- OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

No sidewalk astronomy tonight, Friday ...
by Morris Jones 18 Jan '08

18 Jan '08

Tonight looks good for you to get out and see the moon and Mars, but unfortunately Jane and I have to cancel our planned outing on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena to deal with family matters. Luckily the forecast for Saturday night in Monrovia looks even better than tonight's. We might get lucky and have some good Mars viewing, even as difficult a target as it is. So if you're out tonight, don't forget to glance almost straight up and see a beautiful first quarter moon. Look a bit to the east of it for a bright pumpkin-colored star, and you'll be looking at Mars. Mars will be the brightest star-like object in the sky. Hope to see you on Saturday ... Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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No Mars/Asteroid collision this month, sidewalk viewing will proceed as planned :-)
by Jane H Jones 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

Here is some "hot off the press" space news about the recently discovered asteroid which was expected to pass close to Mars on January 30th. It certainly was an exciting unfolding story! Now the probability of an impact has been reduced to 0.01%. Here is an updated press release dated today: January 9, 2008 http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news156.html "Since our last update, we have received numerous tracking measurements of asteroid 2007 WD5 from four different observatories. These new data have led to a significant reduction in the position uncertainties during the asteroid's close approach to Mars on Jan. 30, 2008. As a result, the impact probability has dropped dramatically, to approximately 0.01% or 1 in 10,000 odds, effectively ruling out the possible collision with Mars. Our best estimate now is that 2007 WD5 will pass about 26,000 km from the planet's center (about 7 Mars radii from the surface) at around 12:00 UTC (4:00 am PST) on Jan. 30th. With 99.7% confidence, the pass should be no closer than 4000 km from the surface." (there's way more info on the link) In case you want to view Mars and the moon again from the old town sidewalks, our next observing dates are Friday January 18th in Pasadena 7-9 p.m. and Saturday January 19th 6:30 - 9 p.m. in Monrovia. If we alter these start times, they'll be posted on the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomy website http://www.otastro.org/ on the top right of the page. If the weather is iffy, check the website for a cancellation blurb. If it's clear tonight, why don't you step out and say hello to Mars, knowing that it won't be getting whacked by a 160 foot diameter asteroid named 2007 WD5 at the end of the month. :-) -- 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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Mars at Opposition tonight
by Jane Houston Jones 25 Dec '07

25 Dec '07

Those up waiting for Santa to appear may mistake red Mars for Rudolph the reindeer's nose tonight! The just-past-full moon is below Mars tonight in the sky. It's hard to miss these two objects, they are the brightest objects in the sky! Last night Mars was to be seen just to the right of the moon. Last nights's full moon could also be called the moon at opposition - that is when the moon and the sun are on opposite sides of the earth. So we see a lunar opposition every month! Tonight Mars is at opposition - meaning that Mars and the sun are on opposite sides of the Earth. This occurs only every 26 months! This weekend, even though it was freezing (well, it was cold) lots of you came out for a look at Mars and the moon in both Pasadena and Monrovia. And the question most people asked was "what can you tell me about the asteroid that is going to hit Mars?? I hadn't read the press release before heading to the sidewalk Friday afternoon. I'll summarize here: "Astronomers are monitoring the trajectory of an asteroid estimated to be 50 meters (164 feet) wide that is expected to cross Mars' orbital path early next year. Observations provided by the astronomers and analyzed by NASA's Near-Earth Object Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., indicate the object may pass within 30,000 miles of Mars at about 6 a.m. EST (3 a.m. PST) on Jan. 30, 2008. "Right now asteroid 2007 WD5 is about half-way between Earth and Mars and closing the distance at a speed of about 27,900 miles per hour," said Don Yeomans, manager of the Near Earth Object Office at JPL. "Over the next five weeks, we hope to gather more information from observatories so we can further refine the asteroid's trajectory." You can read more and see some really cool images of the asteroids current position and possible paths here: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-152 I've updated my Mars2007 webpage for those who want a one-stop shopping place for information about Mars. http://www.otastro.org/Mars2005/ Now I have to get back to following Santa's current position. :-) 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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'Twas the night before Solstice
by Jane Houston Jones 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

Saturday is not only our in-Monrovia sidewak astronomy viewing night, but it is also the Winter Solstice! So in the spirit of the season, I updated a familiar poem for your reading pleasure. Hope you enjoy it By the way, the weather forecast calls for mostly clear and a low of 38 degrees Friday night, and partly cloudy and 41 degrees Saturday night. So at this time we are still planning both nights 7-9 p.m. Now back to the solstice! Jane Inspired by the poem /A Visit From St. Nicholas/, written by Major Henry Livingston, Jr. Twas the night before Solstice, when all through the city, Not a planet was visible, now isn't that a pity. The telescopes were stored in the garage with despair, In hopes that the weather would soon turn to fair. The astronomers were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of nebulae danced in their heads. And Mojo with his laptop and I with my starmap, Had just settled down for a cloudy night nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew with a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon shone so brightly, no clouds hid the glow, The full moonlit lustre to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But Pleiades, Orion, and Ursa Major, the bear. With our trusty old telescopes, the setup was quick, I knew in a moment we had objects to pick. More rapid than eagles, the targets they came, We aimed and we pointed and called them by name. "Now, Procyon, now Pollux, now Castor and Capella! On Aldebaran, on Rigel, on Sirius, and Betelgeuse, the red fella :-) To the top and around the winter circle of stars, Now a quick look at luna, then Saturn and Mars. As fireflies that before the dawns morning light, Brilliantly flicker and soon are a memory bright, A new wonder would paint the dark sky to pale blue, The sunrise was nearing and morning twilight was too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I stepped from the telescope and was turning around, Down the chimney the stranger came with a bound. He looked like an astronomer, bundled from head to his foot, Like a stargazer his clothes were tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, Looked just like our telescope accessory pack. His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry He looked like we do after a cold winter starshow Freezing but happy from the Milky Way glow. The stump of a flashlight held tight in his teeth Its soft red glow encircled his head like a wreath We asked him if he'd ever looked closely at Mars "I'm working at night, I've no time for the stars". He stepped up to the eyepiece, a right jolly old elf, And I smiled as he gasped, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but took in view after view, Then he spoke with a sigh he had more work to do. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, Happy stargazing to all and to all a dark night. My apologies to Major Henry Livingston Jr. 1748 - 1828, author of /'Twas the Night before Christmas/ or /Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas/. Previously believed to be the written by Clement Clarke Moore. http://www.henrylivingston.com -- 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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Mars viewing is at its best!
by Jane H Jones 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Yesterday, December 18th Mars reached its closest approach to Earth, and 6 days later, on December 24th is Mars Opposition. This year Mars is 55 million miles from Earth at closest approach. This month and next month too both offer outstanding views of Mars, but by late January Earth pulls away from Mars and the best viewing window ends in mid-February. So we've added some extra sidewalk astronomy viewing nights to the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers schedule. We may add more, too, so keep looking for these little notes from us. Join us, weather permitting, in Pasadena, on Colorado Blvd somewhere between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenues Friday night December 21 and Saturday night at Monrovia's Library Park at Myrtle and Lime Streets (less room for the next 2 years due to library construction fencing). The current forecast calls for mostly clear both Friday and Saturday nights. Do check out website for any weather changes. If the mostly clear conditions change to mostly cloudy, we would probably cancel and reschedule. Expect cold temperatures (high 30's/low 40's) this weekend - it'll be even colder - in the 20's on Mt. Wilson! Both of these events will get started a little later so we can show Mars higher in the sky. Plan on telescope viewing from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. We probably will not arrive until then. By 9:00 p.m. we may be too cold to continue. Our Sidewalk Astronomers founder, John Dobson, is fond of saying "many are cold, but few are frozen". :-) Each Mars opposition, Zolt Levay from the Space Telescope Science Institute updates the excellent Hubble telescope "Mars close encounters comparison chart ". And he updated it just today. I hope you enjoy it - it really helps to show the apparent size of Mars each year. http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2007/45/images/i/formats/print.jpg JPL has a Mars Opposition feature today too, it's great, especially the Mars Rotation video, and a link to the monthly What's Up Video. :-) http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features.cfm?feature=1560 I hope to see you on the chilly sidewalk this weekend. We only see our red neighbor on its approach to Earth every two years, and Mars won't be this close to Earth again until 2016. I'll be handing out some very special NASA Mars lithographs this weekend, while the supplies last. Want more Mars? Visit my Mars page: http://www.otastro.org/Mars2005/ Finally, speaking of John Dobson, you might enjoy listening to astronomer Bob Cesarone's song about John Dobson, called "Telescope Man". Bob's band, Northern Cross recorded the song a couple years ago, and he gave a copy of it to John (and to us) late last year. http://photo.whiteoaks.com/telescope-man.mp3 Jane -- 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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December What's Up? It's Mars!
by Jane H Jones 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Step outside this month, look up in the east, and you'll be in for a real treat! Mars is really bright and easy to view. That's the topic of this month's What's Up: Mars! It's as big and as bright as it will get this month, and it won't be this great a view again until 2016! What's Up here: http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html Tonight, I stepped outside of my San Francisco hotel, walked a few feet to Union Square, and looked East down Post Street and there was Mars high in in the cloudless sky. Mars is easy to see from the city, the backyard, everywhere. Have a look! This weekend, the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be showcasing Mars and the moon from Monrovia on Saturday December 15. We'll be out again Dec 21 in Pasadena and Monrovia December 22, weather permitting. Jane -- 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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Telescope buying season
by Morris Jones 02 Dec '07

02 Dec '07

Our good friends and associates from the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers have published an excellent guide to buying telescopes, in the spirit of the season. I'll be adding a link from the Old Town Astronomers site, meanwhile you can enjoy the article here: http://sfsidewalkastronomers.org/telescopes/buying/ Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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Quickie Monday -- Mars and the Moon
by Morris Jones 27 Nov '07

27 Nov '07

I know some of you won't see this until tomorrow -- sorry! If you peek outside tonight, Monday, and find the moon -- that bright red pumpkin-colored star right next to it is Mars. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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Moon viewing this weekend Nov 16/17
by Jane Houston Jones 15 Nov '07

15 Nov '07

This coming weekend is our public astronomy weekend in Pasadena and Monrovia. Mojo and I will be setting up telescopes on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, CA - some place between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenues from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. Friday the 16th. Saturday the 17th is our Monrovia night - corner of Myrtle and Lime Streets in Monrovia, CA as usual, from 5:30 until 9:30. Saturday is also the peak of the Leonid Meteor shower. I doubt anyone wants to hop in a car and drive to a dark location but I am bringing it up, just in case. The Meteor fluxtimator http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/estimator.html tells us that the time to view is from 3:00 - 5:00 a.m. Sunday Morning and the rates will be about 4 - 8 meteors per hour. That's not a lot, but if you enjoy getting out of the city lights this would be a great weekend to do it. We'll stay in town, show the moon, skip the Leonids, unless from the back yard. Here is the forecast for the Leonids: http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/ Here's the weather forecast (good for moon viewing): http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=LOX&llon=-118.968747&rlo… Clear sky clock (the astronomers tool to determine the sky conditions) http://cleardarksky.com/c/MnrviaCAkey.html See you I hope! Jane and Mojo -- 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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What's Up for November? Mars and Mira!
by Jane H Jones 10 Nov '07

10 Nov '07

When you look at Mars, have you ever wondered where the rovers are at that moment? I do, and it adds to the fun of looking at Mars when I know the rovers are facing Earth as I am looking up at that bright ruddy planet. Wow is it ever getting bright! Where and when to see the Rovers is part of the topic of my November's What's Up. That and how to find a wonderful star, Mira, which was captured in a fascinating image by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer in August. Connecting stargazing to NASA missions adds some complexity and extra enjoyment, at least it does to me. I hope you enjoy this one! Here is the What's Up: http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html Here is the GALEX image of Mira: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-090 Here is my favorite Mars Map showing the locations of the rovers: http://www.damianpeach.com/images/mars/mars_2005dp_labeled.jpg Next sidewalk astronomy is November 16 and 17th http://www.otastro.org/ Have a look at Comet 17P/Holmes. If history repeats, it will only stay bright for 20-30 days. That is what happened in 1892 when it was discovered. And we're on day 16 now! Jane -- 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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