- OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

Cancel tonight's Monrovia sidewalk astronomy
by Jane Houston Jones 15 Mar '08

15 Mar '08

We're cancelling the sidewalk astronomy event in Monrovia tonight due to a 40% chance of thunderstorms. Our friend Bob Eklund is still (as of this morning) planning to hold a viewing event in Memorial Park Sierra Madre tonight. So if this is local for you there is a slight chance that at 7 p.m., if there is anything to see, you can see the moon from Sierra Madre! Last night in Pasadena, as thousands of folks were enjoying the first night of Pasadena Art Weekend we had 350 people stop for a look at Saturn and Mars near the first quarter moon for some performance art with telescopes! Early on, we were joined by a bevy of bicyclists, complete with camera crew, and later by bagpipes and drums, and kilts, oh my! Just a typical Friday night on Colorado Blvd. Here are a few pictures from last night: http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2008-03-14-sidewalk/index.html Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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Sidewalk astronomy, looks good tonight, bad Saturday
by Morris Jones 14 Mar '08

14 Mar '08

Tonight's forecast is "mostly clear," and Jane and I plan to be in Old Town Pasadena from about 7:00 p.m. 'til 10:00, or until we're too cold or hungry to stay. :) While we never know exactly where we'll be, it's always somewhere on the two-block stretch on Colorado Blvd. from Fair Oaks to Pasadena Ave., and usually on the north side of the street. If we find street parking (we usually do), that's where we set up. If not, we can unload near Barnes & Noble, or near One Colorado, and hand the astro van off to valet parking. With the moon and Saturn being very far north in the sky, you might find one or both of us hauling our big dobsonian telescopes across the street for a less obstructed view. We should have great views of the first-quarter moon almost overhead in the sky, and Saturn mid-way up in the east. I often use the analogy that looking up at the sky from the surface of the earth is like looking up from the bottom of a swimming pool. It could be a lot more like that tonight, with upper-level winds bringing us tomorrow's clouds and rain. Which brings up the point that Saturday's forecast is not looking good for sidewalk astronomy. If the "conditions on the ground" look different tomorrow night, I'll update you right here. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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weather update ...
by Morris Jones 20 Feb '08

20 Feb '08

While the NOAA public forecast for tonight is "mostly cloudy," the astronomy-specific Clear Sky Clock <http://cleardarksky.com/c/MnrviaCAkey.html> is actually very promising. I want to emphasize, though, that a total lunar eclipse is not an event that requires a telescope to enjoy. There's really no need to travel anywhere to see it, except perhaps to find clearer skies. If you step out and see the eclipse as the moon goes in, sits in, and comes out of the Earth's shadow, it's a very satisfying sight! Here are the specific times: Moon rise: 5:32 p.m. Partial eclipse begins: 5:43 p.m. Total eclipse begins: 7:01 p.m. Total eclipse ends: 7:51 p.m. Partial eclipse ends: 9:09 p.m. This chart has times for the pacific coast: <http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2008Feb21/image/TLE2008Feb2…> From Library Park in Monrovia, the moon isn't likely to be above the nearby buildings before almost 7:00. That's when we plan to have the telescope available. We'll also have Saturn to see. It'll be the bright golden star right next to the totally eclipsed moon. And don't forget Jane's "What's Up" podcast: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/whatsup/whatsup20080219/ Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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What's Up and eclipse forecast
by Morris Jones 20 Feb '08

20 Feb '08

JPL just published Jane's "What's Up" for February, which has a great explanation of a lunar eclipse, and information about viewing Saturn: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/whatsup/whatsup20080219/ Now about that eclipse ... :) The current forecast is "mostly cloudy," which might mean we'll get to see peeks of the moon through what astronomers call "sucker holes," meaning they suck you into going observing when it's really hopeless. :) Nevertheless, as long as it isn't raining, and there are some breaks in the clouds, I plan to set up a telescope at Myrtle & Lime in hopes of catching a few glimpses of the moon in eclipse. You can see the eclipse from anywhere that isn't cloudy of course, but we'd love to have you drop by and say "Hi" if you're out and about! Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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Another good ISS pass tonight
by Morris Jones 18 Feb '08

18 Feb '08

Tonight (Monday Feb. 18) there's an excellent pass of the International Space Station over Los Angeles, and if the timing is right, it will be followed or preceded by the space shuttle, making for a great double pass. The shuttle is scheduled to undock this morning. Look in the northwest starting at 5:50 p.m. It will be almost directly overhead at 5:53, and set below the horizon in the southeast at 5:57. The shuttle shouldn't be far behind, or ahead. Both will be very bright and look like moving stars, with no blinking lights like airplanes. You can create your own satellite pass predictions for your location at http://heavens-above.com Don't forget the total lunar eclipse this Wednesday night! And finally it was great seeing so many of you on the sidewalk in Pasadena and Monrovia this weekend! We had our first Saturn night, and some of our biggest visitor counts ever, especially in Pasadena on Friday. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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ISS and spy satellite visible tonight
by Morris Jones 16 Feb '08

16 Feb '08

In addition to our viewing of the moon and Saturn tonight in Monrovia, there are a couple of interesting passes for the International Space Station and the famous decaying spy satellite referred to as USA 193. First to pass is the spy satellite. It will be magnitude 1.2 at its brightest, not as bright as the bright planets or brightest stars, but should be easily visible. It will first become visible low in the southwest at 6:33 p.m., and reach its maximum altitude near Mars at 6:35 p.m. It will fade out a minute later in the northeast. Then there's the International Space Station (ISS) which has shuttle Atlantis docked at the moment. It will be the brightest thing in the sky besides the moon. ISS will first appear in the northwest at 6:41 p.m., and reach maximum altitude, almost overhead, at 6:44 p.m. It will enter the earth's shadow about a minute later. Orbiting satellites look like moving stars, and follow very different paths in the sky from airplanes. Their light comes from the sun shining on them -- they don't produce any light of their own. If it blinks, it's an airplane. :) We'll be pointing them both out in Monrovia tonight, but they should be visible from most anywhere near L.A. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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Sidewalk Astronomy this weekend, plus eclipse Wednesday
by Morris Jones 15 Feb '08

15 Feb '08

It looks to be a beautiful weekend for sidewalk astronomy. Jane and I will be in Old Town Pasadena tonight, on Colorado Blvd. near Delacey, from about 6:30 'til 9:30 p.m. We'll be showing the moon, and if you arrive a little later in the evening, we should have our first looks at Saturn for this year. We'll be repeating on Saturday in Monrovia at Myrtle & Lime with our motley crew of sidewalk astronomers, from 6:00 'til 9:00. Then on Wednesday evening, February 20th, we plan to have a special outing in Monrovia for the total lunar eclipse. The moon will be totally eclipsed from 7:01 p.m. 'til about 7:51 p.m. For a little over an hour before and after, you'll see the moon moving into and out of earth's shadow. If the sky is clear it should be great to see! No telescope required, but at least one of us will be out at Monrovia at Myrtle & Lime with a telescope. Hope to see you there ... Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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Explorer ! Documentary on KCET tonight
by Jane H Jones 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

JPL's new documentary about Explorer 1: Beginnings of the Space age airs tonight , Saturday the 2nd on KCET at 10 p.m. I see it also is showing tomorrow (Sunday the 3rd) at 5:00 p.m. http://www.kcet.org/programs/science-nature/index.php?mID=9356&refer=th The JPL press release is here: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-008 "Explorer 1: JPL and the Beginnings of the Space Age" will also air on local and national media outlets. In the Los Angeles area, it will air on KCET, Channel 28, on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. The documentary will air nationally on Discovery HD Theater, with multiple airings beginning Jan. 31. Thanks to Gary for reminding me to remind you. :-) Jane and Mojo (in Sarasota, FL on vacation) -- Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

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JPL multimedia
by Jane H Jones 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

There are a lot of really interesting multimedia offerings on the JPL website this month. On JPL's front page http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm you'll find: What's Up - a short podcast showcasing a unique view of the night sky. January's podcast is available, a little later than usual, due to so much going on in space and science-wise, in January, including,,, Cassini at Saturn Interactive Explorer - NASA's first 3-D interactive mission experience using a web browser. Explorer 1, the first US Earth-orbiting satellite, launched January 31, 1958 Scroll past the top features to News and Features for: Cassini finds Rhythm in Saturn's Rings January 29 - Asteroid zooms by Earth And finally, NASA and Beatles celebrate anniversaries by beaming "Across the Universe" into Deep Space. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-019 We'll be offering some special viewing opportunities this month in addition to our usual sidewalk astronomy on the 15th and 16th of February. February 20 is the date of a total lunar eclipse, and the viewing time will be much more convenient than the last one. You'll be able to view the eclipse in the early evening from moonrise at about 5:30 p.m., to totality at about 7:00 p.m. and then the eclipse will be over at about 8:30. We'll send out more info on this sooner to the date, but will bring some telescopes down to Library Park in Monrovia on Wednesday the 20th, weather permitting. Jane and Mojo (in Florida this week) -- Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

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Yes, that's Mars
by Morris Jones 20 Jan '08

20 Jan '08

Yes, the bright pumpkin-colored star next to the moon tonight is Mars. We're in Monrovia tonight, 6-9:30 or so. :) Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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