- OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

Spotting Comet PanSTARRS
by Jane Houston Jones 10 Mar '13

10 Mar '13

Mojo and I are going to our favorite observing location this afternoon, Amboy Crater, to try and view comet PanSTARRS just after sunset at 5:57 p.m. From now through the end of March, the comet should be naked-eye visible very low on the western horizon - low meaning about 10 degrees above the unobstructed horizon for those at latitude 40 (we are at 34 degrees North latitude here in the LA area), so it will be even a few degrees lower than that here throughout March. But it will be visible in April and May (through a telescope) higher and fainter in the sky. This month, use binoculars to scan the western horizon. Ten degrees can be measured by holding your clenched fist at arms-length distance, then with thumb-up, place the bottom of your fist on the horizon. The top of your fist (put your thumb back down first) will be ten degrees above the horizon. You'll see it's not very high. The comet's tail will be like your thumb up - because the tail will be pointing straight up. It's easy to see why -- comets tails point away from the sun. Any spot where you have an unobstructed view of the western horizon just at sunset is where you should look. Here in LA, looking west on the horizon generally means looking through a hazy (smoggy) or foggy layer of our atmosphere. The viewing window is just about a half hour after sunset right now - sunset until about 6:30 p.m. Longer window next week, but still very low. Watch my video for tips. Youtube: http://bit.ly/ZzW1bt You are welcome to join us - sorry for the late notice, we were waiting to see how the storm affected the deserts before deciding where and when to go. Amboy, CA 92304 is an unincorporated town in San Bernardino County, in California's Mojave Desert, west of Needles and east of Ludlow on historic Route 66. It is roughly 60 miles northeast of Twentynine Palms. Amboy Crater is a BLM landmark with a big parking lot. It takes us about 3 hours (including a sandwich stop in Barstow) to get there, and we'll arrive at about 4:30 p.m. to set up our equipment. It will be cold and windy tonight, so we plan to observe for about 4 hours then drive back home. It is not a campsite, so no tents, but you can sleep/rest in your car overnight and take a hike in the morning to the volcanic crater. There are pit toilets in the parking lot. We set up our two telescopes at the very end, next to the rest room. http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2011-10-22-amboy/Site%20Pictures/index.html If you do come, there are some universal courtesy tips to avoid blinding the observers. The San Jose Astronomical Association has a great list http://www.sjaa.net/etiquette.html To this list, most important is to arrive before sunset. It is virtually impossible to see the turnoff from Route 66 in the dark, and you will miss the comet hunt unless your are all ready to look at sunset. Park with your car lights pointed away from the telescopes closer to the entrance end of the lot. Switch your car's interior lights off if you can. We always bring some red carlight repair tape to place over very small flashlights, leave those big flashlights at home, you won't need them. No iPad, tablet, cell phones light near the (my) telescopes, please. Just step away and face your light away from the telescopes if you'd like to use them. They are fun to use, but will ruin (this) observer's dark adaption. Bring a chair, layers, binoculars, hydration. Oh there are trains with lights all night long, but I set up away from that light. You'll love to hear them in the dark. :-) Since this is short notice, you may want to consider joining us on May 11 at our campground star party at Mojave National Preserve instead. Hopefully, the comet will still be visible. The light pollution rules are a little more relaxed (except right near the telescopes) since it is a public star party. Last fall's flyer is here with directionshttp://mojavepreserve.org/index.php/site/article/star_party_in_th… If you do see the comet from LA let us know! Your chances are good if you can see the western horizon with no clouds or haze. Try with binoculars. We'll share what we see, how hard it was, tips and tricks tomorrow! Wish us luck! Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Video March 2013: Comet PanSTARRS On Youtube: http://bit.ly/ZzW1bt 2013 Preview: http://bit.ly/13NrNHy

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You're invited to the Science Expo at Monrovia High School Saturday March 2
by Jane Houston Jones 01 Mar '13

01 Mar '13

Monrovia High School has been one of six schools in the nation chosen to host a downlink from the International Space Station this year! The downlink event will take place on Tuesday, March 5^th . All the 5^th graders and all the 8^th graders in MUSD will travel to the MHS Auditorium to be part of this amazing event! As the kick -- off for this event, MHS is hosting their first Science Expo tomorrow, Saturday March 2 10-2 p.m. and a star parety 6-8 p.m. This fun, free, public family event includes demonstrations from the Santa Fe Dam RC Modelers Club, UniTek lazers, FIRST Robotics, and GAVRT Radio telescope. Other booths will include glider making, Pinewood Derby and MHS Chess Club workshops, and information from the Deep Space Network, NASA/IPAC (CalTech Infrared Processing and Analysis Center) , the Planetary Society. The Sidewalk Astronomers will be sharing views of the sun through several different solar telescopes. Food will be sold, including hot dogs, pizza, and smoothies. This event will be on Saturday, March 2^nd in the MHS Quad from 10am to 2pm. You can stay later, and there wil be a star party from dusk until 8 p.m. The school address is 845 W Colorado Blvd Monrovia, CA 91016 In other news, I talk about the appearance of Comet PanStarrs in our skies beginning about March 10 through early May in my monthly video. The comet will be naked eye visible (somewhere between the magnitude of the bright star Sirius below Orion, and the dipper stars, but also extremely low to the horizon. An unobstructed view down to the horizon will be necessary - the comet will not get above 10 degrees above the horizon in March, higher but fainter in April and May. Binoculars will help you pull the comet out of the murky horizon. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWC5xAxKTU0 Archive site with many formats http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=1424 Hope to see you Saturday for some fun with the sun! -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ http://twitter.com/jhjones What's Up For March? Will Comet Pan-STARRS be bright? http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm Youtube:http://youtu.be/jYs6Mw744VA 2013 At A Glance http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/

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Live Asteroid DA14 video and image stream on UStream
by Jane Houston Jones 15 Feb '13

15 Feb '13

DA14 closest approach today: 11:25 a.m. PST, 2:25 p.m. EST (19:25 UTC) live video/images now! ustream.tv/nasajpl2 in 20 minutes!! NASA coverage 11 am (now) with interviews, etc. http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv Pasadena Star News article: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_22591119/asteroid-flyby-viewings-be-avai… -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ http://twitter.com/jhjones What's Up For Feb? An asteroid flyby, a comet preview http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm Youtube: http://youtu.be/jYs6Mw744VA Yosemite Night Skies Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch

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sidewalk astro & more!
by Jane Houston Jones 15 Feb '13

15 Feb '13

There will probably be a few telescopes in Monrovia Saturday night (not Mojo and mine, we are on travel), and for sure a few other telescopes, including ours next weekend, weather permitting. The moon and Jupiter will be fabulous both weekends. No on to the email of many links: 2013 - monthly highlights - lots to look forward to this year!! http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/ Asteroid flyby - explanatory video, some charts, and frequently asked questions: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2523 A few of the most asked FAQs: *Q: What is asteroid DA14* A: Asteroid 2012 DA14 is a small near-Earth object - approximately 150 feet (45 meters) in diameter. On Feb. 15, 2013, the asteroid will pass by our planet at a remarkably close distance, but the asteroid's path is understood well enough that there is no chance of a collision with the Earth. *Q: What date and what time will the asteroid be closest to Earth?* A: Asteroid 2012 DA14 will be closest to Earth on Feb. 15 at approximately 19:24 UTC (2:24 p.m. EST/11:24 a.m. PST). This time may change by a minute or two as the asteroid is tracked on its approach and predictions are refined. At the time of closest approach, the asteroid will be over the eastern Indian Ocean, off Sumatra -- approx. latitude: -6 deg South. / longitude: 97.5 deg East. These near earth asteroids are not very easy to spot in telescopes. This one will be extremely faint (as faint as Pluto at Magnitude 13 when in our night sky, moving swiftly past earth, about 10pm tomorrow night. Here is my tale of near earth asteroid watching - one in 2002,one in 2011 http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2011/11/10/watching-asteroids-fly-by/ Breaking news at 10:30 pm: I'll report more tomorrow when I see news and videos that have been verified, but seems a bolide exploded over Russia - Urals-city of Chelyabinsk -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for Feb:Asteroid flyby, comet preview On Youtube: http://youtu.be/uEqt0yE6EG0 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ Yosemite Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch

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Sidewalk Astronomy tonight!
by Jane Houston Jones 12 Feb '13

12 Feb '13

We'll have a couple telescopes out tonight in Monrovia from 6:30 - 8:30 or so. On display will be the 13-day moon (nearly full) and Jupiter. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood. Also, we now have a date for our twice-annual Mojave National Preserve Star party - May 6. Though this flyer is for last fall's event, you can get a feel for the event, and can RSVP if you'd like to attend. Free camping, bring something for saturday night potluck. You might want a chair to sit in and gaze at the night sky. http://mojavepreserve.org/index.php/site/article/star_party_in_the_mjave_na… Free camping, unlimited stargazing, Comet Pan-STARRS (our March comet) should still be visible. Weather permitting, Mojo and I are planning dark sky observing outings to Amboy Crater March 9 and April 6. Amboy Crater is not a campsite - it's a large parking lot, and we usually snooze in our car a little after observing, and sometimes take a hike to the crater in the morning. If you are interesting in joining us, sent me an email! Jane 2013 What's Up - at a glance http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/ -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for February: Asteroid flyby, comet & planet previews. On Youtube:http://bit.ly/WM4Ka4 Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones,CassiniSaturn,NASAInSight,otastro My Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

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Things to do on a rainy Sidewalk Astronomy weekend
by Jane Houston Jones 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

Sorry we have to cancel sidewalk astronomy this weekend. Clouds, rain or both don't mix well with telescopes. Luckily we've been able to work in 4 (or more) school/public star parties over the last 2 weeks or so. Two of them had a Disney connection. First, the Sidewalk Astronomers and the Los Angeles Astronomical Society were invited to set up telescopes on the sidewalk outside Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles on the 10th, 11th and 12th of January. http://twitpic.com/burd6f The concert? Gustav Holtz's The Planets, Opus 32, naturally! Then on the 22nd, Mojo set up our big refractor telescope outside his Disney Grand Central Creative Campus office in Glendale. http://twitpic.com/bxgwt3 We dodged clouds but moon and Jupiter popped out every now and then. In between, we had successful school star parties at Andres Duarte Elementary and Hamilton Elementary in Pasadena. This time of the year is perfect for school star parties since it gets dark by 6 p.m. A note to teachers thinking of asking us to bring telescopes - ask several months in advance, and let us recommend the date to maximize the chance of seeing something :-) We are planning a Mojave National Preserve spring star party, but I have not heard a final date. I put in for March 9, or April 6 or May 11. I'll let you know which date is - those from our email list who have attended can vouch for the fun and fabulous skies! Mojo and I will likely head to Amboy Crater on the other two dates, and you are free to join us - it is a large parking lot, not a campsite, tho. So what's Up? January has been spectacular for the doorstep astronomer - all you had to do is step outside and see planets and moon pairings at dawn and in the evening. Our friend Jack learned a good tip -- hold on to something sturdy when looking straight overhead at the moon and Jupiter! My January podcast is all about those pairings, and is linked to my blog below. And February's podcast will be about a near-Earth asteroid on the 15th (won't be visible easily, and only through telescopes), Mercury as high as it gets on the 16th, Mercury moon and Mars near one another from the 6-11th) and moon and Jupiter on the 18. And some other stuff. :-) I sat down and mapped out monthly What's Up in 2013 previews to offer a tantalizing peek into the future. It's right here on my blog post, which I'll be updating as we learn more about the two potentially great comets in 2013 - one in March and one in December! http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ Our next astro dates, weather permitting, will be Feb 9 (potential dark sky trip, weather and schedules permitting) Feb 15 Pasadena, and 16th Monrovia. Take care, everybody! -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for January: Close Encounters (planets & moon) On Youtube:http://is.gd/kPUtSx Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

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Morning sky planet viewing chart
by Jane Houston Jones 22 Nov '12

22 Nov '12

Oops - the morning planet viewing chart mentioned in my previous email is here: http://img.whiteoaks.com/jane/Public/Starchart_11_23_630am_east.jpg And my November What's Up podcast is here (and in my signature line) http://youtu.be/J7kJx0OLAmM -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for November: Jupiter all night long! On Youtube: http://is.gd/kPUtSx Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

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Happy Thanksgiving - no sidewalk stargazing this weekend
by Jane Houston Jones 22 Nov '12

22 Nov '12

Hi everyone, our sidewalk astronomers are all visiting family (or working or traveling) this first quarter moon weekend, so we won't be setting up telescopes in Pasadena or Monrovia Friday or Saturday night. There is plenty to see if you step outside and look up! I've been exchanging emails with one of our loyal Monrovia/Duarte telescope viewers over the last week. Jack has been looking up, wondering the name of this star or that planet. It's been fun to exchange emails with him. We are so thankful for our Sidewalk Astronomy family, both those with and without telescopes. So, in lieu of telescopes on the sidewalk, and thanks to Jack's questions, here are some pointers to great views you can see tonight, and for the next month. In the evening sky, you can't miss Jupiter alongside (to the left of) bright red Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the bull. Aldebaran is classified a K star -- an orange giant, and is one of the brightest stars in our sky. Look east to see them both, you can't miss Jupiter, and now you know something about that pretty star to the right of Jupiter! Now look above these two. Do you see the Pleiades star cluster? Jack asked me what the bright star an out-stretched hand away from Jupiter is called. To the left of Jupiter, is Capella, the brightest star in Auriga. It's a G stellar classification "yellow" star 10 times the diameter of our G classified Sun! But that's not the star Jack was viewing. He was noticing a brilliant white star rising above the building obscuring his eastern horizon, and to the right of and below Jupiter at about 10 p.m. I stepped out in my jammies at 10 p.m. to see. It was Rigel! The knee of the great constellation Orion was rising above my building obscuring eastern horizon, too. Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the sixth brightest star in the sky! Through binoculars, you may see it's companion. Rigel is a blue-white Class B super-giant 117,000 times as luminous as our sun! Here's a star chart for 9:30 p.m. tonight - and the next month. http://img.whiteoaks.com/jane/Public/Starchart_11_22_930pm_east.jpg Now, if you are up before sunrise tomorrow morning, and have a clear view to the east, you'll see bright Venus, Saturn below, and Mercury, if you can see clear down to the southeast horizon. Here's a star chart for you morning stargazers: http://img.whiteoaks.com/jane/Public/Starchart_11_22_930pm_east.jpg I bet many of you know the little acronym for stellar classification OBAFGKM - or Oh, Be A Fine Girl/Guy, Kiss Me. If not, here's what those letters and colors mean: http://www.astronomygcse.co.uk/AstroGCSE/New%20Site/Topic%203/o_b_a_f_g_k_m… Our next sidewalk astro weekend will most likely be Dec 21/22, so we may run into the same travel/work/family comes first scenario with our telescope wranglers. If you wander down to our sidewalk corner at Myrtle and Lime streets over the next month, you'll see a whole bunch of new "stars" of many stellar classifications, draped on trees, and everywhere. If we miss next month too, we'll return once those artificial stars are put away for another year, and instead, I'll regale you with a bad poem, a new starchart, and wish you the most happiest winter solstice season. :-) Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for Sept: Observe and wink at the moon On Youtube:http://is.gd/kPUtSx Twitter:http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog:http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ Yosemite Videohttp://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch

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Sidewalk Astro make-up session Saturday night
by Jane Houston Jones 27 Oct '12

27 Oct '12

Sorry about last week, clouds obscured the moon on our sidewalk astronomy night. We'll have a fabulous sky tomorrow night, however. That's Saturday the 27th if you want to view the moon with us from 6:30 - 8:30 or so. Myrtle and Lime Streets. Those Santa Ana winds scoured the sky - making perfect conditions for moon-watching. Since Halloween is nearly here, here is my annual Spooky Observing list. Those with telescopes can enjoy the observing tricks and treats. Those who observe from their armchair will enjoy a good read and some pretty images, I hope! http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2009/10/30/spooky-halloween-observing/ Check our website for viewing highlights, next event dates, and other starry goodness :-) http://www.otastro.org/ See some of you Saturday night (I hope) Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ http://twitter.com/jhjones What's Up for Oct video: View Vesta, Ceres, Orinids, Taurids http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews Yosemite Night Skies Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch

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Sidewalk Astronomy clouded out Saturday (tonight)
by Jane Houston Jones 20 Oct '12

20 Oct '12

The skies over Monrovia are covered with marine layer right now. The skies at Mount Wilson, on the other hand, are clear, sort of. Take a look at the Mt. Wilson 150-foot towercam, and you'll see clear skies at the peaks, but creeping marine layer almost reaching to the observatory. http://obs.astro.ucla.edu/towercam.htm#imagetop So, sadly, we're cancelling Sidewalk Astronomy tonight. Next Saturday night, is a not-quite-full-moon, and we'll tentatively reschedule for that night -- Saturday, October 27th, 6:30-9:00 p.m. This cloud layer will also wash out meteor watching overnight, too, most likely. The forecast calls for a slight chance of drizzle after 8 p.m. Some of our astronomers will be heading east to catch some shooting stars. If you are so inclined, take a look at all these astronomers maps - the Clear Sky charts, and head for an area not showing white in the hourly grids - those indicate cloud cover. http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/California_charts.html Finally, since it's an indoor-stargazing and meteor-gazing kind of night, here's a writeup about the huge meteor (probably a small asteroid, actually) that broke up over northern California last Wednesday night. There were reports from Long beach to Red Bluff, with a sonic boom and a terminal burst - like a roman candle as the meteor broke up into pieces. It broke up over Marin County, where I grew up! Dr. jenniskens is out looking for dark pieces this weekend. if you find one, take a picture and send it to him by email petrus.m.jenniskens <http://petrus.m.jenniskens>@ nasa.gov Over and out, Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for Sept: Observe and wink at the moon On Youtube: http://is.gd/kPUtSx Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ Yosemite Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch

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