Weather looks good for sidewalk astronomy this weekend. We'll have a
waxing gibbous moon, Saturn, and possibly a glimpse of Venus and Mars.
We plan to be in Old Town Pasadena this evening (Friday), and Old Town
Monrovia Saturday evening, 7:30 'til 9:30 p.m.
In Pasadena, look for telescopes on Colorado Blvd., on the north side of
the street, somewhere in the two-block stretch from Fair Oaks to
Pasadena Ave.
In Monrovia, we'll be on the corner of Myrtle and Lime, at Library Park.
Saturn should be a treat, with the rings barely four degrees open right now.
Venus is the brightest star in the west, following the sun into the
horizon. It's in a gibbous phase right now, on the far side of the sun
from earth. It will be fun to watch later in the year as it swings
towards earth and changes to crescent phase.
Mars continues moving further away from earth. While it's high in the
sky, we don't expect to see more than a pumpkin-colored dot at this point.
If you're up before dawn, as I usually am, look for bright Jupiter in
the east, having risen just an hour or so before the sun.
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la
Hi everyone, we're still up on cloud nine after last weekend's awesome
star party at Mojave National Preserve! It was so great to see many of
you over the weekend. There were at least 4 families from our astronomy
list who joined us, in addition to the 4 families worth of astronomers.
There were over 50 people there, and another 15 on Friday night for our
first night impromptu star party. Many staff and friends of the Mojave
National Preserve. http://www.preservethemojave.org/index.php
Here is a set of pictures I took. Each of us took lots of pictures on
the hikes, and Mojo has some spectacular panoramas that will make their
way to a blog soon. I'm busy writing up a story about the Chuckwalla
lizards of Amboy Cratrer and other tales myself. One park visit, so much
to learn and share!
http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2010-04-11-mojavejane/index.html.
We're heading to our no-frills observing site off the I-10 Red Cloud
Road between Chiriaco Summit and Desert Center in a few hours. But first
we'll head up into Joshua Tree National Park from the south to check out
the Colorado Desert wildflowers, and to hug one of our very favorite
national parks. This week is National Park Week (in addition to Earth
Week and National Astronomy Week) But this means there is free
admission to every one of the nations National Parks April 17-25th.
http://www.nationalparks.org/explore/?fa=national-park-week I hope you
make it to one of our local parks this week! Find your closest ones on
this link - there are 4 national parks within 100 miles of my zip code,
and we're heading to one of them!
Next weekend we'll be out on the sidewalks once again. We'll be in
Pasadena Friday night and Monrovia Saturday night to share moon, Venus,
Saturn and Mars (and maybe Mercury) with all of you who stop by! See you
under the stars!!
Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Website: www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
What's Up March 2010? Saturn & 21Lutetia! http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm
What's Up Podcast on YouTube: http://bit.ly/bBUANa
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjoneshttp://twitter.com/CassiniSaturn
Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/
What's Up for April? How and when to view the Space Station and more!
JPL: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/0/TfMiKZi0ba4
A lot of you know how to check for local ISS passes, or go out and watch the
passes, but many don't know when and where to look, or what to expect you
will see. This month's podcast explains how and what you will see.
I hope you share this podcast with your friends, family and networks who may
be unsure how to look, where to look, and when to look.
It's a good-time topic this month, especially because there is a shuttle
about to dock and then undock from the ISS. That means both the shuttle and
station can be seen together in the sky by some lucky people, maybe you! :-)
Speaking of this week, there is a very nice and high morning ISS pass
tomorrow morning here in the LA area, about 5:25 with a bonus - fainter
STS-131 passes nearby 4 minutes earlier. I attached those two charts (using
the familiar Heavens Above website) for us locals. Others can follow the
directions and find out when and where. :-)
Jane
PS: Final reminder about Mohave turtles and star party this weekend, weather
permitting is here: http://www.preservethemojave.org/events.html
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov
What's Up For April - The International Space Station!
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm
Many of you who have enjoyed visiting our telescopes in the city wonder
what it would be like away from the city. Folks who grow up and live in
Los Angeles rarely get to see a true dark sky.
We love to have people join us for dark sky excursions, but our favorite
location in the Colorado Desert south of Joshua Tree could be considered
"inhospitable" by many.
In less than two weeks, on April 10, we'll be having a dark sky event
with the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy. Free camping will be
available at the Black Canyon Group Campground, and the MNPC is planning
to provide drinks and light refreshments.
Mojave National Preserve is a beautiful place with fabulous dark skies.
We'll be bringing our biggest and best telescopes to introduce you to
the galaxy clusters of spring in the early evening, and the Milky Way
towards midnight. You can enjoy great desert walks during the day, and
starry skies through the night.
The event is listed here at the Mojave National Preserve web site:
http://www.preservethemojave.org/events.html
On the site you'll see a link to Mike Cipra to RSVP if you'd like to
attend: mcipra(a)npca.org
There's also a link to my blog about a previous trip to MNP last year
with a group of herpetologists:
http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2009/04/26/snakes-tortoises-and-stars/
The location is about 200 miles from our home in Monrovia, and is an
easy drive on good roads for the whole distance.
The weather is quite variable, and as always, if it's cloudy or too
windy we won't be able to set up telescopes. The odds are pretty good
to have clear dark skies. Be sure to bring warm clothing for the
evening in several layers. We always travel with hats and gloves even
for mid-spring observing.
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la
It looks like we'll have clear skies tonight and tomorrow. We plan to
have telescopes in Old Town Pasadena tonight, and Old Town Monrovia
Saturday night.
We'll have three targets: In the early evening the gibbous moon will be
out and Mars will be almost overhead. A little later in the evening
Saturn will be low in the east.
The air is not forecast to be very steady tonight, so we're not likely
to see much detail on Mars as it gets further away. We'll certainly give
it a shot though.
Look for us from about 7:00 'til 9:00 on both evenings. Friday night on
Colorado Blvd. near Delacey, wherever we find parking; Saturday night in
Monrovia at Library Park, on the corner of Lime and Myrtle.
Cheers,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la
Hi everyone,
My favorite planet is daring you to step outside and look at it this month!
It's easy to see from the city from now through July. In a dark sky, and
through a telescope you'll see subtle cloud bands of custard, butterscotch
and hazelnut crème, and the wafer-thin ring bisects the planet, allowing you
to see its oblateness this month. What a tasty treat for your eyes!
So it should come as no surprise that the topic of my monthly podcast for
March 2010 is Saturn. But I also share the podcast with a challenging
object, the 13th magnitude (nearly as faint as Pluto) asteroid 21 Lutetia,
which is halfway between Saturn on the horizon and Mars (nearly overheard
and the color of a blood orange).
Here are several podcast viewing options:
Many formats, educational activities to compliment the podcast, plus
archives of all 33 podcasts back to April 2007
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=324
YouTube, favorite viewing method of my parents :-)
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#p/u/1/1dIe5_SvToE
NASA podcast page, easy RSS feed, Itunes
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/whatsup_index.html
We'll be showing off the lord of the rings April 2-3 in Monrovia and
Monrovia hopefully, after many rained out sidewalk astronomy nights.
For those interested in a getaway, we'll be heading to the desert Saturday
the 13th, weather permitting, undecided where, probably here:
http://www.otastro.org/chuckwalla.html for those who can drive 300 miles
round trip to see a planet. :-) The last 2 miles are a rutted dirt road not
suitable for large trucks and campers, and there are no facilities and it's
not that good for camping, but we love it.
For a little longer drive but a nature bonus, you can also join us April 10
at Mojave National Preserve for a star party hosted by the Mojave National
Preserve Conservancy at Black Canyon Group Campground. In addition to
Saturn, it's spring galaxy season! You will need to RSVP (but there is no
cost or anything) on the announcement page
http://www.preservethemojave.org/events.html.
There are plenty of closer-to-home spots to view Saturn than where we like
to go, beside the sidewalks of Pasadena and Monrovia. Many of the local
astronomy clubs have property or events. Pomona Valley, Riverside, Orange
and Ventura counties, Yucca Valley, and many points S and E plus the Los
Angeles amateur astronomers all hold viewing events each month. Griffith
Observatory would be an excellent spot, with star parties every month too,
usually on the same nights as our sidewalk astronomy. We all love to share
the best moon view on the same nights, and this month Saturn and Mars make
it a bonus!
Here's looking at you, Saturn!
Jane
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov
What's Up For March - Saturn Opposition, asteroid 21 Lutetia!
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm
No offense to snakes ... :)
Both Friday and Saturday look, as my grandpa used to say, "'pert near"
impossible for sidewalk astronomy this weekend. Clouds, rain, and
telescopes don't work well together.
I'll update the list if anything changes. It sure would be good to get
in a little observing while Mars is still high and bright. Maybe an
opportunity will come up.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la
Join the Sidewalk Astronomers for a Spring Star Party at Black Canyon
Equestrian and Group Campground in Mojave national Preserve April 10th (some
of the astronomers will arrive on the 9th for a shorter informal star party
that night). There is a small 10 x 20 ft level cement pad for the
telescopes, with room for perhaps 6-8 telescopes, so let me know if you are
not one of the usual astronomers but plan to bring one - it will be first
come, first setup on the pad, but lots of room next to your tent for setup.
There is room for about 30 people camping (10-15 tents), with nearby first
come first serve spaces at Hole in the wall campground.
The spring sky is magnificent in a dark sky and Mojave National Preserve
offers one of the very best and darkest (and closest to us) sites in the
United States!
Mars and Saturn bookend the beautiful constellation Leo the lion, while
dozens of spring galaxies are easy to find in the dark velvet skies. The
faint winter spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy will glimmer like a gossamer
veil of stardust in the western sky after dark. Mercury and Venus will be
visible low on the western horizon just after sunset, too. And to the south,
naturalists will enjoy identifying the constellations Corvus the crow and
Hydra the snake.
For pictures, stories and desert tortoise videos from last years event:
http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2009/04/26/snakes-tortoises-and-stars/- end blurb
The SW Herpetologists will on hand too, for night and day forays to see
Chuckwallas, and other reptiles, if you are interested in that.
There is room for RV's in the parking lot, pit toilets and even running
water near the covered picnic table pavilion for dishwashing. We have
established a relationship with the Mojave National Preserve park staff, the
brand new Mojave Preserve Conservancy, and the National Park Conservation
Association and there will be a great pot luck Saturday night all with these
folks. (join these groups and help preserve this preserve. :-)
I have it on good authority that this should be a great time of year to see
the desert tortoises and high desert wildflowers and blooming cacti. :-)
Link http://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm (click on map and campgrounds for
more info and details.)
This is a 200+ mile one way drive from near Monrovia. But the stars (and
tortoises) are well with the journey. ;-)
This weekend we're all scattering here and there for star gazing and so
there is no "official" dark sky star party. If you crave a dark sky - we
typically travel at least 100-150 miles one way to get out of the light dome
of LA:
Yucca Valley Andromeda Society Feb 13, Mar 13 Joshua Tree Lake/Campground at
2601 Sunfair Rd. about four miles north of the airport.
Borrego Springs Feb 13, Mar 13 sponsored by ABDNHA Church Lane
1-760-767-3098 for directions
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435
jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov
What's Up For February - 400th Anniv of Galilean Moon discovery
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-archive.cfm
Hi Old Town Astronomer astro enthusiasts!
My NASA JPL¹s What¹s Up February Podcast: Jupiter¹s Moons + Education
activities and a flyer are available here:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=304
A few months ago I was researching images of the Crab nebula and its
creation in the supernova of 1054 for my November 2009 podcast. I played
around with some starcharting software to see if I could recreate the view
seen from the famous rock painting at Chaco Canyon - of a starburst and a
crescent moon. By golly, the same shaped crescent moon appeared on my
computer screen next to the supernova remnant! I included those charts in
that November podcast!
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=244
For February 2010, I wanted to talk a bit about the discovery of the 4
Galilean moons. Using the same software (SkyMap Pro) I typed in January 7th
1610 and up popped a view of Jupiter near the constellation Orion, just as
Galileo described in his letters. I felt a direct connection with the sky
happenings of 400 years ago in Padua when I looked at those charts!
I was totally surprised to compare Galileo's drawing showing 3 moons on his
first night's sketch January 7, 1610 with my computer generated
skychart. The planet and moons lined up exactly like his historic drawing!
But the big surprise (for me) was that one of those moons in Galileo's
drawing was actually a tight pairing of Io and Europa! Galileo's telescope
could not split these two tiny objects.
Sorry for the ramble. Galileo continued his Jupiter series of observations
through March 2, 1610. 400 years ago today Galileo was out sketching Jupiter
once again. On that night of February 5th, 1610, he saw all four of the Galilean moons, two on
each side of Jupiter. Wow!
You can download or view some educational materials about Jupiter, plus a
2-page flyer on the NASA Solar System Exploration website archive page
along with the podcast here:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup-view.cfm?WUID=304
Youtube format here http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JPLnews#g/u
The January 2010 What's Up topic was Mars Opposition and is still valuable
this month. It shows when and where to see the Spirit, Opportunity and
Phoenix sides of Mars with some February dates. :-) March's podcast will be
about Saturn Opposition and a bit about Rosetta and visible asteroids. :-)
Carpe Noctum! Jane
--
Jane Houston Jones
Monrovia, CA
Website: www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
What's Up January 2010? Mars Opposition! http://is.gd/6krYj
What's Up Podcast on YouTube: http://is.gd/6WE77
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjoneshttp://twitter.com/CassiniSaturn
Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/