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Sidewalk astronomy - we'll try again in January! Plus nice moon occultatation of Mars on tuesday

by Jane Houston Jones

Sorry, but iffy skies + astronomer unavailability led to no sidewalk astronomy this past weekend. We'll try again next month. In the meantime, check out this month's What's Up video from NASA. It's filled with great observing tips - planets and constellations visible with your unaided eye from your city location this month. Here's the link! https://youtu.be/7FyEAPcvErQ Of particular notice is the moon occulting, (passing in front of) Mars. Even with binos this will be visible as the red planet disappears behind the moon. Timing for our timezone: Mars disappears behind the moon 6:31 p.m. and reappears at 7:31, weather permitting Tuesday night December 7th. The video shows a great animation, so you can see what to look for. I highly recommend it, if the expected clouds don't interfere. Take care everyone! Jane and the Sidewak Astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

3 years, 3 months

Eclipse night rained out!

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, I've had a couple questions about the lunar eclipse, which begins at midnight. Sadly we'll be rained out tonight - tomorrow morning, during this eclipse, plus it's too late to be bringing telescopes out for the public this time. But should you have a clearing between midnight and 4 am, and are awake, you mght step outside and have a look Lunar eclipses are great to view with the unaided eye. You don't need a telescope or even binoculars. Here's a great resource, with lots of information about the eclipse. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-november-8 I've copied the times here, so if there is a break in the storm, step outside and have a look! You might be rewarded with a photo using your cell phone :-) When the Eclipse Happens Worldwide — Timeline Lunar eclipses can be visible from everywhere on the night side of the Earth, if the sky is clear. From some places the entire eclipse will be visible, while in other areas the Moon will rise or set during the eclipse. Event UTC Time Time in Los Angeles* Visible in Los Angeles Penumbral Eclipse begins Nov 8 at 08:02:15 Nov 8 at 12:02:15 am Yes Partial Eclipse begins Nov 8 at 09:09:12 Nov 8 at 1:09:12 am Yes Full Eclipse begins Nov 8 at 10:16:39 Nov 8 at 2:16:39 am Yes Maximum Eclipse Nov 8 at 10:59:11 Nov 8 at 2:59:11 am Yes Full Eclipse ends Nov 8 at 11:41:36 Nov 8 at 3:41:36 am Yes Partial Eclipse ends Nov 8 at 12:49:03 Nov 8 at 4:49:03 am Yes Penumbral Eclipse ends Nov 8 at 13:56:09 Nov 8 at 5:56:09 am Yes * The Moon is above the horizon during this eclipse, so with good weather conditions in Los Angeles, the entire eclipse is visible. Before I sign off, here's great resource you might like to have: Guy Ottowell's Astronomical Calendar. It was a wonderful full-year almanac - 2 pages per month, I relied on from the 1980's until 2016. Well, it is back both in a digital and hard cover version. Here is the link if you are interested in a public-friendly list of all the monthly astronomical goings-on, with additional pages explaining things like eclipses. https://www.universalworkshop.com/astronomical-calendar-2023/ Jane and the Sidewalk Astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

3 years, 4 months

ISS Pass tonight August Sky updates

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, first things first: An ISS pass tonight! Time: Tue Aug 02 8:25 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 48°, Appears: 10° above NW, Disappears: 12° above ESE We should have a few astronomers out at Myrtle and Lime in Monrovia this coming Saturday night, weather permitting. There will be just one main target, the moon, but some astronomers may show some interesting stars, double stars or other objects. Sunset is a little before 8 p.m. but the bright moon will be visible before that, so astronomers may be setting up by 7:30 or so. August is famous for the Perseid meteor shower, but this month, the peak nights will be marred by the moon. You can read more about the perseids, morning planets, and the lovely constellation Cygnus in this month's What's Up for August podcast: https://youtu.be/KdNHpX-u9w0 That's all for now! Jane, and the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer *:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-: Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy, travel, music, food, cats

3 years, 8 months

Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday July 9th

by Jane Houston Jones

As our member David posted on Facebook yesterday: We hope you got up early to see the planet alignment. This iPhone shot is from up on Mt. Wilson on 6/23, showing an over-exposed Moon, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn; followed by the dome for the 60-inch telescope. While we only really have the Moon to view (and perhaps a few double stars or bright "deep sky" objects), we will be on the sidewalk at Myrtle & Lime this Saturday, starting about 8 pm. We hope to see you there! Be like Dave,and come see the moon from the sidewalk, with the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers. And here is the July What's Up video from NASA - still going strong since April 2007! https://youtu.be/upFsgDxgV70 Jane and the Sidewalk Astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer *:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-: Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy, travel, music, food, cats

3 years, 8 months

Bonus ISS pass during tonight's lunar eclipse!

by Jane Houston Jones

Bonus! There's a 7 minute ISS pass to enjoy while you step out to see the eclipse tonight. Highest at 8:26 p.m. 90° above the horizon -- straight overhead. Time: Sun May 15 8:23 PM, Visible: 7 min, Max Height: 90°, Appears: 10° above the SW horizon, Disappears: 10° above the NE horizon. Enjoy! As a reminder, here is a short timeline for us Pacific Time Zone folks so you can step out and look up! *Partial eclipse begins* May 15 (7:27 p.m. PDT on May 15). Note sunset is at 7:47 p.m. tonight *Totality begins* (moon engulfed in Earth’s shadow) (8:29 p.m. PDT) *Totality ends* May 15 (9:53 p.m. PDT) *Partial eclipse ends* May 15 (10:55 p.m. PDT) *Penumbral eclipse ends* May 15 (11:50 p.m. PDT). *Duration of totality:* About 90 minutes. Time and Date has a great graphic! https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-may-16 Here's JPL's What's Up video for May, which talks about the lunar eclipse: https://youtu.be/1Bn349KyGzE Have fun and let me know if you have a great view!! Jane and the sidewalk astronomers :-) -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

3 years, 10 months

Lunar eclipse Sunday night May 15

by Jane Houston Jones

Eyes up! We have a really convenient local total lunar eclipse Sunday night May 15th after sunset until about 10 p.m., visible for those of us with clear skies and good eastern horizons. Here is the best link for times and details for where ever you are. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-may-16. Check it out and set it for your times, other than LA locals. Your sidewalk astronomers will not be at Library Park, but if you are there in the park for the Monrovia Days https://www.monroviadays.org/- celebrating the 136th anniversary of our beloved town, look toward the eastern horizon after sunset, opposite the sunset -- and look for moonrise after 8:30 p.m. Eclipses are easily visible with your unaided eyes and binoculars, from home or anywhere, no telescope or crowds are necessary. Locally, the total eclipse begins when the moon is below our horizon *before sunset* on Sunday the 15th. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/los-angeles Start looking East near sunset 8:30 p.m. (and you'll be looking to the east *on the horizon*, opposite the sunset). Closer to 9pm the maximum eclipse begins, where the entire moon should be visible, and should appear reddish. So a view of the eastern horizon is needed early, which we wouldn't have at Library Park anyway. Between 9:11 p.m. and 10:55 p.m and later you should have a great view, higher in the eastern sky - an awesome view, and I want to see your images, if you get some! Why not find a nice stable spot near a fence in your yard or deck to stablilize your cell phone, and take cell phone photos every 20 minutes or so? The timetable for the eclipse is: 8:29 pm Total eclipse begins 9:11 pm Maximum eclipse begins 9:53 pm Maximum eclipse ends 10:55 pm Partial eclipse ends Some great links: What's Up from NASA: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/ https://www.space.com/33786-lunar-eclipse-guide.html -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

3 years, 10 months

Sidewalk Astronomy tonight!!

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, we will have a couple telescopes out at Monrovia's Library Park tonight, March 12 starting at abut 6:30 p.m. In addition to the moon, another target will be the Pleiades Star Cluster (aka "The Seven Sisters", Messier 45, and Subaru, and many other names). I'm sure you all will be on the lookout for the Subaru auto emblem now. :-) The Pleiades are a beautiful open cluster visible with the unaided eye, in binoculars in addition to telescopes. No planets tonight, you have to get up early to see Venus, Saturn and Mars forming a triangle low in the SE sky. The crescent moon joins the trio on the 23rd. This month's What's Up podcast shows when and where to look for these objects and also shows you where to find the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters using Orion's belt as a pointer. https://youtu.be/_uBdv1IOqZo That's all for now! Jane and the Sidewalk Astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer *:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-: Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy, travel, music, food, cats

4 years

no sidewalk astro tonight but naked eye visible ISS pass 6:40 tonight

by Jane Houston Jones

We'll try again in March! Sorry. But tonight for those sort of near Monrovia, There is an ISS pass beginning at 6:40 p.m. Pacific Time: Sat Feb 05 6:40 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 46°, Appears: 10° above WNW, Disappears: 13° above SSE Just step out and start looking with your eyes WNW. At its peak 46° above the horizon, which is about halfway to the zenith (overhead). Then sinks toward the SSE. If you are not sure if you are sort of near Monrovia CA (a couple hundred mile radius) check out or sign up for customized *alert* from https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/. *Alert *- there's a decent Wordle word, not that I'm playing every day. :-/ https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/ :-) As always, there is plenty of star news to learn about this month. Here"s NASA's What's Up! I love where Preston Dyches has taken it! https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/whats-up-february-2022 Space dot com -> https://www.space.com/33974-best-night-sky-events.html Astronomy Magazine https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at… Sky and Telescope https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at… Lots of free stargazing APPS too. Let me know your favorite sources of stargazing tips and I'll include them. Jane and your Oldtown Sidewalk Astronomers http://otastro.org/ -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

4 years, 1 month

No sidewalk astronomy tonight, we'll try again next month!

by Jane Houston Jones

We tentatively scheduled sidewalk astronomy for tonight, but will try again next month on February 5th or the 11th instead. There's lots of great space news, and I've added two interesting topics that are great citizen science projects, or just interesting reading topics: Meteors and variable stars! For your astronomy update, how about that JamesWebb Telescope? Lots of amazing coverage, graphics and more here: https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/ International Meteor Organization has great monthly articles, and more! https://www.imo.net/ AAVSO - The American Association of Variable Star Observers has interesting articles on interesting stars, and observing campaigns. https://www.aavso.org/ And the long running :-) monthly stargazing video is right here every month!! What's Up for January? Lots, plus great skywatching content from my old stomping grounds <3 https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/ That's all for this month from Jane and the Old Town sidewalk astronomers. -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

4 years, 2 months

Sidewalk Astronomy tonight!

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone, The weather prospects look good for tonight, so the Sidewalk Astronomers plan to be out on the corner of Myrtle & Lime (Saturday 12/11) starting at 5 pm and continuing until at least 7 pm (possibly later). Likely objects include the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and in the early evening, the crescent Venus. Here are a few helpful astronomy links: Astronomy Magazine "The Sky this week" https://astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2021/12/the-sky-this-week-fro… Sky and Telescope "The Sky this week" https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-decem… Astronomy Magazine "Comet Leonard: View 2021’s best comet"https://astronomy.com/news/observing/2021/12/comet-leonard-view-2021s-best-… NASA What's Up and Skywatching tips https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/ That's all for now! Jane and the sidewalk astronomers -- Jane Houston Jones, retired JPLer Twitter: @jhjones @otastro Instagram @janehoustonjones http://www.otastro.org/ Astronomy,travel,music,food,cats

4 years, 3 months

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