- OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

No sky in Monrovia
by Morris Jones 08 May '11

08 May '11

The clouds never cleared very much here, and the broken ones are filling in. We're going to cancel tonight's Sidewalk Astronomy, and try again next weekend. We'll have a bigger moon, and of course good Saturn. May Gray and June Gloom caused by the "Catalina Eddy" often gives us these kind of conditions this time of year. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

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Monrovia sidewalk tonight
by Morris Jones 07 May '11

07 May '11

Tonight, Library Park, 7:30 - 9:30 or so ... We'll have a thin crescent moon and lots of Saturn. But the weather forecast calls for fog to move in during the evening. It may be a short night. It is International Sidewalk Astronomy Night though! If you haven't already, be sure to see Jane's _What's Up_ for May, all about the morning planet gathering: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=824 Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

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Calling off sidewalk astronomy tonight - clouds and chance of rain
by Jane Houston Jones 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Mojo is calling our astronomers were planning to attend tonight to tell them it's not worth the drive. There is an unstable air mass, 20% chance of passing showers, so we are cancelling Saturday night stargazing tonight. By the way, the Los Angeles Astronomical Association also cancelled their events tonight just now - that's partly what made do the same - that, and a look out the window! -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA My What's Up Podcast for April: Saturn NASA podcast: http://1.usa.gov/ggypW3 Youtube site: http://bit.ly/hXVHK7 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

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Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - tho' it may be cloudy
by Jane Houston Jones 09 Apr '11

09 Apr '11

If you look at the sky from Monrovia right now, you'll see thick heavy clouds snuggling up to the the San Gabriel Mountains, with a few shafts of sunlight piercing through. But the conditions should turn from poor to below average by 8 p.m. - that means partly cloudy with wobbly views through the telescope. That being said, if you are nearby and want to see the moon, and possibly a poor view of Saturn, come on down to Library Park - we should be there from 8- nearly 10 p.m., unless it continues to be completely cloudy. Even a poor view of Saturn (from the eyes of this jaded long-time telescope wrangler) is still better than no view of the ringed beauty. We'll be showing Saturn for many months now, as it gets higher in the sky, so there will be more chances to see Saturn. A couple dark sky public events coming up will feature Saturn in a dark sky location. Join us (you'll have to RSVP for a camp site) at Mojave National Preserve on the evening of April 23. I know the 24th is Easter, but you can go on a desert tortoise photo hike, and maybe see some jackrabbits and spring blossoms on Sunday instead. :-) Maps, directions, and information about Mojave National Preserve will be found soon (not yet unfortunately) at the Conservancy's website http://www.preservethemojave.org/events.html. You need to contact David Lamfrom to RSVP for a campsite or ask questions at dlamfrom(a)npca.org <mailto:dlamfrom@npca.org> . The event is free, but it is being sponsored by the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy, and they will welcome your membership! Bring a potluck item, there will be a group potluck dinner before stargazing on Saturday night. If you plan to bring a telescope, you can let me know, but be sure to RSVP for a campsite with David too. Then in August, Mojo and I and other members of the San Jose Astronomical Society will be bringing telescopes to share with the public at Glacier Point, Yosemite. Only members of this club can bring telescopes, but all visitors to the National Park can partake of the views. Our weekend is August 26-27, 2011, but there is a different Northern California Astronomy club presenting weekend star parties at Glacier Point every weekend from July 4th to labor day, excepting full moon weekends, and subject to snow clearing the roads. So if your visiting the park this summer, check it out! Finally, check out my April podcast - it features Saturn this month :-) There are stunning views of Saturn in the video! YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/1/pBUkTMk-Icw More formats and educational links: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=804 -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA My What's Up Podcast for April: Saturn NASA podcast: http://1.usa.gov/ggypW3 Youtube site: http://bit.ly/hXVHK7 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/

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No sidewalk astronomy tonight
by Morris Jones 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

Funny thing, most of L.A. county seems to be fairly clear, but Monrovia, sitting up against the Sierra foothills, is mired in moist air making clouds over us. They don't show any sign of dissipating for some looks at the moon tonight. So no sidewalk astronomy tonight. If you happen to be near the El Monte library on Monday evening, we'll have at least one telescope there for looks at the moon. Hope to see you next month, and maybe we'll have some Saturn late in the session. :) Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

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Impromptu sun viewing
by Morris Jones 12 Feb '11

12 Feb '11

Jane and I are going to set up early in Monrovia with solar telescopes and show sunspots, like now!. If you're nearby and have a chance, stop on by. Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

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Sidewalk Astronomy this weekend
by Morris Jones 11 Feb '11

11 Feb '11

It looks like it's going to be great couple of nights for sidewalk astronomy this weekend. We'll have a bright first-quarter moon nearly overhead, and probably our last look at bright Jupiter for this year, before it disappears behind the sun. It sets a little earlier every day. Jane and I plan to be in Old Town Pasadena tonight. We set up on Colorado Blvd., somewhere in the two block stretch from Fair Oaks to Pasadena Ave., depending on where we find to park. Our plan is to be there from about 7:00 'til 9:00 p.m. Tomorrow evening we plan to be at Library Park in Monrovia, on the corner of Myrtle and Lime, from about 6:30 'til 9:00. Cheers! Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

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Dark sky observing, and sidewalk astronomy dates
by Morris Jones 31 Jan '11

31 Jan '11

Jane, and I had a great weekend in the desert along with our fellow sidewalk astronomer Dave, and will quite possibly have another one this coming weekend. I'll put it this way: We left the van packed. :) We took pictures, terrestrial and astronomical, and I wrote about it here: http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2011/01/30/january-observing-a-monoceros-evening/ Our favorite spot is about 150 miles from Monrovia out I-10, so it's quite a commitment to visit with us. Nevertheless, the invitation is always open to come out to the desert, bring your own telescope and binoculars, and mooch views from ours. Our trips to the desert are mostly our own time to do some observing, so it's not necessarily a good time to expect lots of entertainment or a sky show. Even so, it is a social event, and we love the chat, sharing views, having a little picnic, and helping folks find their way in an amazing sky. Our favorite spot has no services, and 4-wheel drive can be handy but not required. We've had some difficulty in the past with heavy vehicles or RVs on the sandy surface. We generally don't announce our desert observing trips widely, so it's up to you to find the Saturday evening closest to the new moon. Hint: It's usually the weekend before our sidewalk astronomy weekends, which feature a first-quarter moon. Another hint: This coming Saturday is a good one, if the weather holds. If this sounds like it's your cup of tea, drop me a note and I'll send you more information. On the other hand, for a more concentrated tour of the real night sky at a location that includes some services (read: bathrooms), make plans to join us in the Mojave National Preserve on April 22 and 23. Meanwhile the Old Town Astronomers web site http://otastro.org has been updated with likely sidewalk dates for the rest of 2011, starting with Pasadena and Monrovia on February 11-12. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA http://bridgemojo.com http://otastro.org http://mojo.whiteoaks.com

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Re: Sidewalk Astronomy tonight in Monrovia
by Morris Jones 15 Jan '11

15 Jan '11

I meant to say 5:30 'til 7:30, or maybe a little longer if the astronomers can cope. :) Morris Jones <mojo(a)whiteoaks.com> wrote: >The Old Town Astronomers will be at Myrtle & Lime tonight from about 5:30 'til 6:30 p.m. at Library Park. Drop by for what should be some great views of the moon and Jupiter! > >Mojo >(Who is at Zion Nat'l Park right now with family!) >_______________________________________________ >OTEvents -- Astronomy announcements for the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers >OTEvents(a)otastro.org >http://mail.otastro.org/mailman/listinfo/otevents

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Sidewalk Astronomy tonight in Monrovia
by Morris Jones 15 Jan '11

15 Jan '11

The Old Town Astronomers will be at Myrtle & Lime tonight from about 5:30 'til 6:30 p.m. at Library Park. Drop by for what should be some great views of the moon and Jupiter! Mojo (Who is at Zion Nat'l Park right now with family!)

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