I hesitate to compile local science-related lectures each month, because there are dozens of them every month. But golly, there are so many amazing lectures every month - by JPL, Caltech, MWOA, Carnegie Observatories, local astronomy clubs, and more! If anyone wants to do the research, and compile the info in a monthly email, I'd help you get started, and authorize you to post the info to our 206-member list. We don't post commercial or charity fund-raising type events - just free and public science-related lectures or events. In the next two weeks there are some notable lectures that I'll be attending (or wishing I could attend) and I thought you'd enjoy knowing about them. First - this Sunday - Caltech Seismologist Kate Hutton, who is a member of our own otastro email list will speak to MOWA (Mount Wilson Observatory Association) on Sunday Jan 25 2:30 p.m. at Altadena Public Library. Yes there will be refreshments, beginning at 2:00.Mojo and I will be there. We feel bad, as sustaining MWOA members that we have never gone to a MWOA meeting, we've even volunteered as docents, but just can't afford the time to be more active in this very worthwhile local observatory. http://www.mwoa.org/index.html We'll be there Sunday to hear Kate! Jan 25 2 - 4 p.m. Altadena Public Library 600 E Mariposa St, Altadena Kate is also a member of AAVSO - the American Association of Variable Star Observers, and has attended our sidewalk astronomy events. :-) Next, MWOA newsletter editor Bob Ekland, author (and amateur astronomer) of a fantastic astro poetry book called First Star I see Tonight http://www.bobeklund.com/ sent me a note about an event on Monday the 26th. Don Benito Wilson: From Mountain Man to Mayor, Los Angeles. Nat B. Read reveals the amazing tale of the “pioneer, beaver trapper and trader, grizzly bear hunter, Indian fighter, justice of the peace, farmer, rancher, politician, horticulturist, vintner, real estate entrepreneur, and one of the great landholders in Southern California.” He faced near death experiences with Indians, grizzlies, and a firing squad. Mount Wilson was named after him. This is a story people of all ages will want to hear! This joint presentation is sponsored by the Altadena Historical Society and the Friends of the Altadena Library. Monday, January 26th @ 7:30 pm, Altadena Community Center: 730 East Altadena Drive. Finally, Discover Magazine, National Science Foundation and Caltech's Thirty Meter Telescope present Mysteries of the Cosmos. January 30 7 p.m. Beckman Auditorium, California Institute of Technology. RSVP to cpe@caltech.edu. Leading experts including planet hunter Mike Brown of Caltech and dark energy guru Saul Perlmutter of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory who will debate the most compelling issues in astronomy today: How do Black Holes affect the evolution of the universe. This event will be moderated by Bad Astronomy's Phil Plait - another friend of ours, since we seem to be name dropping in this email. Although this is our Pasadena Sidewalk astronomy night, I am checking to see if they'd like a few telescopes out for this event. If not we'll probably be nearby at our usual Colorado Blvd Sidewalk event.Or not! Clear skies to you all. I just updated my Saturn Viewing in 2009 webpage for JPL http://www.mwoa.org/index.html andjust looked on the JPL website to see what was the hot news. Darn it if our Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy Night video isn't on the front page of JPL right now! Wow! http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ (shameless plug) updates on local sidewalk astronomy events here: http://www.otastro.org/ dates here -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org What's Up Podcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones Facebook: http://www.facebook.com MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/janehoustonjones