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Next Sidewalk Astronomy + January 31 lunar eclipse!

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone. Our next sidewalk astronomy event will be January 27th followed by February 24th. Right now there are no evening planets to view in the evening sky so it will be a chance to focus on the moon (which I love showing more even that the planets). I always bring some excellent moon maps (but you have to ask for them) and the famous NASA moon lithograph, which are at all telescopes. Just a few days later on the morning of January 31st (unfortunately a work/school night) we will have a lunar eclipse.. My monthly What's Up video covers the eclipse. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1517 In a nutshell: Eclipse starts 2:51 am. January 31st. Totality 4:51 am to 6:07 am. Moon sets 6:55 am before partial eclipse is complete from California. We will be able to see total phase lasting 1 hour 16 minutes, but it will be extremely low to the western horizon, so anyone with trees or mountains to their west will need to get to a flat area….. Then the moon sets before the end of the eclipse. Watch from 2:51 am until totality is underway about 5 am if you can. If not there will be images on our sidewalk astronomers facebook page (link below) afterwards. The earlier partial phase will be higher in the sky, so depending on your preference and Wednesday work schedule, try for part of it. No, we will not be at Library Park between 2 am and dawn, sorry! Find a good western horizon and enjoy!! As always, all our dates are on our : webpage http://www.otastro.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OTAstro/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/otastro Plus you can always ask a question by email sidewalk(a)otastro.org See you soon under the bright lights and moon in Monrovia!! Jane (and happy birthday Mojo January 18h, and our anniversary January 15th!) Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up January: Quadrantids Jan 3-4, lunar eclipse Jan 30th, start watching Mars! https://youtu.be/Wogn2oDEDXs NEW! FB Watch adds What’s Up video! https://www.facebook.com/NASAWhatsUp/

8 years, 2 months

Tonight’s Sidewalk Astronomy Cancelled

by Gary Spiers

Today’s clouds have stubbornly refused to clear out and tonight’s Sidewalk astronomy is cancelled. We hope you all had a chance to see the SpaceX launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenburg Air Force Base last night. Spectacularly illuminated by the just set sun those lucky enough to look had a grand stand view of the separation of the first and second stages and then witness the second stage carrying the 10 Iridium Next satellites to a successful orbit insertion while the first stage returned to Earth ‘landing’ on the Pacific Ocean. I’ve posted a photo of the first and second stage separation evens on our Sidewalk Astronomers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OTAstro/posts/1944561659129640 We look forward to seeing you all in the New Year and keep looking up - you never know what you might otherwise be missing! Gary Spiers

8 years, 2 months

Re: Could be a good rocket show tonight

by Morris Jones

8 years, 3 months

Could be a good rocket show tonight

by Morris Jones

Tonight there is a scheduled launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg that has the potential for an impressive show in the evening sky. Here is an excerpt from the Launch Alert email list: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FRIDAY LAUNCH VISIBILITY Friday evening's launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB appears to be on schedule. The vehicle is slated to lift off from south base at 17:27:23 PST and carry several Iridium NEXT commercial communications satellites into orbit. Following liftoff, the vehicle will climb vertically for several before it begins a gradual turn and heads south. The rocket's bright flame should be visible over a wide area. However, since this launch occurs 30 minutes after Vandenberg AFB sunset, it could be impressive beginning at T+ 2 minutes 12 seconds when simulations show the exhaust plume will be illuminated at high altitude by the sun. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If the launch happens on time, at 5:27 p.m., it should appear as a remarkable exhaust plume in the general direction of south west. Best regards, Mojo -- Morris Jones Monrovia, CA BridgeMojo <https://bridgemojo.com> Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers <http://otastro.org> Mojo's Blog <http://mojo.whiteoaks.com>

8 years, 3 months

Sidewalk Astronomy Saturday!

by Jane Houston Jones

It's on! Join Kay, Van and Mike at Myrtle and Lime Streets for some great moon viewing, weather permitting! Sunset is before 5 p.m. so figure the astronomers will be out for a couple hours after sunset. Then, next month the first quarter moon Saturday nights will also be near the holidays, so we'll have to poll the astronomers to see if anyone is in town. I know we will be away with family on both Dec 22 and 29 Saturday nights. Happy holidays and stargazing, everyone! -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Video November: Planet pairs & moon passes stellar superstars! https://youtu.be/7HPQAVFGrQ4

8 years, 3 months

Mojave National Preserve Star Party information

by Jane Houston Jones

Sunset is 4:46 p.m. November 11. The drive from Monrovia is 216 miles, so allow 3.5 hours. Weather is partly cloudy but we are hoping for some decent stargazing. It will dip into the 40's overnight, so bring layers. Directions on the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/MojaveNationalPreserveConservancy/ Black Canyon Group Campsite, 10 miles north of I-40 on Essex road, then 10 miles north of Essex Road on Black Canyon Road. You'll see signs for both the Hole In The Wall Campsite/Visitor Center, and the Black Canyon Group and equestrian campsites. We'll probably set up in the equestrian campsite since we have an ultralight trailer, and save parking spaces for the campers in the group area. Cell phone coverage is not good past the turnoff to Essex Road from the I-40. Park Map: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/maps.htm From the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy page: "For those joining us for the Star Party on Saturday: - We have over 150 RSVPs for the event. If there are no spaces to camp when you arrive at the Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground, consider setting up your tent at the Hole in the Wall campground about a mile down the road. -Dinner on Saturday is pot luck. We welcome any dishes or snacks that you would like to bring and share. -Weather: Currently, the forecast calls for highs in the 60s or lower 70s during the day. At night, temperatures could dip into the 40s. Please bring layers. The forecast also suggests that the skies may be partly cloudy. Keep an eye on the forecast and keep your fingers crossed for as few clouds as possible so that we have a clear view of the stars." See you Friday night for those arriving early, and Saturday night for the potluck and star party. We'll share views Friday night, too! -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up Video November: Planet pairs & moon passes stellar superstars! https://youtu.be/7HPQAVFGrQ4

8 years, 4 months

Sidewalk Astronomy Oct 28, ISS pass tonight

by Jane Houston Jones

ISS pass twilight tonight: Tue Oct 17 6:35 PM, Visible: 6 min, Max Height: 87°, Appears: 10° above NW, Disappears: 10° above SE. Nearly overhead, but since it won't be dark yet, you might not see some of the first minute or so. For those not in the LA region, you can get your own alerts by signing up for the Spot The Station emails. https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ A lot of people enjoyed the Vandenberg launch "alert" I sent out, but some missed it, because there was a launch delay. These launches are often delayed, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes until the next day, so it's best to check these websites http://www.spacearchive.info/index.htm containing Launch schedules and more. At the bottom of the page is the way to join the email list http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/launch-alert and launch alert newsletter http://www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm Spaceflight Now always has live coverage of launches, to check on delays https://spaceflightnow.com/ I'll continue to post launches likely to be visible, but you'll have to find out any delays there, space twitter accounts, or launch services accounts. Our next sidewalk Astronomy will be the 28th, 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. or maybe 9:30, whenever the crowds thin out. It is International Observe the Moon Night, with astronomy clubs around the world holding events. We'll be passing out NASA moon lithos, Saturn halloween stickers, Saturn planet stickers and Cassini pins. I'll have plenty of all for everyone who wants one. Here are some great Observe the moon materials for download https://www.lpi.usra.edu/observe_the_moon_night/event-materials/ I especially like the first one, scroll down for resources and you'll find Northern Hemisphere view of the moon on October 28th. Click on it and there are sights to look for through binos or telescopes. Maybe we'll have a few smaller telescopes to have people try and find a couple of the targets, or try them at home. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/observe_the_moon_night/event-materials/ November 11-12is our twice-a-year Mojave National Preserve dark sky party (some of us will be there Friday night Nov 10 also and you are welcome to make a 2 night event, potluck only on Saturday night, breakfast only on Sunday morning. Free but RSVP here. https://www.facebook.com/events/1923366914543228/ What's Up October is in all the usual places including this one: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/2017/09/28/whats-up-for-october-2017 Finally, We have some gorgeous posters for Cassini, Voyager and some spacey travel posters made by our talented graphics folks at JPL. Download and print! Cassini https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7763/ Voyager https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/downloads/ Travel posters https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/visions-of-the-future/ Enjoy!! And see you next week! Jane -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up October? All The Things: Planets, Stars. Meteors, Asteroids,#ObserveTheMoon https://youtu.be/Pct7jr7KrBo

8 years, 5 months

Sidewalk Astronomy tonight!

by Jane Houston Jones

A few of us Sidewalk Astronomers will be at Monrovia's Library park tonight, and others will be working at Griffith Observatory or showing the stars at the last of this year's Monrovia Canyon camp out tonight. Stop by for great views of Saturn and the moon! -- Jane Houston Jones @jhjones @otastro What's Up October? All The Things: Planets, Stars. Meteors, Asteroids,#ObserveTheMoon https://youtu.be/Pct7jr7KrBo

8 years, 5 months

Next Sidewalk Astronomy Sept 30, plus some visible launches and ISS pass tonight

by Jane Houston Jones

Hi everyone. We;ll be out at Monrovia's Library Pary Saturday Sept 30 from about 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., weather permitting. Hope to see you! I'll have some Cassini End of Mission pins and stickers to handout to people who ask for them. Tonight at 8:06 p.m. there is an ISS pass visible from our southern California location. Look SSW - it will start to be visible 11° above horizon, rising to 48°and then disappearing SSE after 3 minutes. Later tonight at 10:30 p.m. Pacific time an Atlas V will launch from Vandenburg AFB, which is about 170 miles nearly due West from Monrovia. If you step out and look west you may see it. If you do, let me know as there will be a NASA launch (Insight Mission to Mars in May 2018) which will also be an afternoon launch (I think) from Vandenberg, and may be visible from here too! We've seen Vandenburg launches from our driveway in Monrovia! Also a reminder November 11-12 will be our semi-annual Mojave National Preserve star party, and begins our tenth year of providing this fabulous public dark sky event! It's free, but RSVP so the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy knows how many people car camping/attending. Potluck item welcome. We'll bring the telescopes! https://www.facebook.com/events/1923366914543228/ See you soon under the stars! -- Jane Houston Jones Solar System Public Engagement What's Up September? Milky WayRoad Trip https://go.nasa.gov/2gz0UFL

8 years, 5 months

Cancel Sidewalk Astro 2nite. Clouds and rain forecast.

by Jane Houston Jones

We'll try again Sept 30! Jane -- From Jane, sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

8 years, 6 months

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