It's Jupiter opposition this week, which means Jupiter joins Saturn as
part of our evening sky. At opposition, Jupiter rises at about sunset,
which is about 7:30 tonight. An hour later, it should be high enough to
view. Before then we'll have a nice first-quarter Moon, and Saturn as
soon as it's dark enough to find it (probably about 7:50 p.m.).
The only unknown right now is the weather. The forecast is for typical
"May Gray" marine-layer fog. It might close in before Jupiter is
available for viewing.
In any case, Jane and I will be in Old Town Pasadena this evening
(Friday) from about 7:30 'til 10 p.m., or until the low clouds and fog
wipe out the sky. We'll be on Colorado Blvd., somewhere on the two
blocks between Fair Oaks and Pasadena Avenues.
Saturday evening we plan a repeat performance in Monrovia at Myrtle and
Lime, from about 7:00 'til 9:30 p.m.
Hope to see you!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Most of you who joined our mailing list became "accidental astronomers"
one evening when you stumbled across our telescopes on the sidewalks of
Monrovia or Pasadena. From the city, we love to show the Moon, Jupiter,
and Saturn. These are the night sky objects that are among the
brightest in the sky, and easily visible from any city sidewalk.
Many of you have expressed an interest in seeing more and learning your
way around the night sky. Maybe it was one of our stories of a night in
the desert with our big telescopes, viewing comets, nebulae, galaxies,
and star clusters. <http://www.otastro.org/2006-04-01-messier/> Maybe
you have a telescope of your own, but frequently find yourself lost in a
sky full of possibility, wondering where to go next.
Jane and I would love to be your host and tour guide for a night in the
Joshua Tree desert. We're planning an excursion to Joshua Tree National
Park on Saturday, April 29, and we'll be completely at your disposal for
a mini dark-sky star party. You can bring your own telescope if you
like, borrow one of ours, or just mooch views. There should be charts
and telescopes a-plenty for you to share.
It's a lovely time of year to wander through the massive galaxy fields
of the Spring sky. You can make a full evening of it, take a short nap,
and wake to wander through the Summer Milky Way in all its glory.
Frequently the most spectacular view is just a sky full of stars at a
place away from city lights. With warm clothes and a comfortable chair,
you can identify constellations, count meteors, and see orbiting
satellites pass overhead. With a pair of binoculars you can see star
clusters and cruise the Milky Way star clouds.
If you want help with your own telescope, we'll be available for the
hour before sunset to help out.
April 29 is the night of the Andromeda Society's monthly public star
party in Joshua Tree park, but what we're planning is not part of that
star party. We'd like to set up a little bit away from their group, but
haven't fully settled on where just yet. Our goal is simply to share
the night sky with those of you who have a burning curiosity about it,
and might have wanted a guide. We may caravan from a meeting spot, and
make our own star party.
The nearby towns of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley have inexpensive hotel
rooms, and there is certainly camping to be found in the park. Jane and
I usually just nap in our van for a few hours.
If this sounds intriguing, put it on your calendar and let me know.
We'll do more planning as the day gets closer, and keep an eye out on
the weather.
Clear skies,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Jane and I have had a great couple of weekend excursions away from the
L.A. light dome to visit with old friends in the sky. Just for fun, we
playful astronomers like to see how many objects from Charles Messier's
catalog of 110 deep sky objects we can observe in one evening.
Because of the Sun's position in the sky in March, it's possible with
practice and cooperation from the clouds to see "M" all between sunset
and dawn. Jane and I made two runs at it these past two weekends, and
here is Jane's story with some great desert pictures:
<http://www.otastro.org/2006-04-01-messier/>
We certainly haven't abandoned the sidewalks of Pasadena and Monrovia,
and this coming weekend we should have some great Moon and Saturn views
for accidental astronomers. If the clouds part on Friday and Saturday,
except to see us:
Friday, April 7, 7:00 p.m. 'til 10:00 p.m., Colorado Blvd. near Delacey,
Old Town Pasadena
Saturday, April 8, 7:00 p.m. 'til 9:30 p.m., Myrtle and Lime, Old Town
Monrovia
Given that we've (yawn) switched to Darkness Squandering Time, I don't
yet have a good handle on sunset times and such. But we'll be there
about sunset for a few hours. Close enough? :)
(Maybe it's the lack of sleep over the weekends ... !)
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Just in case anyone was planning to head to the desert tonight for
stargazing, the forecast is very poor for clear skies. We might visit
the picnic area, but it doesn't look like there will be much astronomy
taking place.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
Normally Jane and I set up telescopes on the city sidewalk to introduce
"accidental astronomers" to the Moon and planets. We also like to
escape the city's light dome for a night with the beautiful deep sky
objects that can't be seen under city lights.
Excursions away from the city are most worthwhile when there's no bright
Moon in the sky, so we usually pick the weekend closest to New Moon.
This weekend on Saturday, February 25, we'll visit Joshua Tree National
Park with the Andromeda Society of Yucca Valley for their monthly star
party under dark skies. Imagine a sky filled with about 1,700 stars,
instead of the 20 or so you usually see from L.A.!
Early in the evening we'll have great views of the winter sky and Milky
Way, full of star clusters and nebulae. Later in the evening our planet
will spin toward the spring sky, and we'll be able to look toward
galactic north into the giant Virgo cluster of galaxies. You'll also
see meteors and earth-orbiting satellites crossing overhead.
From a dark location, you can see enough stars to see the shapes of the
constellations and easily imagine the figures for which they're named.
It's better than the best planetarium show you'll ever see!
But it is colder. If you come along, be sure to dress in lots of layers
and bring lots of water or sports drinks to stay hydrated. You also
might want to bring along a comfortable chair and a pair of binoculars
for cruising through the Milky Way and counting meteors.
The star party officially starts near sunset at 5:30 p.m. at the Hidden
Valley Picnic Area of Joshua Tree National Park.
If you are planning to come, let us know so we can be sure to connect.
The star party is sponsored by the Andromeda Society of Yucca Valley:
<http://www.andromedasociety.org/>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Hi everyone, I thought you'd enjoy this feature about observing
Saturn, the moon and the Beehive cluster. There's a nice pairing of
the cluster and Saturn from now through June, with a nearly full
moon above, next to and below Saturn.
Over the past weekend, we showed this starry view, along with Saturn
and the moon, to about 500 people through 6 telescopes in Monrovia.
We all had a great time, despite partial clouds.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=990
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
Cassini Saturn Observation Campaign
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
I have a request from a parent at Marengo Elementary School, whose
students are studying the Moon now, for a small telescope party on
Sunday evening in South Pasadena. Is there anyone on the list who would
like to visit with a telescope? Unfortunately Jane and I are out of
town this weekend.
If you're available, drop me a note and I'll put you in touch.
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
The National Weather Service issued an update at 10:00 a.m. that shows
improving conditions over the area this evening. The forecast for
Monrovia right now is "mostly clear."
The Clear Sky Clock forecast is for bad conditions, but the current
satellite loop seems to confirm clearing skies tonight.
It may not be perfect tonight, but the prospects look good enough for
now. We'll plan to be at Myrtle & Lime in Old Town Monrovia tonight
from about 6:00 'til 9:30. Featured performers will be the first
quarter Moon and Saturn!
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers: http://www.otastro.org
The forecast tonight (Friday) looks very promising for sidewalk
astronomy in Old Town Pasadena.
We plan to be there from about 6:30 'til 10:00 p.m. on Colorado Blvd.
within a block either side of Delacey -- that's somewhere between Fair
Oaks and Pasadena Ave. (It depends on where we find parking!)
We usually set up on the north side of the street, and we plan to do so
again tonight -- but there's one thing that might change that. Both
Saturn and the Moon are very much in the northern part of the ecliptic
tonight. With Saturn rising shortly after sunset, it'll be appearing on
the horizon somewhat north of east. That means from the north side of
the street it'll be blocked by buildings for much of the early part of
the evening.
The Moon will be very high in the sky, so it may be visible from both
sides of the street.
We're more familiar with the north side of the street, so that's our
preference. But if you don't find us there, look across the street for
two large telescopes!
Tomorrow evening's weather is a bit more problematic for the Monrovia
outing. I'll send an update on Saturday.
In any event, it's definitely Saturn season. Hope you can join us for a
look!
Here's our approximate location on Google Maps:
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=75+W+Colorado+Blvd.,+Pasadena,+CA&ll=34…>
Best regards,
Mojo
--
Morris Jones
Monrovia, CA
http://www.whiteoaks.com
Old Town Astronomers http://www.otastro.org
Mojo just arrived on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. He then looked up
and called me to report that he sees nothing but clouds overhead. I
have all the telescopes in the old green sidewalk astronomers van,
but It looks like they wont be seeing any stars tonight and either
will we. Sorry! Better luck next month. In the meantime, here are
some planet viewing tips I've cobbled together:
Saturn: http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/viewing.cfm
Mars: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/nightsky/viewing-tips-2006.html
Fun with the weather http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/satl.php
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
Cassini Saturn Observation Campaign
http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
