The clouds never cleared very much here, and the broken ones are filling in.
We're going to cancel tonight's Sidewalk Astronomy, and try again next
weekend. We'll have a bigger moon, and of course good Saturn.
May Gray and June Gloom caused by the "Catalina Eddy" often gives us
these kind of conditions this time of year.
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Tonight, Library Park, 7:30 - 9:30 or so ...
We'll have a thin crescent moon and lots of Saturn.
But the weather forecast calls for fog to move in during the evening.
It may be a short night.
It is International Sidewalk Astronomy Night though!
If you haven't already, be sure to see Jane's _What's Up_ for May, all
about the morning planet gathering:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=824
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Mojo is calling our astronomers were planning to attend tonight to tell
them it's not worth the drive. There is an unstable air mass, 20%
chance of passing showers, so we are cancelling Saturday night
stargazing tonight. By the way, the Los Angeles Astronomical
Association also cancelled their events tonight just now - that's partly
what made do the same - that, and a look out the window!
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
My What's Up Podcast for April: Saturn
NASA podcast: http://1.usa.gov/ggypW3
Youtube site: http://bit.ly/hXVHK7
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
If you look at the sky from Monrovia right now, you'll see thick heavy
clouds snuggling up to the the San Gabriel Mountains, with a few shafts
of sunlight piercing through. But the conditions should turn from poor
to below average by 8 p.m. - that means partly cloudy with
wobbly views through the telescope.
That being said, if you are nearby and want to see the moon, and
possibly a poor view of Saturn, come on down to Library Park - we should
be there from 8- nearly 10 p.m., unless it continues to be completely
cloudy. Even a poor view of Saturn (from the eyes of this jaded
long-time telescope wrangler) is still better than no view of the ringed
beauty.
We'll be showing Saturn for many months now, as it gets higher in the
sky, so there will be more chances to see Saturn. A couple dark sky
public events coming up will feature Saturn in a dark sky location.
Join us (you'll have to RSVP for a camp site) at Mojave National
Preserve on the evening of April 23. I know the 24th is Easter, but you
can go on a desert tortoise photo hike, and maybe see some jackrabbits
and spring blossoms on Sunday instead. :-) Maps, directions, and
information about Mojave National Preserve will be found soon (not yet
unfortunately) at the Conservancy's website
http://www.preservethemojave.org/events.html. You need to contact David
Lamfrom to RSVP for a campsite or ask questions at dlamfrom(a)npca.org
<mailto:dlamfrom@npca.org> . The event is free, but it is being
sponsored by the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy, and they will
welcome your membership! Bring a potluck item, there will be a group
potluck dinner before stargazing on Saturday night. If you plan to
bring a telescope, you can let me know, but be sure to RSVP for a
campsite with David too.
Then in August, Mojo and I and other members of the San Jose
Astronomical Society will be bringing telescopes to share with the
public at Glacier Point, Yosemite. Only members of this club can bring
telescopes, but all visitors to the National Park can partake of the
views. Our weekend is August 26-27, 2011, but there is a different
Northern California Astronomy club presenting weekend star parties at
Glacier Point every weekend from July 4th to labor day, excepting full
moon weekends, and subject to snow clearing the roads. So if your
visiting the park this summer, check it out!
Finally, check out my April podcast - it features Saturn this month :-)
There are stunning views of Saturn in the video!
YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/1/pBUkTMk-Icw
More formats and educational links:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=804
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
My What's Up Podcast for April: Saturn
NASA podcast: http://1.usa.gov/ggypW3
Youtube site: http://bit.ly/hXVHK7
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro
My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
Funny thing, most of L.A. county seems to be fairly clear, but Monrovia,
sitting up against the Sierra foothills, is mired in moist air making
clouds over us. They don't show any sign of dissipating for some looks
at the moon tonight.
So no sidewalk astronomy tonight.
If you happen to be near the El Monte library on Monday evening, we'll
have at least one telescope there for looks at the moon.
Hope to see you next month, and maybe we'll have some Saturn late in the
session. :)
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
It looks like it's going to be great couple of nights for sidewalk
astronomy this weekend. We'll have a bright first-quarter moon nearly
overhead, and probably our last look at bright Jupiter for this year,
before it disappears behind the sun. It sets a little earlier every day.
Jane and I plan to be in Old Town Pasadena tonight. We set up on
Colorado Blvd., somewhere in the two block stretch from Fair Oaks to
Pasadena Ave., depending on where we find to park. Our plan is to be
there from about 7:00 'til 9:00 p.m.
Tomorrow evening we plan to be at Library Park in Monrovia, on the
corner of Myrtle and Lime, from about 6:30 'til 9:00.
Cheers!
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
Jane, and I had a great weekend in the desert along with our fellow
sidewalk astronomer Dave, and will quite possibly have another one this
coming weekend. I'll put it this way: We left the van packed. :)
We took pictures, terrestrial and astronomical, and I wrote about it here:
http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2011/01/30/january-observing-a-monoceros-evening/
Our favorite spot is about 150 miles from Monrovia out I-10, so it's
quite a commitment to visit with us. Nevertheless, the invitation is
always open to come out to the desert, bring your own telescope and
binoculars, and mooch views from ours.
Our trips to the desert are mostly our own time to do some observing, so
it's not necessarily a good time to expect lots of entertainment or a
sky show. Even so, it is a social event, and we love the chat, sharing
views, having a little picnic, and helping folks find their way in an
amazing sky.
Our favorite spot has no services, and 4-wheel drive can be handy but
not required. We've had some difficulty in the past with heavy vehicles
or RVs on the sandy surface.
We generally don't announce our desert observing trips widely, so it's
up to you to find the Saturday evening closest to the new moon. Hint:
It's usually the weekend before our sidewalk astronomy weekends, which
feature a first-quarter moon. Another hint: This coming Saturday is a
good one, if the weather holds.
If this sounds like it's your cup of tea, drop me a note and I'll send
you more information.
On the other hand, for a more concentrated tour of the real night sky at
a location that includes some services (read: bathrooms), make plans to
join us in the Mojave National Preserve on April 22 and 23.
Meanwhile the Old Town Astronomers web site http://otastro.org has been
updated with likely sidewalk dates for the rest of 2011, starting with
Pasadena and Monrovia on February 11-12.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones, Monrovia, CA
http://bridgemojo.comhttp://otastro.orghttp://mojo.whiteoaks.com
I meant to say 5:30 'til 7:30, or maybe a little longer if the astronomers can cope. :)
Morris Jones <mojo(a)whiteoaks.com> wrote:
>The Old Town Astronomers will be at Myrtle & Lime tonight from about 5:30 'til 6:30 p.m. at Library Park. Drop by for what should be some great views of the moon and Jupiter!
>
>Mojo
>(Who is at Zion Nat'l Park right now with family!)
>_______________________________________________
>OTEvents -- Astronomy announcements for the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers
>OTEvents(a)otastro.org
>http://mail.otastro.org/mailman/listinfo/otevents
The Old Town Astronomers will be at Myrtle & Lime tonight from about 5:30 'til 6:30 p.m. at Library Park. Drop by for what should be some great views of the moon and Jupiter!
Mojo
(Who is at Zion Nat'l Park right now with family!)