Friday, February 11, 2011
Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy, Saturday, February 12
Usual place, usual objects--Jupiter and the moon, plus possibly a few other objects, depending on telescopes available. Dusk - at least 8:30pm.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy on Saturday, January 15
Weather-permitting, it looks like some of us will be setting up our telescopes this Saturday, from around 5:30pm - 8:30pm. This'll be at our regular location, at the corner of Myrtle and Lime.
It's been a pretty busy week. I did outreach events at local elementary schools both yesterday and Wednesday. Yesterday's was cool 'cause I got a free In-N-Out Burger for my troubles. :D
Two very different events. Yesterday was at McKinley Elementary School in Pasadena. Huge turnout, with the aforementioned In-N-Out Burger truck. I think the PTA had to spring for that. It seemed like about 200 parents, teachers, students and friends, with viewing from about 5:30pm until a little after 7pm. It was on a playground, so it was convenient for folks to get to and be around. However, the bright playground lights (and high clouds) limited us to just Jupiter and the moon. We also had a flyover of the International Space Station.
Thursday was not quite as boisterous. About 100 students, teachers and parents, on the relatively dark field of Palm Crest Elementary School in La Canada. The darker skies there increase the number of possible targets, but I had no breaks in the line, so I really couldn't re-target my telescope until pretty much everyone was gone.
I was fixed on Jupiter pretty much all night there, too. Near the very end, I moved on over to Uranus (which is currently very close to Jupiter) for a few moments, the Orion Nebula (which looks pretty nice from even a suburban location, once you get away from the immediate shine of lights), and the "ET Cluster," which is a nice littel open cluster in Cassiopeia. It gets its nickname because it has two brighter components that look a little bit like eyes, at the top of a smattering of other stars that sort of outline a skinny, long-limbed creature.
It had been a year or so since the last time I saw it, so I was looking forward to showing it to the kids yesterday at McKinley. But the clouds and lights made that impossible. Oh, well.
Both nights were still very enjoyable. It's nice to share the sky, and the expressions of pleasure and gratitude from telescope viewers is what makes doing this seem so worthwhile.
From the 210 freeway, take the Myrtle exit north about one mile, into "Old Town Monrovia." We'll be at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Lime, which is also the southeast corner of Library Park. Parking is usually plentiful in the public lots east of Myrtle, or along either Lime or Palm.
We'll mostly be viewing the moon and Jupiter, again. However, if there are enough telescopes and viewers, we may move over briefly to see the Pleiades star cluster, and possibly the Orion Nebula. You never know. And if you ask and we, we can also try to find other things.
It's been a pretty busy week. I did outreach events at local elementary schools both yesterday and Wednesday. Yesterday's was cool 'cause I got a free In-N-Out Burger for my troubles. :D
Two very different events. Yesterday was at McKinley Elementary School in Pasadena. Huge turnout, with the aforementioned In-N-Out Burger truck. I think the PTA had to spring for that. It seemed like about 200 parents, teachers, students and friends, with viewing from about 5:30pm until a little after 7pm. It was on a playground, so it was convenient for folks to get to and be around. However, the bright playground lights (and high clouds) limited us to just Jupiter and the moon. We also had a flyover of the International Space Station.
Thursday was not quite as boisterous. About 100 students, teachers and parents, on the relatively dark field of Palm Crest Elementary School in La Canada. The darker skies there increase the number of possible targets, but I had no breaks in the line, so I really couldn't re-target my telescope until pretty much everyone was gone.
I was fixed on Jupiter pretty much all night there, too. Near the very end, I moved on over to Uranus (which is currently very close to Jupiter) for a few moments, the Orion Nebula (which looks pretty nice from even a suburban location, once you get away from the immediate shine of lights), and the "ET Cluster," which is a nice littel open cluster in Cassiopeia. It gets its nickname because it has two brighter components that look a little bit like eyes, at the top of a smattering of other stars that sort of outline a skinny, long-limbed creature.
It had been a year or so since the last time I saw it, so I was looking forward to showing it to the kids yesterday at McKinley. But the clouds and lights made that impossible. Oh, well.
Both nights were still very enjoyable. It's nice to share the sky, and the expressions of pleasure and gratitude from telescope viewers is what makes doing this seem so worthwhile.
From the 210 freeway, take the Myrtle exit north about one mile, into "Old Town Monrovia." We'll be at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Lime, which is also the southeast corner of Library Park. Parking is usually plentiful in the public lots east of Myrtle, or along either Lime or Palm.
We'll mostly be viewing the moon and Jupiter, again. However, if there are enough telescopes and viewers, we may move over briefly to see the Pleiades star cluster, and possibly the Orion Nebula. You never know. And if you ask and we, we can also try to find other things.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Halley's Comet Pictures
Don't know if anyone reads this blog, but if you do, and you're interested, I posted a few shots I took of Halley's Comet on my hiking blog. It's here.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Possible Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy on December 18
A couple of the regular Monrovia group has said they plan to be at Myrtle and Lime on Saturday, December 18. The weather forecast for that night is not looking very good, however, so I would definitely monitor the skies before heading out there.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Revised December Sidewalk
No telescopes in Pasadena this month.
Monrovia, only. December 11. Still coordinating on the times, but probably from around 6pm - 8pm.
Monrovia, only. December 11. Still coordinating on the times, but probably from around 6pm - 8pm.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
December Sidewalk Dates
Old Town Astronomers hasn't posted their sidewalk dates, but judging by the calendar, you should expect them to be in Pasadena (Colorado, near Delacey) on Friday, December 10, and in Monrovia (Myrtle and Lime) on Saturday, December 11. Expect telescopes from around 5pm until 8pm on both nights (longer if we're busy).
Jupiter is marching quickly across the night sky. It's now more or less due south by shortly after dark and setting towards the west by late evening.
If you get up before twilight, the amazingly bright "star" you see to the southeast is Venus.
Jupiter is marching quickly across the night sky. It's now more or less due south by shortly after dark and setting towards the west by late evening.
If you get up before twilight, the amazingly bright "star" you see to the southeast is Venus.
Friday, November 12, 2010
First Quarter Moon Weekend!
Yep, it's sidewalk astronomy weekend! Today, Friday, November 12, in Pasadena (Colorado Blvd near Delacey) and tomorrow, Saturday, November 13 in Monrovia, at the corner of Myrtle and Lime. Figure a bit after 6pm - 8:30pm, at least, both nights.
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