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Just in from watching the three satellites pass near Saturn

by Jane Houston Jones

Mojo and I stepped outside at 7:55 p.m. and waited a few minutes for the first of three satellites as they passed from West to East. We saw all three. The ISS - the 2nd of the three was much brighter than the shuttle.When the shuttle - the third satellite, passed halfway between Sirius and Saturn we saw a sun glint - which brightened the illumination for just a second. It was a great view! I hope some of you also stepped outside for this fun view! Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 9 months

Interesting space station/shuttle/ATV pass tonight

by Morris Jones

We should have a very unusual pass of three bright artificial satellites tonight, which I certainly plan to look for. All three will enter the sky from the southwest and cross toward the east. Start looking at about 8:00 p.m. to the left of where the sun set an hour before. At their peak altitude they'll be in the south east. By 8:10 they'll be past. First up will be the ATV (the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle) on its way to the ISS. It will be its highest in the sky at about 8:04. Following that, and brightest, will be the International Space Station, at peak altitude at 8:08. Only a few seconds behind, and just as bright, is space shuttle Endeavour, recently undocked from the station and on its way to a landing tomorrow. These behave very differently from airplanes. They'll look like very bright moving stars. If it blinks, shows a red light, or stays close to the horizon, it's an airplane, not a satellite. The station currently has a permanent crew of three aboard, and the shuttle is returning with seven astronauts. For custom predictions of visible satellite passes at your location (other than Los Angeles / Pasadena) visit here: http://www.heavens-above.com Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 9 months

Cancel tonight's Monrovia sidewalk astronomy

by Jane Houston Jones

We're cancelling the sidewalk astronomy event in Monrovia tonight due to a 40% chance of thunderstorms. Our friend Bob Eklund is still (as of this morning) planning to hold a viewing event in Memorial Park Sierra Madre tonight. So if this is local for you there is a slight chance that at 7 p.m., if there is anything to see, you can see the moon from Sierra Madre! Last night in Pasadena, as thousands of folks were enjoying the first night of Pasadena Art Weekend we had 350 people stop for a look at Saturn and Mars near the first quarter moon for some performance art with telescopes! Early on, we were joined by a bevy of bicyclists, complete with camera crew, and later by bagpipes and drums, and kilts, oh my! Just a typical Friday night on Colorado Blvd. Here are a few pictures from last night: http://photo.whiteoaks.com/2008-03-14-sidewalk/index.html Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA 34.2048N 118.1732W, 637.0 feet http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 9 months

Sidewalk astronomy, looks good tonight, bad Saturday

by Morris Jones

Tonight's forecast is "mostly clear," and Jane and I plan to be in Old Town Pasadena from about 7:00 p.m. 'til 10:00, or until we're too cold or hungry to stay. :) While we never know exactly where we'll be, it's always somewhere on the two-block stretch on Colorado Blvd. from Fair Oaks to Pasadena Ave., and usually on the north side of the street. If we find street parking (we usually do), that's where we set up. If not, we can unload near Barnes & Noble, or near One Colorado, and hand the astro van off to valet parking. With the moon and Saturn being very far north in the sky, you might find one or both of us hauling our big dobsonian telescopes across the street for a less obstructed view. We should have great views of the first-quarter moon almost overhead in the sky, and Saturn mid-way up in the east. I often use the analogy that looking up at the sky from the surface of the earth is like looking up from the bottom of a swimming pool. It could be a lot more like that tonight, with upper-level winds bringing us tomorrow's clouds and rain. Which brings up the point that Saturday's forecast is not looking good for sidewalk astronomy. If the "conditions on the ground" look different tomorrow night, I'll update you right here. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 9 months

weather update ...

by Morris Jones

While the NOAA public forecast for tonight is "mostly cloudy," the astronomy-specific Clear Sky Clock <http://cleardarksky.com/c/MnrviaCAkey.html> is actually very promising. I want to emphasize, though, that a total lunar eclipse is not an event that requires a telescope to enjoy. There's really no need to travel anywhere to see it, except perhaps to find clearer skies. If you step out and see the eclipse as the moon goes in, sits in, and comes out of the Earth's shadow, it's a very satisfying sight! Here are the specific times: Moon rise: 5:32 p.m. Partial eclipse begins: 5:43 p.m. Total eclipse begins: 7:01 p.m. Total eclipse ends: 7:51 p.m. Partial eclipse ends: 9:09 p.m. This chart has times for the pacific coast: <http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2008Feb21/image/TLE2008Feb2…> From Library Park in Monrovia, the moon isn't likely to be above the nearby buildings before almost 7:00. That's when we plan to have the telescope available. We'll also have Saturn to see. It'll be the bright golden star right next to the totally eclipsed moon. And don't forget Jane's "What's Up" podcast: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/whatsup/whatsup20080219/ Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 10 months

What's Up and eclipse forecast

by Morris Jones

JPL just published Jane's "What's Up" for February, which has a great explanation of a lunar eclipse, and information about viewing Saturn: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/whatsup/whatsup20080219/ Now about that eclipse ... :) The current forecast is "mostly cloudy," which might mean we'll get to see peeks of the moon through what astronomers call "sucker holes," meaning they suck you into going observing when it's really hopeless. :) Nevertheless, as long as it isn't raining, and there are some breaks in the clouds, I plan to set up a telescope at Myrtle & Lime in hopes of catching a few glimpses of the moon in eclipse. You can see the eclipse from anywhere that isn't cloudy of course, but we'd love to have you drop by and say "Hi" if you're out and about! Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 10 months

Another good ISS pass tonight

by Morris Jones

Tonight (Monday Feb. 18) there's an excellent pass of the International Space Station over Los Angeles, and if the timing is right, it will be followed or preceded by the space shuttle, making for a great double pass. The shuttle is scheduled to undock this morning. Look in the northwest starting at 5:50 p.m. It will be almost directly overhead at 5:53, and set below the horizon in the southeast at 5:57. The shuttle shouldn't be far behind, or ahead. Both will be very bright and look like moving stars, with no blinking lights like airplanes. You can create your own satellite pass predictions for your location at http://heavens-above.com Don't forget the total lunar eclipse this Wednesday night! And finally it was great seeing so many of you on the sidewalk in Pasadena and Monrovia this weekend! We had our first Saturn night, and some of our biggest visitor counts ever, especially in Pasadena on Friday. Cheers, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 10 months

ISS and spy satellite visible tonight

by Morris Jones

In addition to our viewing of the moon and Saturn tonight in Monrovia, there are a couple of interesting passes for the International Space Station and the famous decaying spy satellite referred to as USA 193. First to pass is the spy satellite. It will be magnitude 1.2 at its brightest, not as bright as the bright planets or brightest stars, but should be easily visible. It will first become visible low in the southwest at 6:33 p.m., and reach its maximum altitude near Mars at 6:35 p.m. It will fade out a minute later in the northeast. Then there's the International Space Station (ISS) which has shuttle Atlantis docked at the moment. It will be the brightest thing in the sky besides the moon. ISS will first appear in the northwest at 6:41 p.m., and reach maximum altitude, almost overhead, at 6:44 p.m. It will enter the earth's shadow about a minute later. Orbiting satellites look like moving stars, and follow very different paths in the sky from airplanes. Their light comes from the sun shining on them -- they don't produce any light of their own. If it blinks, it's an airplane. :) We'll be pointing them both out in Monrovia tonight, but they should be visible from most anywhere near L.A. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 10 months

Sidewalk Astronomy this weekend, plus eclipse Wednesday

by Morris Jones

It looks to be a beautiful weekend for sidewalk astronomy. Jane and I will be in Old Town Pasadena tonight, on Colorado Blvd. near Delacey, from about 6:30 'til 9:30 p.m. We'll be showing the moon, and if you arrive a little later in the evening, we should have our first looks at Saturn for this year. We'll be repeating on Saturday in Monrovia at Myrtle & Lime with our motley crew of sidewalk astronomers, from 6:00 'til 9:00. Then on Wednesday evening, February 20th, we plan to have a special outing in Monrovia for the total lunar eclipse. The moon will be totally eclipsed from 7:01 p.m. 'til about 7:51 p.m. For a little over an hour before and after, you'll see the moon moving into and out of earth's shadow. If the sky is clear it should be great to see! No telescope required, but at least one of us will be out at Monrovia at Myrtle & Lime with a telescope. Hope to see you there ... Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA http://www.whiteoaks.com Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers http://www.otastro.org

17 years, 10 months

Explorer ! Documentary on KCET tonight

by Jane H Jones

JPL's new documentary about Explorer 1: Beginnings of the Space age airs tonight , Saturday the 2nd on KCET at 10 p.m. I see it also is showing tomorrow (Sunday the 3rd) at 5:00 p.m. http://www.kcet.org/programs/science-nature/index.php?mID=9356&refer=th The JPL press release is here: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-008 "Explorer 1: JPL and the Beginnings of the Space Age" will also air on local and national media outlets. In the Los Angeles area, it will air on KCET, Channel 28, on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. The documentary will air nationally on Discovery HD Theater, with multiple airings beginning Jan. 31. Thanks to Gary for reminding me to remind you. :-) Jane and Mojo (in Sarasota, FL on vacation) -- 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

17 years, 10 months

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