- OTEvents - Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers

Telescope for kindergartners ...
by Morris Jones 08 Feb '06

08 Feb '06

I have a request from a parent at Marengo Elementary School, whose students are studying the Moon now, for a small telescope party on Sunday evening in South Pasadena. Is there anyone on the list who would like to visit with a telescope? Unfortunately Jane and I are out of town this weekend. If you're available, drop me a note and I'll put you in touch. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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Monrovia is ON for Sidewalk Astronomy
by Morris Jones 04 Feb '06

04 Feb '06

The National Weather Service issued an update at 10:00 a.m. that shows improving conditions over the area this evening. The forecast for Monrovia right now is "mostly clear." The Clear Sky Clock forecast is for bad conditions, but the current satellite loop seems to confirm clearing skies tonight. It may not be perfect tonight, but the prospects look good enough for now. We'll plan to be at Myrtle & Lime in Old Town Monrovia tonight from about 6:00 'til 9:30. Featured performers will be the first quarter Moon and Saturn! 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 -- it's Saturn season!
by Morris Jones 03 Feb '06

03 Feb '06

The forecast tonight (Friday) looks very promising for sidewalk astronomy in Old Town Pasadena. We plan to be there from about 6:30 'til 10:00 p.m. on Colorado Blvd. within a block either side of Delacey -- that's somewhere between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Ave. (It depends on where we find parking!) We usually set up on the north side of the street, and we plan to do so again tonight -- but there's one thing that might change that. Both Saturn and the Moon are very much in the northern part of the ecliptic tonight. With Saturn rising shortly after sunset, it'll be appearing on the horizon somewhat north of east. That means from the north side of the street it'll be blocked by buildings for much of the early part of the evening. The Moon will be very high in the sky, so it may be visible from both sides of the street. We're more familiar with the north side of the street, so that's our preference. But if you don't find us there, look across the street for two large telescopes! Tomorrow evening's weather is a bit more problematic for the Monrovia outing. I'll send an update on Saturday. In any event, it's definitely Saturn season. Hope you can join us for a look! Here's our approximate location on Google Maps: <http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=75+W+Colorado+Blvd.,+Pasadena,+CA&ll=34…> Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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No viewing tonight
by Jane H Jones 14 Jan '06

14 Jan '06

Mojo just arrived on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. He then looked up and called me to report that he sees nothing but clouds overhead. I have all the telescopes in the old green sidewalk astronomers van, but It looks like they wont be seeing any stars tonight and either will we. Sorry! Better luck next month. In the meantime, here are some planet viewing tips I've cobbled together: Saturn: http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/viewing.cfm Mars: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/nightsky/viewing-tips-2006.html Fun with the weather http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/satl.php 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 Saturn Observation Campaign http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm

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Tonight's forecast not good
by Morris Jones 13 Jan '06

13 Jan '06

Jane and I are planning to set up telescopes in Old Town Pasadena this evening, but right now the forecast is "mostly cloudy." We'll take a look this evening, and watch for updates to the forecast later this afternoon. As of Friday morning though, I would not plan a special trip to Old Town Pasadena to see Saturn -- unless of course you want to enjoy the excellent restaurants and shopping in the area. :) If the weather changes, we'll have a full Moon to observe, and perhaps some looks at Saturn after about 8:30 p.m. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

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Saturn and the holiday telescope
by Jane Houston Jones 08 Jan '06

08 Jan '06

Apologies for not posting our Monrovia outing last night, but we did have it listed on our website. Regardless, I thought you'd all enjoy this stargazing recap from last night. Take a look at the moon tonight - Sunday night January 8th if you get a chance to stop out and look up. You'll see Mars nearby just to the right of the moon as soon as it is dark. Look at this writeup in sky and Telescope magazine's website for more moon and Mars / moon and Saturin pairings this month.http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/article_110_1.asp Jane Last night, January 7, 2006 was our first southern California sidewalk astronomy event of 2006. We set up in our usual spot in old town Monrovia, CA at charming Library Park. Two young girls brought their holiday telescope, an Orion Starblast, for first light. I brought my own little Starblast, too, since I had invited them to the star party. I asked them if they wanted to set up the telescope off the main sidewalk where it was a little more secluded, and they said "no". They wanted to share their views. While the first of 100 viewers stepped up to the eyepieces of our two telescopes, the girls unwrapped their present. First they removed the tissue paper protecting the tube during shipping. Next I explained how the telescope worked and how it moved in altitude and azimuth, and placed it on a sturdy ice chest, placed on top of a not as sturdy plastic storage box for a little additional height -- not the most sturdy of mounts, but easier than bringing their back yard picnic table out to the sidewalk Each girl comfortably swiveled and tilted the tube in its mount. Before we did anything like affix the supplied finder, we had a 25 power first light view of the first quarter moon through the supplied eyepiece. This is a low power view for those of you without a telescope. it's a view similiar to a binocular view. After the oooohs and ahhhhs subsided, we completed the first setup of the telescope. We affixed and aligned the red dot finder. The girls were estatic as they took turns sighting the moon and Mars through their own telescope and through my matching green telescope. They spent the next 3 hours running back and forth between the two little scopes and over to Mojos' larger 14.5-inch f/4.8 Litebox reflector. Whenever someone walked by, they became instant sidewalk astronomers, offering views to many people. Mom got into the action too, calling people over to see the moon, Mars and later, Saturn. When mom took the girls for an ice cream break down the street, I checked the collimation of the telescope. That's the optics alignment, for those of you with quizzical looks. It was spot on right out of the box. We waited for Saturn. In-between looks at the moon and Mars, showing a Syrtis Major splotch even at low power, the girls aimed at the bright stars of winter. Yellow Capella, red Betelgeuse, and blue-white Rigel revealed their twinkling wonder through the eyepiece. Both girls were Harry Potter fans, so I pointed Bellatrix and Sirius, starry names of some of the notable characters in the books. There were quite a few dogs and their owners out walking last night, so I pointed out Sirius, the dog star, and the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor. Lola the bulldog was more interested in cuddling and slobbering, but the two border collies paid imaginary attention as I showed them their celestial brothers. Soon we spotted Saturn rising. It had cleared the lower downtown buildings. We moved the Starblast down the street a bit for a look. The first view, using the supplied 17mm Kellner eyepiece revealed a 25x oval, but the girls were absolutely thrilled. The younger of the two sisters wanted to use the 6mm eyepiece for a 75x (higher magnification) view immediately. Soon Saturn's icy rings and even the great moon Titan were revealed in their first telescope. Through the eyepiece of Mojo's larger 'scope, the planet Saturn was brighter and more moons were visible, including Iapetus, which is easy to spot right now. The girls recorded their observations in their journal, and I suggested they capture the stargazing information such as date, time, location, telescope, eyepiece, and objects they viewed, and then write more about their observation at home. They are interested in sketching the moon too, which I personally love to do! Soon it was time to pack up the telescopes and head for home. I recalled my first view through my first telescope many years ago. It seems like it was just yesterday, as I recall the first view so vividly. On December 25th 1988, I aimed my homemade, and as yet unaluminized 10-inch f/7 Dobsonian reflector, Stardust, at both the moon and Mars, and recorded my first observation in my own star journal. It began, for me, a wonderful journey into our solar system and beyond. 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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Doorstep astronomy this weekend
by Morris Jones 16 Dec '05

16 Dec '05

Saturn hasn't quite reached opposition -- that time when it is directly opposite the Sun in the night sky. That will come in late January. When it does, as you might expect, Saturn rises at about the same time as the Sun sets. But right now Saturn rises around 8:00 p.m. a bit north of due east, and is easily visible by 9:00. (Low eastern horizons are pretty rare around here!) Each evening it will rise just a little earlier, as Earth continues circling the Sun. This weekend the waning Moon passes near Saturn in the sky from our perspective on Earth, and it serves as a convenient guidepost to find the beautiful ringed planet. Here's a short feature from the JPL Saturn Cassini web site that includes a chart for finding Saturn relative to the Moon over this coming weekend: <http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=1907> Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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December astronomy
by Morris Jones 10 Dec '05

10 Dec '05

Jane and I have a month full of travel and family plans that will keep us away from the sidewalk, but there is some fun astronomy to be had. Today an article about Jane and observing Mars appeared on the NASA web site, and it has some great tips about how to find Mars in the sky over the next couple of days. The Moon will be passing nearby and serve as a nice signpost: <http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/mars_mer_feature_20051209.h…> In late January, Saturn will reach opposition and return to the evening sky. We'll certainly be planning some outings for the occasion! Have a great holiday season! Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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That planet below the Moon tonight ...
by Morris Jones 15 Nov '05

15 Nov '05

Norm wrote to ask: > So, does anyone know what the planet is just below the moon tonight? > It’s small but obvious. That's Mars. Go have a look, it's a nice combination. Tomorrow the Moon should be on the other side of Mars, below it in the early evening. They're in the west right now (early evening). If you turn almost all the way around to your right and look to the southeast, you might still be able to catch brilliant white Venus before it sets. Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

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TMC (too many clouds)
by Jane Houston Jones 12 Nov '05

12 Nov '05

No telescope viewing of moon and Mars tonight in Pasadena after all. The clouds did not dissipate. We arrived at 6:00 p.m. and found a parking spot near Pasadena Avenue, but after an hour and a half of looking up, walking and sipping a latte/extra foam we gave up and came home. We saw the moon peek out just a few times, but never long enough to actually set up the telescopes. Hopefully, Monrovia will be better tomorrow night. 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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