It's Saturn time!

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