Several of us are out of town or on vacation, or welcoming a new baby
but Mojo and I want to get out with telescopes and show Jupiter, Mars
and Saturn, plus the moon tonight. Sunset is at about 8 p.m. so wander
by our Sidewalk Astronomy corner -- Myrtle and Lime streets in Monrovia
between 8 and 9:30 p.m. It should cool to about 79 or 80 degrees by
sunset. :-)
--
Jane Houston Jones
What's Up June 2016:
Saturn opposition, planets and a comet!
https://youtu.be/M7RtIa9zBYA
Well, no chance of sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia tonight. Bu behind
those clouds are some gorgeous views of the planets Saturn, Mrs and Jupiter.
Learn what's up this month in my monthly podcast
https://youtu.be/M7RtIa9zBYA, transcript here (and feel free to share!)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1427
Tonight's weather isn't this "reverse clearing" but still, this is a
very interesting chance in our May Grey/June Gloom weather - clearing at
the coast, high fog lingering up against the mountains.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/05/18/60754/la-s-may-grey-unusual-this-year-t…
And just as a reminder, our free dark sky star party in the Mojave
National Preserve is June 25th - just two weeks away. Weather
permitting, the Milky Way will be glorious!
A few links and info I have sent our to several of you who plan to attend:
Our star party is held at the Black Canyon Group Campground (close to
the Hole-In-The-Wall visitor center and campground) in the middle of
Mojave National Preserve. about 170 miles from Monrovia.
A*RSVP* is required, but there is no charge for the event -- the RSVP is
for # of tents/cars. There is a facebook group and you can RSVP there
https://www.facebook.com/events/695749230564590/, or you can call or
email our wonderful coordinator from the Mojave National Preserve
Conservancy David Lanfrom dlanfrom(a)ncpa.org or 760-219-4916 - he is
the best person to answer more questions.
The directions are here -- the last quarter mile is not paved:
https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/directions.htm
Directions to Hole-in-the-Wall
From I-40:/ Exit Essex Road and drive north 10 miles to the junction
with Black Canyon Road. Hole-in-the-Wall is 10 miles north on Black
Canyon Road.
And here is a zoomed in version of the area centered on the Black Canyon
Campground --
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.04204,-115.3879753,2413m/data=!3m1!1e3
It is a very large group campsite, with plenty of parking.
Arrive before sunset (which is at 8:08 p.m.), and there will be a
potluck beginning at about 6 p.m., with rangers from the National Park
Service, members of the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy and the
sidewalk astronomers and all our guests all sharing the potluck, and a
few saying a few words to the group. There is a large firepit, covered
pavilion with 8 picnic tables, trash/recycling critter-proof cans, a
pump with water for washing dishes, and pit toilets, which you can see
if you zoom in close on the google map. You can also see the circular
parking area and the large sandy/brushy area for tents. So bring a tent,
sleeping bag (or car camp), pot luck or bring something to eat for
dinner, there is room for camp stoves on the picnic tables if you want
to cook. The Conservancy provides lots of drinks, chips, some food,
there is always vegetarian food, but you can bring your own. A local
family often makes tamales (both meat and vegetarian), and/or soup or
stew, again veg/meat.
All the guests come up and spend time at the telescope, white
flashlights are not appreciated at the telescopes, we suggest not using
the flashlight at all at telescopes. As your eyes adapt you can see very
nicely without lights. But our star party is very informal, and we just
ask people to cover flashlights with your hand, and turn them off at the
telescopes, no cell phones or iPads or other light emitting devices up
at the telescopes preferred. Most people spend time at the tables eating
or snacking, or talking and storytelling at the big fire pit, Dogs are
permitted and there are usually several -- some on leashes and some not,
all very nice dogs. Kids are welcome.
--
Jane Houston Jones
What's Up June 2016:
Saturn opposition, planets and a comet!
https://youtu.be/M7RtIa9zBYA
