- OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

Upcoming Astronomy events
by Jane Houston Jones 06 Apr '14

06 Apr '14

Hi everyone! Last night's pass of the International Space Station was fun to watch from Myrtle and Lime Streets. We had a big crowd out to watch with us. There is another excellent pass tonight from the LA area. It begins at 7:58 PM Pacific time, is 6 min in duration, with a maximum height of 78 degrees, begining in the South-Southwest sky at 7:58 pm. The International Space Station reaches its highest elevation at 8:01 p.m. and ends at 8:04 p.m. in the East-Northeast. I signed up for an email alert from this website and get a notice the day before the next pass. Here's the link. http://spotthestation.nasa.gov <http://t.co/FnACewXJOw> I also use this website for more satellite passes and nice maps, Heaven's Above, http://www.heavens-above.com/. I set up dozens of our commonly used observing locations, but the SpotTheSyation email is easy! I also updated our Old Town Astronomers with hightlights of the month (Lunar Eclipse in April 14) and upcoming event dates. On the west coast the eclipse begins at 9:53 p.m. and ends at 3:38 a.m. If you just want to catch the *total eclipse*, set your alarm clock for midnight on the West Coast. The total eclipse will last *an hour and a half from beginning to end*. Several people asked us last night about observing from a dark sky. Our next public dark sky star party is on May 31, in Mojave National Preserve's Black Canyon Group Campsite. It's highly recommended to arrive before dark (sunset is at 8:30 p.m.), enjoy the potluck, set up your tent in the large group campsite (RSVP required but there is no cost), and visit the Hole in the Wall visitor center open 10-4 Saturdays, or take some of the nearby hikes. Then near 8:30 p.m. we'll share views through an assortment of telescopes for as long as there are people wishing to observe with us (or until we poop out). We typically leave some telescopes up all night to catch special views before dawn. More on that closer to the date. The Mojave National Preserve doesn't have the Spring Star party flyer up yet (I owe them a "what we'll see" writeup) but you can look at the November 2013 flyer to get the flavour of the event. You can see the park map here to plan your driving, where the visitor centers and attractions are. http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping-groups.htm We drive from Monrovia by driving to Barstow, then I-40. Wen we get to Ludlow it's 49 miles east past Ludlow to the Essex Road turnoff on I-40. After 10 miles you bear right on Black Canyon Road. Follow Black Canyon Road another ten miles to Hole-in-the-Wall Campground/Visitor Center (to the left, and Black Canyon Group campground to the right) The large group campground, with pit toilets, a water pump, covered picnic tables, fire pit and flat cement pad for telescopes is 1/4 mile further on a gravel road (not suitable for motorcycles, we learned last year) I'll let you know the RSVP # soon, but you can always send me an email and I'll pass on any names/numbers to the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy folks. Hope to see some of you this year! It's a long drive, but with dark skies, a free campsite, and plenty of daytime hikes nearby it's an experience you'll cherish as much as we do! See you on our next sidewalk date, May 3! Jane <http://t.co/FnACewXJOw> -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE

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Sidewalk astronomy Saturday the 5th! 7-9 p.m.
by Jane Houston Jones 05 Apr '14

05 Apr '14

There is so much to see this month in our night skies! Mars at opposition, a lunar eclipse and April's Lyrid meteor shower. We can show you some of these objects on the Monrovia Sidewalk Saturday night, April 5th. We can show you Mars, which will be low in the eastern sky, but it's better later in the evening than our sidewalk hours.On April 8 Mars reaches opposition, in its nearly two-year orbit, when it's directly opposite the sun in our sky. This year Mars will be closer to Earth than it has been since 2007. Mars rises in the East in the early evening and is visible all night long. We'll show you the crescent moon, but in another week you can see a total eclipse, but not during our public sidewalk astronomy hours. The lunar eclipse will be visible to everyone in North and South America and the Pacific on April 14 and 15. On the west Coast the eclipse begins at 9:53 p.m. and ends at 3:38 a.m. If you just want to catch the total eclipse, set your alarm clock for midnight on the West Coast. The total eclipse will last an hour and a half from beginning to end. Finally,this month's Lyrid meteor shower peaks on the night of April 22 and the morning of April 23. The third quarter moon rises an hour past midnight, brightening the sky. But the moon will only obscure the fainter meteors. Luckily, the Lyrids are known to produce bright meteors, many with persistent trains. I am betting some LA Urban skywatchers will see some. If not, watch my What's Up video to enjoy these objects vicariously, here: What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE Hope to see some of you tomorrow night in Monrovia! NOTE: Calendar for public dark sky National Park star parties: Next Mojave National Preserve Star Party is May 31, next Yosemite Glacier Point Star Party (Jane and Mojo will be there with our friends from the San Jose Astronomical Association) July 25, 26. But there are public star parties at Glacier Point each non-full moon weekend between July 4 and Labor Day. Members bring telescopes, public invited and at no charge. These two are some of the best dark skies in the country, and dedicated to public astronomy, and free of charge. -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight What's Up For April? Lyrids, Lunar Eclipse, Mars at Opposition http://youtu.be/DOS-LkdTTGE

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Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday night
by Jane Houston Jones 08 Mar '14

08 Mar '14

Saturday, March 8 is the 7th International Sidewalk Astronomy Night. Join your friendly Sidewalk Astronomers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m at Myrtle and Lime Streets in Monrovia for gorgeous views of the moon and Jupiter. The Sidewalk Astronomers were founded by our good friend and inspiration John Dobson, who died January 15 at the age of 98. If you can't join us, I hope you'll all step outside Saturday night, look up at the moon, or take that telescope out and show your neighbors the moon! My monthly podcast (the 81st since 2007) is about a rare occultation of a star by an asteroid. There's great animation showing what will happen. Sadly it's only visible from the east coast. Here's the link: youtu.be/U78i1gLPeaY -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight What's Up For March? An East coast asteroid occultation youtu.be/U78i1gLPeaY

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Not a good night, but we'll try
by Morris Jones 09 Feb '14

09 Feb '14

Jane will be at Myrtle & Lime in Monrovia tonight with her 10-inch telescope, though the sky conditions are deteriorating. We'll try from about 6:30 for an hour. As bad as the sky looks, it's probably not worth a special trip. March 8 will be our next sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://whiteoaks.com

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Sidewalk Astronomy tonight: Monrovia
by Jane Houston Jones 08 Feb '14

08 Feb '14

We'll attempt to see the moon and Jupiter tonight from Myrtle and Lime Streets from 6:30 - 8:30, through hazy skies. We'll celebrate the life of John Dobson, our friend and founder of the Sidewalk Astronomers, who died on January 15, at the age of 98. Mojo and I were lucky to have been at his 98th birthday party in September 2013. I thanked him (again) for introducing me to the night sky, public astronomy and science education over 25 years ago. Tonight I'll bring the first telescope I made in his 1988 telescope making class. Making that telescope, especially grinding and polishing my first mirror, with his assistance, has led me on many unexpected journeys, including the journey to Southern California ten years ago. The first question I was asked on an interview for my job in Education and Public Outreach for JPL's Cassini Mission to Saturn was "Did you really make a telescope in John Dobson's class"? Really! During my first week on the job, that same manager stopped by my desk and asked: "I have a 6-inch telescope with a really dirty mirror, can you clean it for me? Yes! See you tonight, I hope! If not, watch February's What's Up, my 80th monthly stargazing podcast. http://youtu.be/KiSqDly3ZRs 25 years ago, when I was taking my first looks through my homemade telescope, I never would have dreamed it would lead me here! Thanks, John :-) -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInSight What's Up For Feb? All the planets, Dawn & Rosetta http://youtu.be/KiSqDly3ZRs

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Canceled sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia
by Morris Jones 12 Jan '14

12 Jan '14

This little band of clouds had just the right timing to wipe out the sky in Monrovia tonight. If you can see the moon, and are desperate for a look, a couple of our members are set up at Santa Fe Dam for another couple of hours, or until the sky is hopeless. Our next sidewalk astronomy opportunity will be February 7 in Monrovia. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://whiteoaks.com

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Space Station pass tonight
by Morris Jones 27 Dec '13

27 Dec '13

If you're in the Los Angeles area, tonight is a good opportunity to view the International Space Station. It'll be passing just off the California coast, flying from north to south. It'll first appear low in the northwest at about 6:34 p.m. By 6:37 it will be very high in the sky and very bright. At 6:38 it passes into eclipse, that is to say, into Earth's shadow. (On the station, they'll be watching a sunset, as they do every 90 minutes.) The station is about 230 miles above earth, and currently has six astronauts on board. Give them a wave as they pass! It will be magnitude -3, brighter than the bright planet Jupiter at -2.4 which you'll see low in the northeast at the same time as the station pass. To see the station, there are three requirements: 1. It must be passing within 150 miles or so, 2. The sun must be down for you, and 3. The station must be in sunlight. So usually the only times are near sunset or sunrise. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://whiteoaks.com

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Sidewalk Astronomy likely rained out tomorrow
by Jane Houston Jones 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

The weather doesn't look promising for Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday night, so if you want to do some armchair astronomy this weekend, here are some great reading materials: NASA Begins Search For What Is Left Of Comet ISON http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/nasa-begins-search-for-what-is-left-of-… In Memoriam: Comet ISON http://www.isoncampaign.org/karl/in-memoriam Jane's What's Up for December: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm If the weather clears up, we'll send a note! -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight What's Up? ISON perihelion, Venus conjunction, Winter constellations http://youtu.be/_UlmGDoUI5YMy 2013 - Year At A Glance Astro Blog http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/

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Sidewalk astronomy tonight!
by Jane Houston Jones 09 Nov '13

09 Nov '13

We'll be out sharing views of the moon and Venus tonight at Myrtle and Lime Streets in Monrovia tonight. We'll be there by 6:30 for sure, now that it gets dark earlier! Read (and listen) to my info about the MAVEN Launch to Mars a week from Monday, and an comet ISON update. I'll be attending the launch, bringing agood luck banner to the MAVEN team signed by the InSight Mission team (I am the outreach person for Insight, launching to Mars in 2016) And don't forget our rescheduled Mojave National Preserve star Party November 30. We'll have a gorgeous sky filled with the remnants of summer constellations and the Milky Way, which make way for the constellations of fall. Then in the hour before morning twilight, we'll (hopefully) be up to look at a few comets. It's unlikely Comet ISON will be visible (it passes nearest the sun on November 28th, and that means even if it survives, it will be very near the sun, too close for safe viewing. If there is a comet tail to be seen on the horizon, we'll let everyone know before they go to bed saturday night. Being November, It will be cold probably, but as John Dobson says "Many are cold, but few are frozen" I'll end with Mojo's three lovely comet images from our trip to Amboy Crater last weekend. All three were imaged (and seen visually through my telescope too) between 3:00am and 4:00am Sunday morning) Comet R1 Lovejoyhttp://whiteoaks.com/astrophotos/2013-11-02/C2013-R1-Lovejoy-2013-11… Comet S1 ISONhttp://whiteoaks.com/astrophotos/2013-11-02/C2012-S1-ISON-2013-11-02.jpg Comet 2P (a periodic comet returning every 3 years) 2P Encke http://whiteoaks.com/astrophotos/2013-11-02/2P-encke-2013-11-02-5min.jpg -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight What's Up For Nov? Maven Launch Nov 18, Comet ISON races towards the sun http://youtu.be/MwP1UVCH6ck My 2013 - Year At A Glance Astro Blog http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/

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Mojave National Preserve star party postopned
by Jane Houston Jones 22 Oct '13

22 Oct '13

Due to the shutdown which ended last week, some of the National Preserve groups and individuals who coordinate the star party were unable to do so. We plan to reschedule the twice-a-year Mojave National Preserve star party. The campground is already reserved, and it's possible a few of the astronomers will be there on their own, but the pot luck, firewood, invited members of the community won't be there. If you want to know if there will be an astronomer or two, let me know - and I'll get back to you before Friday. Sorry about that! Tentatively planning November 30 - and spring 2014 will be announced well in advance, subject to campground availability. As a conolation. here's a spooky observing writeup in time for Halloween! http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2009/10/30/spooky-halloween-observing/ I'll update the Comet ISON opportunities soon (dawn, low in eastern sky)! Hint: It's not visible to the unaided eye yet. -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight What's Up? Juno Earth Flyby Oct.9, #IOMN, far side of moon NASA video youtu.be/ReoS1xVQGVI My 2013 - Year At A Glance Astro Blog http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/

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