Hi everyone, sorry about the cancelled sidewalk astronomy night Oct 4.
None of our astronomers were available that night. Mojo and I were in
Hawaii, where we attended the Hawaiian Astronomical Society's monthly
in-town star party, however. We observed one planet, one star and three
moons (2 of Saturn's, and our own moon) in spite of heavy clouds, nearby
rain, and even a flood warning over central Oahu.
Tonight Tuesday the 7th, look for a 6 minute long ISS pass beginning at
7:03 p.m., reaching a height of 74 degrees, nearly overhead! It appears
in the SW and disappears in the NE.
That's not all! There is a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday morning. If
the sky is clear, the entire event should be visible to the unaided eye
from the West Coast. The particulars are as follows (all times are
Pacific): partial eclipse begins 2:14 a.m., totality begins 3:25 a.m.,
greatest eclipse 3:55 a.m., totality ends 4:24 a.m., partial eclipse
ends 5:34 a.m. All before sunrise!
And that's not all either! There's a partial solar eclipse later in the
month (visible in the afternoon of October 23rd). I'll send out another
email with save viewing tips before the 23rd., but my monthly podcast
gives some details. You all know never to look directly at the sun with
special solar filters or glasses, of course.
I cover all these things in my monthly What's Up podcast, plus Comet
Siding Spring's close encounter with Mars on the 19th. It's unlikely
that the comet will be visible, but I show where to look. If it does
make an appearance and I see it, or think you can see it with
binoculars, I'll be sure to let everybody know.
Another exciting month of astronomy is underway!
What's Up Video: http://youtu.be/uPQh0JwfEh4
or many versions here, and check out September - it is still relevant:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm
What's Up for October flyer, suitable for sharing
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/Whats_Up_October_2014.pdf
Mark your calendar for November 1. Although this should be our monthly
sidewalk date, it was the only Mojave Campground opening for our
twice-a-year dark sky star party. Details here
http://www.mojavepreserve.org/, and although the November flyer is not
on the website, the May 31 flyer has directions and RSVP info. Free
campsite, Bring your own potluck, breafast on your own, RSVP is just so
the park knows how many people are coming.
--
Jane Houston Jones
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For Oct? Eclipses, near misses
http://youtu.be/gj9MshXoUy0
From Los Angeles tonight, just a few minutes before 8 p.m., there's a
high bright pass of the International Space Station.
It will appear low in the southwest about 7:54, and by 7:56 it'll be
very high in the sky, slightly to the west, moving from southwest to
northeast.
It will be very bright, looking like a moving star. Just after 7:57, it
will pass into earth's shadow, and slowly fade out of sight in the
northeast.
If you see it, be sure to wave at the astronauts!
For other passes and satellite information, I use http://heavens-above.com
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://mojo.whiteoaks.com
It would be our sidewalk astronomy night tonight, but all of the
astronomers are scattered and doing other things.
Next month's first-quarter moon would be on November 1, but instead of
Monrovia, we'll be having our fall visit to Mojave National Preserve.
Jane will have more information about that later.
Aloha! Jane and I are joining the Hawaiian sidewalk astronomers tonight
in Honolulu. :)
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://whiteoaks.com
We appear to be hopelessly clouded out tonight in Monrovia. There might
be a chance for some sidewalk astronomy next weekend. I'll let you know!
Have a great weekend ...
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://whiteoaks.com
Sidewalk Astronomy update!
We should be out this weekend in Monrovia -- Saturday evening, about
8:00 'til about 10:00, at Myrtle & Lime.
Thing is ... the weather forecast is a little iffy! Right now, for
Saturday night, it calls for "Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of
thunderstorms after 11 p.m." (Wouldn't that be fun, except for the
lightning.) :)
Nevertheless, I'll give it a chance, and post an update to the list
either way.
We should have a great crescent moon, with some excellent views of
Saturn, if the sky clears.
MEANWHILE Jane's "What's Up" podcast for August is fresh and just out,
featuring a little of my astrophotography :) :
http://youtu.be/yLxtK2WDhU0
We spent last weekend at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park for our
annual summer star party trip:
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2014-07-25-glacier-point/
And if you're outside tonight at 9:20 p.m., there's a nice bright pass
of the International Space Station. If you face South, you'll see it
rise on your right and pass very close to bright red Antares just after
9:22 p.m. Keep watching as the station experiences sunset, and fades out
completely.
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Did you know our Sidewalk Astronomy corner is one of the best places for
astronomy in Los Angeles County? We're # 7 (out of 8)!
Here's the link to friend Chris Clarke's great writeup. He's been out to
Mojave Star Parties, and is a great writer!
http://www.kcet.org/living/travel/socal_wanderer/night-sky/stargazing/8-pla…
And this month, my What's Up Podcast covers decidedly non-urban views of
the Milky Way with images Mojo took our at our favorite desert location,
Amboy Crater. ALos long time LA Sidewalk Astronomer George Willis's
Milky Way from Mt. Pinos opens the podcast. Here's the link:
http://youtu.be/lSejxrjhD_M
Finally, if you can't join us Saturday night, do step outside and enjoy
views of the moon below Mars tonight, near Mars tomorrow night, and near
Saturn on the 7th!
Finally, Mojo updated our Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers website, and he
wrote a great explanation of the June and July skies. Oh and a call-out
to mention we are celebrating ten years of sidewalk astronomy in
Monrovia! Ten Years! Where does the time go! Check it out here!
http://www.otastro.org/
--
Jane Houston Jones
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For July? Milky Way, Pluto to Planets
http://youtu.be/lSejxrjhD_M
We'll have a very pretty planet and moon pairing tonight. Mars just
above the moon to the right. Saturn not to far away on the left. And
probably our last good view of Jupiter - getting low in the west until
the fall. So come out and join us, or if you are not within the sound of
my voice, just step out and look up and enjoy the planet parade! MOre
good pairings in this month's What's Up podcast!
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Myrtle and Line Streets, Monrovia, CA
What's Up For June? Moon and Planet pairings, Mercury, Comets!
http://youtu.be/qSWbSq7vTXk
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Jane Houston Jones
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInSight
What's Up For June? Moon and planet pairings, Mercury, Comets!
http://youtu.be/qSWbSq7vTXk
Great ISS Pass 8:22 pm tonight!
-------- Original Message --------
From: HQ-spotthestation(a)mail.nasa.gov
Sent: June 5, 2014 8:57:04 AM PDT
To: United-States-California-Monrovia-PM(a)lists.hq.nasa.gov
Subject: SpotTheStation
Time: Thu Jun 05 8:22 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 82 degrees, Appears: SW, Disappears: NE
--
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
Tonight's star party is a go! Several of you have RSVP'ed and we are
looking forward to sharing the magnificent skies with you tonight.
Plan to arrive well before sunset so you have time to set up your tent,
and share in the potluck dinner. Bring something you like, and a little
to share. There are typically many salads, chips and dips, and desserts
which are welcome after dark.
There is a large covered picnic table pavilion where you can stow your
camp stove if you are cooking, and you an leave your pot luck out until
you go to bed.
Weather has improved somewhat from earlier cloudy forecasts. It will be
mostly clear, with lows overnight of 61 degrees (high close to 100
during the day). Bring plenty of water and loose layered clothes. It
will be windy - with 8-15 winds and there may be gusts up to 20 mph.
We'll have gorgeous views of Mercury and the moon low on the western
horizon I hope, then Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. In the morning, for those
getting up before dawn, Venus is a real treat. In between, Milky way
wonders and other galaxies. We'll hold another dark sky star party here
in the fall, probably around the of the 20th anniversary of Mojave
National Preserve on October 31.
Info:
http://mojavepreserve.org/index.php/site/article/star_party_in_the_mojave_n…
Clear Sky Chart: http://cleardarksky.com/c/HlWllCpCAkey.html?1
Views from Amboy Crater dark sky night last weekend:
Milky Way Rising from Gary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAtUx-iCZBI
Photos from Jane and Mojo
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2014-05-25-amboy/index.html
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For May? Saturn, Mars, Comets, Meteor Showers
http://youtu.be/4mxFlUCliWg
It may be windy, and the views may not be as perfectly crisp as they can
be, but your local Sidewalk Astronomers will be out tonight at Myrtle
and Lime Streets in Monrovia from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The winds will
determine our end time, but we (at least I) hope we can show majestic
Saturn to everyone.
Tonight is Saturn Opposition. As the Sun sets in the west, Saturn will
rise "opposite" to it in the east. Opposition is when Saturn is closest
to Earth, and so it shines brightest for the year, but will be
beautifully visible for several more months. Since sunset is about 7:45
p.m. Saturn won't rise above the buildings and trees in Monrovia until
about 8:30 p.m., later visible in telescopes.
In addition to Saturn, we'll have a easy-to-see treat with the moon near
Mars. Those not within the sound of my voice, look up and you can easily
see the moon! It's that reddish object to the left of the moon tonight!
Look again tomorrow night and notice Mars above the moon! Saturn will be
the golden "star" rising on the horizon following Mars after sunset.
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
@jhjones @CassiniSaturn @NASAInsight
What's Up For May? Saturn, Mars, Comets, Meteor Showers
http://youtu.be/4mxFlUCliWg