OTEvents

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by Morris Jones

This persistent marine layer makes it difficult to see the sky, even the bright moon tonight. So we're going to call off sidewalk astronomy in Pasadena tonight, and see if it's any better tomorrow in Monrovia. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la

16 years, 10 months

Oops, sent telescope request to large email list, not astronomers

by Jones, Jane H

Sorry everyone, I hit the send button too soon! I meant to communicate with only our small group of telescope wranglers who do bring telescopes to support non-profit or public events like this one, when time (and skies) permits. But since I accidentally sent it out to everyone on our event list, the event I referred to is a wonderful play being offered this past weekend and next weekend May 22, 23, and 24th at Caltech. Check it out if you have the time! Details: The Theater Arts at Caltech (TACIT) presents five outdoor performances of Bertolt Brecht¹s Life of Galileo on campus at Gates Annex Patio beginning May 15. Presented by Caltech Performing and Visual Arts, the event is priced at $18; $9 for seniors and students; $5 for youth. Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and group discounts are available. TACIT presents Brecht¹s Life of Galileo on May 15, 16, 17 and 22, 23, 24. All performance times are at 8 p.m. except Sundays at 7 p.m. and the exception of May 16, which features a special alumni performance beginning at 6 p.m. TACIT¹s staging of Life of Galileo coincides with the International Year of Astronomy and celebrates the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the telescope. http://pasadenanow.com/main/2009/05/12/caltech-presents-brian-brophy-directe d-life-of-galileo/ 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ NEW!!What's Up for May: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm

16 years, 10 months

FW: would like to book you and your telescopes

by Jones, Jane H

I had already replied that the logistics of setup (hauling telescope from parking on street to lawn, then move cars, then repeat to take down) was not good for us. And I thought I put them in touch with Vahrun at Caltech. Notice she says Mars is up. Eek! 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ NEW!!What's Up for May: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm ------ Forwarded Message From: "Tanner, Angelle M" <angelle.m.tanner(a)jpl.nasa.gov> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 23:29:54 -0700 To: "Jones, Jane H" <jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov> Conversation: would like to book you and your telescopes Subject: RE: would like to book you and your telescopes Hey, do you think you and the others might be interested in setting up telescopes for this weekend's Life of Galileo performance? We did not do the ren faire this weekend so there was no time. We have performances on Fri, Sat and Sun at 8, 8, and 7pm. Saturn is up and so is Mars. Steven Collins (JPL) is the lead and he is amazing! Ya'll should at least come to the show. Angelle ----------------------------------------------------------- Angelle Tanner SBAR/JPL 626-354-1296 -----------------------------------------------------------

16 years, 10 months

Public Celebration of IYA2009 in Pasadena on June 6

by Jones, Jane H

Hi again Old Town Astronomy fans! Here is news about a really cool event - and the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be participating with our telescopes! If you'd like to help out (by handing out bookmarks or aiming a solar-safe telescope, or just hang out and learn what to say and do at a large public astronomy event) email me by May 31 and I'll see if there is a spot for you to help out. Thanks, Jane PS I have this "press release" in a PDF format, which I can send to you for community posting if you'd like. PPS It's an IYA event, not a sidewalk astronomy event. I'm just working on the JPL activities and the telescope activities, not the entire event. (whew) Public Celebration of IYA2009 in Pasadena on June 6 Contacts: Douglas Isbell U.S. Single-Point-of-Contact for IYA2009 Phone: 520-991-0380 Email: disbell(a)astronomy2009.us Jake Noel-Storr Rochester Institute of Technology Phone: 585-475-2521 Email: jake(a)cis.rit.edu USIYA09-04 May 12, 2009 Public Celebration of International Year of Astronomy 2009 in Pasadena on June 6 The public is invited to a celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) on Saturday, June 6, from 4-8 p.m. at the Pasadena (Calif.) Convention Center, followed by public stargazing with small telescopes on the convention center plaza until 9:30 p.m. A variety of fun, family oriented, hands-on activities and exhibit booths will be provided, including solar observing and a 100-foot scale model solar system, presented by organizations attending the subsequent summer meeting of the American Astronomical Society, with special additions from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Representatives from the popular Astronomy Cast podcast and the Galaxy Zoo citizen-science project will be among the exhibitors in the indoor “AstroZone.” Special indoor presentations will be made using a portable planetarium and a digital data immersion environment from the Rochester Institute of Technology. For updates on exhibits and organizations at the event, visit the AstroZone Web site at www.imascientist.org/astrozone. For more information on the SCUBE digital immersion environment, see insight.cis.rit.edu/SCUBE/. “Pasadena and greater Los Angeles is one of the world’s leading centers of astronomy, both historically and today,” said Douglas Isbell, the U.S. single point of contact for IYA2009. “We look to this public event on June 6 to help us get the second half of the International Year of Astronomy off to a stellar start, as we anticipate the distribution of many thousand copies of our new Galileoscope telescope kit around the world, and several exciting citizen-science projects.” Driving directions to the Pasadena Convention Center and information on parking is available at the Web site pasadenacenter.com/-directions.html. The outdoor astronomy activities and bazaar will be held in the central plaza marked by a rose and purple background on the street map posted there. The telescope viewing, and some of the afternoon outdoor activities on June 6 are weather dependent. The planet Saturn, in particular, will be well positioned for viewing that evening. Small telescopes for public viewing will be provided by members of the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers (www.otastro.org). Commemorating 400 years since Galileo first used a telescope for astronomical research, IYA2009 is designed to help the citizens of the world to rediscover their place in the Universe through viewing the day- and night-time skies, to appreciate the impact of astronomy and basic sciences on our daily lives, and to better understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society. Astronomers and educators in 140 countries aim to stimulate worldwide interest in astronomy and science, especially among young people, under the central IYA2009 theme‚"The Universe, Yours to Discover." Major IYA2009 events to come include collaboration with the Year of Science 2009 in July (www.yearofscience2009.org/themes_astronomy/celebrate/), featuring a public imaging contest using NASA’s MicroObservatory network, globally connected star parties focused on observing the Moon on August 1 and Jupiter (and its moons) on October 23-24, the Great World Wide Star Count from October 9-23, and further expansion of the new Portal to the Universe Web site (www.portaltotheuniverse.org). To learn more about IYA2009, visit www.astronomy2009.org. Additional information on the U.S. plans and programs for IYA can be found at www.astronomy2009.us. The U.S. IYA2009 program is supported by the National Science Foundation and NASA, and by private donations. The American Astronomical Society is the U.S. liaison to the IYA2009 program via the International Astronomical Union. Key U.S. partners include the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena manages JPL for NASA. 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ NEW!!What's Up for May: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm

16 years, 11 months

Diary of Hubble Grapple today

by Jones, Jane H

I've been following Twitter and NASA TV at work watching the historic "Grapple" of Hubble by shuttle STS-125, Atlantis this morning. It was very exciting and so I thought I'd share it with you all. For those of you not near your TV, computer, or don't follow NASA on Twitter, here is a little diary of the past hour and a half. Fr NASA 9:10 a.m. Pacific: To watch the shuttle capture Hubble at 12:56pm ET and for the first views of the telescope in 7 years, go to: www.nasa.gov/ntv Fr NASA 9:10 a.m. Shuttle Atlantis performed a small mid-course correction burn during approach to Hubble. Grapple is set to occur at about 12:54pm ET. Fr NASA 9:10 a.m. Pacific Atlantis is now closing in at 1.2 feet/sec and is just under 700 feet from Hubble. Fr Spaceflight Now 9:30 a.m.: Atlantis is now 300 feet directly below Hubble. http://tinyurl.com/o3urko Fr NASA 9:30 a.m.The Hubble team at Hubble's control center is doing commanding sequences to prepare it for Atlantis, which is about 250 ft beneath Hubble. NASA abt 9:30 a.m. Less than 24 minutes to grapple! Watch with Mission Control as Atlantis lines up w/Hubble: www.nasa.gov/ntv DishNet Ch. 123 DirecTV Ch. 283 Fr NASA 9:40 a.m. To watch the shuttle capture Hubble at 12:56pm ET and for the first views of the telescope in 7 years, go to: www.nasa.gov/ntv Fr NASA 10:05 a.m. Atlantis now closes the final 100 feet, moving at a speed of only a tenth of a ft/sec. The estimated time of grapple is 1:05pm ET. Fr Spaceflightnow 10:09 a.m. Hubble coming into view of the camera mounted at the end of the shuttle's robot arm as the shuttle inches closer. http://tinyurl.com/o3urko Fr SpaceflightNow 10:14 a.m. The shuttle's robot arm is now reaching out to grab the telescope. Fr NASA 10:15 a.m. The Hubble Space Telescope has been captured by space shuttle Atlantis' robotic arm. It now will be moved into the shuttle's cargo bay. Fr alexismadrigal(Wired Science) 10:15 a.m. Hubble is the hottest tin can of all time. http://twitpic.com/53ouw Look at her all lit up. Spaceflightnow 10:45 a.m.Communications regained with Hubble. Everything looks good for berthing the telescope in the cargo bay. http://tinyurl.com/o3urko Scifri (Science Friday) at 10:47 a.m. Atlantis crew has been given a 'go' to start work on pulling Hubble into its berth in the shuttle bay. PeterKingCBS 10:50 a.m. Atlantis astronaut Megan McArthur operating robot arm to bring Hubble into shuttle's cargo bay for its makeover. Gyeehill (JPL friend) at 10:50 a.m. Atlantis can see the Baja peninsula and soon Southern Cal. (((( waving ))))) Hi! Astro_Mike !!!!!!! Watch NASA TV on your computer: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public Watch NASA TV www.nasa.gov/ntv, DishNet Ch. 213, DirecTV Ch. 283 Now I'll return you to your regular programming. Hope you enjoy this play-by-play. :-) Jane Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones 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 Saturnobs http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/ NEW!!What's Up for May: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm

16 years, 11 months

Clouds tonight

by Morris Jones

While there are partly cloudy spots around L.A. county, the Monrovia end of the San Gabriel Valley seems to have a permanent knot of clouds backed up against the mountains. So with little chance of any sky, we're going to call off sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia tonight. We'll try again soon ... Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org http://twitter.com/mojo_la

16 years, 11 months

What's Up? Rain and clouds tonight

by Morris Jones

No sidewalk astronomy tonight in Pasadena, due to clouds and the threat of rain. I'll hold off on tomorrow 'til we get closer. BUT while there might not be much sun today, you can learn about observing the sun on Jane's May "What's Up" podcast: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/whatsup.cfm Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la

16 years, 11 months

Busy astronomy weekend

by Morris Jones

Jane and everyone at JPL are busily scurrying around getting everything ready for the annual JPL Open House this weekend. She may have a followup when she comes up for air! Meanwhile there's information at JPL's web site: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/open-house.cfm Jane will be with volunteers manning solar telescopes, and offering views, if there is sun! Also look for your favorite Old Town Astronomers in the Int'l Year of Astronomy film being shown in the auditorium. They have huge crowds, and it's good to be there early if you can. I don't think one day is much better than the other. It's also our sidewalk astronomy weekend, Friday and Saturday. Right now the weather forecast is not looking promising for either night, but I'll send an update tomorrow. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la

16 years, 11 months

Mojave National Preserve dark sky astronomy

by Morris Jones

Last weekend was an adventurous one for several of us who spent two nights in the Mojave National Preserve. While Friday was a bit harrowing with high winds, Saturday was a great day for exploring the park, and observing galaxies in the dark sky at night. I have an article here about the trip: http://mojo.whiteoaks.com/2009/04/26/snakes-tortoises-and-stars/ and a photo album with some cool tortoise video shot by Jane here: http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2009-04-25-mojave/ We had such a good time that we're contemplating doing it again next month. If you've never had much opportunity to get out from under the L.A. light dome, you might consider joining us. From Monrovia it's about 215 miles of easy drive. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, let me know as soon as you can. The new moon weekend in May is May 23-24. If there are enough interested parties, we can reserve the same group camping area. I'll follow this message with information about this coming weekend. Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org Twitter: http://twitter.com/mojo_la

16 years, 11 months

Helpful Herping Hints ;-) for the star party

by Jane H Jones

Here are some final facts and tidbits. Print it out and tuck into your car. Be sure you print out a map too, if you need one. Forward to new attendees. Location and directions: Latitude and Longitude (altitude 4400 feet) 35.043333, -115.395833? +35° 2' 36.00", -115° 23' 45.00" Get Google directions from here http://is.gd/tKhT Here are several maps: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/maps.htm We are staying Black Canyon Group Campsite adjacent to Hole-in the Wall campground. You can see this on all the maps. Group campsite: Vault toilets, trash receptacles, potable water, fire ring, grill, picnic shelter with tables. Fees $25 per group per night. (Fri night paid by Jane, Sat night paid by Hanna) More directions: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/directions.htm Mojave National Preserve is located east of Barstow, Calif., between I-15 and I-40. From I-15: Exit Kelbaker Road at Baker, Calif., or Zyzyx Road, Cima Road, or Nipton Road. From I-40: Exit Kelbaker Road, Essex Road, or Goffs Road. Directions to Hole-in-the-Wall and Mitchell Caverns From I-40: Exit Essex Road and drive north 10 miles to the junction with Black Canyon Road. Mitchell Caverns is 6 miles northwest of this junction on Essex Road. Hole-in-the-Wall is 10 miles north on Black Canyon Road. Attendees: Jane and Mojo will arrive Friday afternoon. Hanna Strauss, Bill Read +1, Mike Cipra (NPCA), Dave Lanfrom (Mojave National Preserve superintendent), Carolina +3 from JPL, Gary + 1 from JPL arrive Friday. Gay + 3 from JPL maybe Friday. Saturday: Some of the above - I think Mike and Dave are Fri night only. Add Todd, probably not Caroline (hope your dad is better, C). Becky, Angela +3. Possibly a few more late invitees. Lots of room in the campground. So it's ok to invite a few others. It's a fun event, don't worry if at the last minute you can't make it. Those things happen. It's not work! ;-) Weather: http://is.gd/tKfB (check back in the next few days for updates) Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Astronomy Weather (forecast partly cloudy for weekend at the moment, check back Thursday) http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/HlWllCpCAkey.html?1 Herping outings: (notes from Hanna) "The desert still won't be too hot; in fact it would be ideal to do some day herping to see various lizards (including chuckwallas), desert tortoises, and diurnal snakes. It should be warm enough in the early evening for the nocturnal species to come out to hunt and thermoregulate on asphalt warmed by the sun during the day. You can also do lantern walking at night around the campground and road to look for stuff. At night you are more likely to find interesting stuff: shovelnose snakes, leafnose snakes, glossy snakes, longnose snakes, rosy boas, banded geckos, sidewinders, scorpions, tarantulas,kangaroo rats. pocket mice, solpugids, bats,desert cottontails, nighthawks, kit foxes, coyotes and jack rabbits. Roadcruising for Herps (with a driver and a few passengers will be arranged with Hanna) A good pocket guide is Western Reptiles And Amphibians by Robert C. Stebbins. It is published by Houghton Mifflin What to bring: Layers - it will be in the 80's in the daytime, 40's-50's at night, so prepare for all these temperatures with layers Shoes - hiking boots, ankle support to walk among the rocks. Remember there are cacti and desert dwellers afoot. Those going on herping walks will want proper foot covering, for sure. Sun - Sunscreen and hats and plenty of drinking water Food - (closest store is probably Barstow - not a quick drive to/from the campsite): Let's help Hanna (she may be the only herpetologist) with a fun Saturday potluck and Sunday breakfast - bring some side-dish - fruit-etc things to share if you want for Sat night and main meal (aka meat/whatever) for yourself. There will be a couple camp stoves. Easy on desserts - if everyone brings some to share there will be way too many desserts - keep it simple for desserts warns Hanna. Bring some drinks (OJ, milk, etc, for breakfast). Hanna is bringing coffee, and offered pancakes, but if she is the only herpetologist this may be too much for her - I'll send an email about food tomorrow - everyone send me some food ideas if they have them, so everyone doesn't being the same thing......If you are not bringing a stove, share what you can prepare without a stove (except for you meat or whatever) We are bringing simple stuff like mac 'n cheese +tuna. I'll bring tea bags, hot chocolate, coffee to share, too. :-) Cutting or collecting any wood, including downed wood, is prohibited. All firewood must be brought into the preserve. Astronomy Etiquette (aka keep white lights away from telescopes) Safety is first, but white flashlights damage everyone's dark adaption. Bring flashlights to get from here to there. Always point flashlights at ground not at peoples eyes. Cup your palm around the light to diffuse it. If you want to use smaller flashlights near the telescopes I have red tape to put over the light. And extra red flashlights to share. I'll have the red tape at the telescopes and at my tent. Big lanterns are ok in your tent and out walking at night away from the telescopes, but not at the telescopes. You'll want to walk around looking for critters, do that away from the telescopes. :-) Car lights There will be cars coming and going to take people "roadcruising" down the road at night. It's a way to see more herps by covering more territory. It would be a good idea to leave the cars away from the telescopes/dining pavilion at night. It is impossible to get all interior car lights off, so at night if you are going to get in and out of your cars, it would be good to park away from the telecopes. Shouldn't be a problem. :-) Camping Rules and Leave No Trace Guidlines from NPS http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping-regs.htm -- 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 Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

16 years, 11 months

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