Just a note to our fellow sidewalk astronomers on the list ...
Please let me know if you're planning to join us tonight in Monrovia!
You can help with or without a telescope, talking to visitors or helping
operate one of our telescopes. If you let me know you're coming, I'll
make a name badge for you.
Telescopes on tripods may be best set up in the park grass field along
Lime. It's important that we leave clearance on the sidewalk especially
near the handicap ramp and wheelchair turn-around areas.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Tonight's a big night! It's Mars closest approach, and we'll be out in
force in Old Town Monrovia tonight. Library Park, Myrtle & Lime, 9:00
p.m. 'til midnight.
If you haven't read the article in the Pasadena Star-News this morning,
Jane and I were featured on the front page in the Mars article:
<http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_3162189>
The weather forecast for tonight looks near perfect. Jane and I plan to
bring out our best Mars telescope tonight, a rare Astro-Physics 7.1-inch
refractor. Here are some pictures from a visit in April to Library Park
for this telescope: <http://www.otastro.org/2005-04-monrovia/>
If you're wondering about the later than usual hours for this occasion,
it's because the best viewing of the planet comes as it's highest in the
sky. If you're looking for the best view, plan to visit the telescope
as close to midnight as you can. Besides letting Mars get high in the
sky, the lines at the telescopes should be shortest then!
If you miss seeing Mars tonight, don't despair -- it won't be much
further away on our next trip to the sidewalks on November 11 and 12.
For the next couple of months, Mars will be close enough for interesting
looks.
In addition to November 11 and 12, Jane and I will be travelling to the
Borrego Springs Resort on Saturday November 5 in Anza Borrego State
Park, and plan to set up for Mars viewing right there at the lovely
desert resort.
Jane's Mars information page on the Mars opposition has more links,
pictures, and events: <http://www.otastro.org/Mars2005/>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
The Old Town Astronomers are featured in an article in this week's
Pasadena Weekly: <http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/arspopuli/arspop.html>
They got it mostly right. :)
By the way, you might be interested in joining us to help show the Moon
and Venus at Wild Rose Elementary tonight, but not have a telescope to
bring. We plan to have a couple extra telescopes with us, and would be
glad to have you "person" one of them!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
The Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers are attending a PTA family picnic
tonight at Wild Rose Elementary school in Monrovia. They're expecting
about 250 people for the event.
If you have a telescope and would like to join us there from 6:00 'til
about 8:00, we'd be delighted. We could use another telescope or two.
Targets tonight will be the late gibbous Moon and Venus.
If you can join us, drop me a note and I'll send instructions. Or call
my cell phone at 626-755-5415.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
There might be clear sky where you are, but here it's thick! No
telescopes tonight in Monrovia.
But see Jane's observing report from our trip to the Oregon Star Party
last month, right here: <http://www.otastro.org/2005-10-oregon/>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
The Old Town Astronomers plan to be at Myrtle & Lime tonight in
Monrovia, but the weather is problematic.
The sky over our home in Monrovia right now is solid clouds. The
National Weather Service forecaster is unwilling to commit one way or
the other. The Clear Sky Clock is clearly wrong today. And the
satellite imagery shows an island of clouds right over LA county in a
sea of otherwise clear skies.
If it's clear at 6:30, we'll give it a shot. But don't make special
plans to visit Monrovia for astronomy this evening!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
