Tonight's star party is a go! Several of you have RSVP'ed and we are
looking forward to sharing the magnificent skies with you tonight.
Plan to arrive well before sunset so you have time to set up your tent,
and share in the potluck dinner. Bring something you like, and a little
to share. There are typically many salads, chips and dips, and desserts
which are welcome after dark.
There is a large covered picnic table pavilion where you can stow your
camp stove if you are cooking, and you an leave your pot luck out until
you go to bed.
Weather has improved somewhat from earlier cloudy forecasts. It will be
mostly clear, with lows overnight of 61 degrees (high close to 100
during the day). Bring plenty of water and loose layered clothes. It
will be windy - with 8-15 winds and there may be gusts up to 20 mph.
We'll have gorgeous views of Mercury and the moon low on the western
horizon I hope, then Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. In the morning, for those
getting up before dawn, Venus is a real treat. In between, Milky way
wonders and other galaxies. We'll hold another dark sky star party here
in the fall, probably around the of the 20th anniversary of Mojave
National Preserve on October 31.
Info:
http://mojavepreserve.org/index.php/site/article/star_party_in_the_mojave_n…
Clear Sky Chart: http://cleardarksky.com/c/HlWllCpCAkey.html?1
Views from Amboy Crater dark sky night last weekend:
Milky Way Rising from Gary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAtUx-iCZBI
Photos from Jane and Mojo
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2014-05-25-amboy/index.html
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For May? Saturn, Mars, Comets, Meteor Showers
http://youtu.be/4mxFlUCliWg
It may be windy, and the views may not be as perfectly crisp as they can
be, but your local Sidewalk Astronomers will be out tonight at Myrtle
and Lime Streets in Monrovia from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The winds will
determine our end time, but we (at least I) hope we can show majestic
Saturn to everyone.
Tonight is Saturn Opposition. As the Sun sets in the west, Saturn will
rise "opposite" to it in the east. Opposition is when Saturn is closest
to Earth, and so it shines brightest for the year, but will be
beautifully visible for several more months. Since sunset is about 7:45
p.m. Saturn won't rise above the buildings and trees in Monrovia until
about 8:30 p.m., later visible in telescopes.
In addition to Saturn, we'll have a easy-to-see treat with the moon near
Mars. Those not within the sound of my voice, look up and you can easily
see the moon! It's that reddish object to the left of the moon tonight!
Look again tomorrow night and notice Mars above the moon! Saturn will be
the golden "star" rising on the horizon following Mars after sunset.
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For May? Saturn, Mars, Comets, Meteor Showers
http://youtu.be/4mxFlUCliWg
Most of us were not available for sidewalk astronomy tonight, so we'll
try again next weekend, May 10.
But tonight will be a nice night to look us at the nearly crescent moon
low in the Western sky, with bright Jupiter above it. Mars will be
visible midway up the Eastern sky.
And What's Up for May is availabkle on YouTube - it's about Saturn,
Mars, comets and a maybe new meteor shower later in the month.
http://youtu.be/4mxFlUCliWg
See you next weekend, hopefully!
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For May? Saturn, Mars, Comets, Meteor Showers
http://youtu.be/4mxFlUCliWg
