happy Saturn viewing, watching, listening, and enjoying, everyone! 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ What's Up for March: Saturn! http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=821

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Space station with shuttle visible tonight after sunset, Los Angeles area
by Morris Jones 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Very shortly after sunset tonight (which is at 7:02), the International Space Station will pass overhead, very bright. It will begin in the southwest -- look toward the sunset, then to the left, and pass nearly overhead to the northeast. First appearance will be close to 7:16 p.m., and highest altitude is at 7:18 p.m.. By 7:21 it will disappear. At about 7:36 p.m. the shuttle will appear, but it will be a little more westerly than the space station, and follow a different lower path. It will be at its highest at about 7:38, and enters the earth's shadow at 7:41. By then it will probably be too low to see, but should give a good show as it passes from southwest to northeast. The station will be very bright, almost like an airplane, except with no flashing lights. Satellites look like bright moving stars, and the brightness changes as the sun angle between you and the satellite changes. Have a look! Jane and I will try to update reports on Twitter as we're out looking for the pass. Mojo: http://twitter.com/mojo_la Jane: http://twitter.com/jhjones Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la

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EPO Products Giveaway at JPL, Saturday, March 21st, 2009
by Jones, Jane H 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

Forwarding a great opportunity - get free E/PO products for educators on March 21st at JPL. You must register for this - there is a conference during the early part of the day and a give-away later. :-) If you are a teacher you can sign up. If you know teachers in the below school districts, please forward this to feel free to do so. I don't have any more info about this, and will be out of town from the 17th - 21st, and can't answer your questions (like what about other school districts) , but there is a contact on this email - Annie Richardson of our Earth Sciences outreach group. That is who to ask if you have questions. :-) 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ What's Up for Feb: the moon! http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=798 ------ Forwarded Message From: "Richardson, Annie H" <annie.h.richardson(a)jpl.nasa.gov> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:04:42 -0700 Conversation: EPO Products Giveaway at JPL, Saturday, March 21st, 2009 Subject: EPO Products Giveaway at JPL, Saturday, March 21st, 2009 ATTENTION: Educators in Pasadena, La Canada, and Los Angeles Unified School Districts NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be hosting an Earth and Space Sciences Education and Public Outreach products giveaway from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 in JPL's von Karman auditorium. Free posters, CDs, satellite images for display, bookmarks, videos, and more. Many one-of-a-kind items. Bring your reusable bags! Pre-registration is required: http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/epo-giveaway/ Contact: Annie.Richardson(a)jpl.nasa.gov Feel free to forward. -- ------ End of Forwarded Message

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Cancelling Friday - upcoming events abound
by Jane H Jones 06 Mar '09

06 Mar '09

A confluence of near clouds and and long commutes will keep us from setting up our telescopes in Old Town Pasadena tonight, but we'll be out in full force at Myrtle and Lime in Monrovia tomorrow night, Saturday the 7th. Then Sunday we go boing and "spring forward" losing an hour of early evening darkness. Daylight Savings Time, or darkness squandering time, as we astronomers call it, starts Sunday. The start times of all our events will spring forward too. Coming up are a lot of International Year of Astronomy events, a few weeknight school star parties, and even an excursion or two to the desert. March 22: Super Science Sunday in Woodland Hills (I am one of the many speakers) http://www.discoverycntr.org/pages/events/sss.htm Two more school star parties - March 24 /Monrovia, and March 31/Hacienda Heights. If you are local and have a telescope we could maybe use some help. March 28: Possible (weather permitting) dark sky observing night near Chiriaco Summitt - I-10 between Indio and Desert Center. If a 150 mile one way drive, ending on a rutted dirt road with absolutely no facilities intrigues you, RSVP to Jane or Mojo. There are some courtesy rules about lights - no white lights, and just let everyone know if you need to drive away, so we just close our eyes for the duration, and RV's and heavy trucks will get stuck in the sand and Triple A will have to be called. There is always room for a couple cars. http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2009-02-28-chuckwalla/index.html March 28th - A more civilized and comfortable location for your first dark sky observing night (with paved parking and toilets, and nearby camping) is the Joshua Tree Star Party at Hidden Valley Picnic Area on the same night. It's a much shorter drive! We're members of the Yucca Valley "Andromeda Society", and occasionally some of us go to this nice spot. But this is an excellent way to try out a dark sky star party and meet (in the dark) some telescopes and celestial sights, and lots of darn nice astronomers. Bring your own binoculars or telescopes. It is a public star party so there are upwards of 100 park visitors walking around looking through the telescopes. April 3 and 4: International Sidewalk Astronomy weekend and also the big International Year of Astronomy "100 Hours of Astronomy" event. If you want to do something special and you have your own telescope, here's where to register: http://100hoursofastronomy.org/ Rather than joining us, or in addition to joining us on one of our nights, why not set up a telescope in your own neighborhood, and register your event on the 100 Hours of Astronomy website! April 5 is IYA Sun Day - I suppose we might do something solar if we have any "solar" energy left. :-) April 25th - Joining forces with the Southwest Herpetologists Society, we're holding the first (annual?) Herping Star Party April 25th at Hole in the Wall Group Campsite in Mohave National Preserve. Group campsites will be "first come first served" Day time herping (for desert tortoises, chuckwallas, snakes and more) and night time star gazing. So far there are about 5 tents-worth of our group going, and I hear there are about 10 Herpetologists. :-) All the other weekends in March and April are travel weekends for Jane and Mojo - lots of family visits for us in the eastern and pacific time zones. May 2 and 3 are JPL Open House http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/open-house.cfm and May 1 and 2 will be our May sidewalk astronomy events. That will be one busy weekend for your sidewalk correspondent! -- 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

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