Thursday, February 26, 2009

Sidewalk Astronomy in February and March

On Friday, February 27, we'll be setting up in Farnsworth Park in Altadena. This park is far north on Lake, past New York. The park's on the west side of Lake, with a street called "Mountain Curve" on the north end of the park.

On Saturday, March 7, we'll be setting up in our usual corner in Monrovia, at Myrtle and Lime.

A crescent moon, a crescent Venus and a late-rising Saturn are on tap for the 27th. Saturn will be rising an hour or so earlier by the next week, with Venus setting earlier and a gibbous moon visible all night.

Both nights will start around 6pm. Altadena will wrap up around 8pm. Monrovia will wrap up around 9pm.

Both events are weather-permitting, of course.

Friday, January 16, 2009

IYA video

JPL has put together this nice little video as part of their tie-in to the International Year of Astronomy (the 400th Anniversary of Galileo pointing a telescope up into space). The Old Town Astronomers (of which I am a part) is featured. I'm the dorky fat guy in the blue sweatshirt.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Next Sidewalk Astronomy in Monrovia: January 31

Yep, January 3 is officially clouded out. No sidewalk astronomy today.

Our next attempt will be in four weeks, on the Saturday, January 31. As usual, this is the Saturday closest to the first quarter moon.

Corner of Myrtle and Lime in Old Town Monrovia.

Weather looking kind of iffy

The weather is looking kind of iffy for sidewalk astronomy in Monrovia tonight. It hasn't officially been cancelled, yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. Keep an eye on the weather. If the clouds are still hanging around, there'sa fairly good chance it'll have to be called. Sorry, but we can't control the weather!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

"What's Up" for January

This month's JPL offering focuses on Venus.

Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy -- Saturday, January 3

6-9 pm at the corner of Myrtle and Lime.

In the meantime, if you look high to the southwest shortly after sunset, you'll see Venus, the "evening star," shining about as bright as it can. Tonight (December 29) the moon should be just a bit to the lower right of Venus. Tomorrow, it'll be a bit to the upper left.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

What's Up? for December 2008

JPL’s near-monthly post of "What’s Up?" is viewable here. It describes your planet-viewing opportunities through the rest of the month.