While channel surfing earlier tonight, I stumbled across Huell Howser's visit to Mount Wilson observatory. Kind of entertaining, and definitely worth a watch.
One thing the show doesn't make clear is that you can't just drive up there and look through the 60" telescope. You need to make a reservation and pay a fee. One of these days, I'm going to do have to do that.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Comet McNaught
There's another Comet McNaught swinging through our vicinity this month. Here's the Sky and Telescope write-up.
I got a pretty good view on Sunday morning from a dark-sky observing location in the Mojave Desert. I couldn't make it out with the naked eye, but it was easy in my small, rich-field reflector. It's also been report in binoculars.
In the low-magnification view, the comet looks pretty small but definitely has a tail. In my larger telescopes, both the dust and ion tails are easily visible.
It's nothing like the spectacular 2007 Comet McNaught, but it's been over a year, I think, since the last binocular-visible comet has been around.
I got a pretty good view on Sunday morning from a dark-sky observing location in the Mojave Desert. I couldn't make it out with the naked eye, but it was easy in my small, rich-field reflector. It's also been report in binoculars.
In the low-magnification view, the comet looks pretty small but definitely has a tail. In my larger telescopes, both the dust and ion tails are easily visible.
It's nothing like the spectacular 2007 Comet McNaught, but it's been over a year, I think, since the last binocular-visible comet has been around.
June 2010 Sidewalk Dates
Old Town Astronomers sidewalk dates for June 2010:
Friday, June 18 in Pasadena.
Saturday, June 19 in Monrovia.
As usual, I intend to participate in the Monrovia event.
Also, there's a chance of some summer sidewalk astronomy nights in a park in Duarte. I'll post more if firm dates are set.
Friday, June 18 in Pasadena.
Saturday, June 19 in Monrovia.
As usual, I intend to participate in the Monrovia event.
Also, there's a chance of some summer sidewalk astronomy nights in a park in Duarte. I'll post more if firm dates are set.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 2010 Sidewalk Dates
Pasadena on Friday, May 21
Monrovia on Saturday, May 22
Weather permitting, targets will be Venus, moon, Saturn, and Mars, although Mars is pretty distant and small, so we may end up skipping Mars.
Venus sets earlish. It, like Mars, is also relatively far away and not showing too much of a phase.
More info at www.otastro.org
Monrovia on Saturday, May 22
Weather permitting, targets will be Venus, moon, Saturn, and Mars, although Mars is pretty distant and small, so we may end up skipping Mars.
Venus sets earlish. It, like Mars, is also relatively far away and not showing too much of a phase.
More info at www.otastro.org
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April Sidewalk Dates
Pasadena--Friday, April 23
Monrovia--Saturday, April 24
Weather-permitting. Pasadena viewing is on Colorado, near DeLacey. Monrovia viewing is at the southeast corner of Library Park (northwest corner of Myrtle and Lime).
Venus *may* be visible from these sidewalk locations shortly after dark. It depends on the placement of trees and buildings. Mars is a bit west of overhead by dark, and rapidly fading in brightness and shrinking in size. Saturn is well up to the east, with rings still near edge-on but easily visible even in the smallest of telescopes. The moon will also be up in the southeast after dark.
Old Town Astronomers, www.otastro.org has more information. I only set up at their Pasadena location last month. Not sure if I'll try again.
The weather forecast for this week is somewhat iffy, at least until Saturday. Check their website or sign up for their e-mail list for updates.
Monrovia--Saturday, April 24
Weather-permitting. Pasadena viewing is on Colorado, near DeLacey. Monrovia viewing is at the southeast corner of Library Park (northwest corner of Myrtle and Lime).
Venus *may* be visible from these sidewalk locations shortly after dark. It depends on the placement of trees and buildings. Mars is a bit west of overhead by dark, and rapidly fading in brightness and shrinking in size. Saturn is well up to the east, with rings still near edge-on but easily visible even in the smallest of telescopes. The moon will also be up in the southeast after dark.
Old Town Astronomers, www.otastro.org has more information. I only set up at their Pasadena location last month. Not sure if I'll try again.
The weather forecast for this week is somewhat iffy, at least until Saturday. Check their website or sign up for their e-mail list for updates.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
See Mercury!
Over the past few days (and for the next few days), take a look to the west, shortly after sunset. The bright "star" you see (the one that isn't an airplane!) is Venus. At the moment, it's not very interesting in a telescope because it's on the other side of the sun. But each night for the next few months, it'll get a little closer. In a few months, it'll be higher, brighter, and more interesting in a telescope.
If it's gotten darker (say, around 7:45 or 8:00pm), look down and to the right of Venus. That star will be Mercury. You can confirm its identity by noticing that it moves substantially from night to night. If you have a telescope, take a look at it. You can also confirm it's a planet by noting that it appears as a disc, not as a mere point of light.
These next few days place Mercury best for evening viewing all year. Don't miss it!
If it's gotten darker (say, around 7:45 or 8:00pm), look down and to the right of Venus. That star will be Mercury. You can confirm its identity by noticing that it moves substantially from night to night. If you have a telescope, take a look at it. You can also confirm it's a planet by noting that it appears as a disc, not as a mere point of light.
These next few days place Mercury best for evening viewing all year. Don't miss it!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Busy weekend!
I did two events this weekend--the Monrovia event, mentioned below, and Pasadena, on Friday.
This was my first excursion to Pasadena. I met my friends there, who were set up a block west of Delacey, on the north side of Colorado Blvd. It's really busy there compared to Monrovia, but sidewalk space is at a premium. Still, no problem with three telescopes there.
Because I knew I would have a longer distance to haul my stuff, I brought my Celestron Firstscope 80mm eq refractor. I toss the wooden tripod and mount (with counterweight removed) over my shoulder and stuff the OTA, counterweight bar and weight, eyepieces and diagonal into my guitar case. That makes all the necessities transportable in one trip.
I showed Saturn, which, in my little 80eq, is pretty tiny. But it's still recognizable as Saturn, which surprises a lot of people, particularly when you consider that a telescope like the 80eq can be had for about $150.
Mojo counted off 240 viewers during their time in Pasadena. The line was almost continuous.
Yesterday, I brought my 8-inch SCT to Monrovia. I showed a high magnification view of the moon for a while (about 220x), then shifted to Saturn. In this telescope, Saturn is a lot bigger and the rings are obviously more distinct.
The rings are still nearly edge-on, being inclined about 3 degrees to our line of sight. That makes Saturn look a little bit like a meatball with a toothpick through it.
Between 80 and 120 people stopped to view in Monrovia. The official count was lower, but I think Mojo must have missed some viewers because, again, the line was almost continuous between 7:45pm and 9:00pm.
Twice a week is a little exhausting, but I did want to see what Pasadena was like as a sidewalk astronomy location.
This was my first excursion to Pasadena. I met my friends there, who were set up a block west of Delacey, on the north side of Colorado Blvd. It's really busy there compared to Monrovia, but sidewalk space is at a premium. Still, no problem with three telescopes there.
Because I knew I would have a longer distance to haul my stuff, I brought my Celestron Firstscope 80mm eq refractor. I toss the wooden tripod and mount (with counterweight removed) over my shoulder and stuff the OTA, counterweight bar and weight, eyepieces and diagonal into my guitar case. That makes all the necessities transportable in one trip.
I showed Saturn, which, in my little 80eq, is pretty tiny. But it's still recognizable as Saturn, which surprises a lot of people, particularly when you consider that a telescope like the 80eq can be had for about $150.
Mojo counted off 240 viewers during their time in Pasadena. The line was almost continuous.
Yesterday, I brought my 8-inch SCT to Monrovia. I showed a high magnification view of the moon for a while (about 220x), then shifted to Saturn. In this telescope, Saturn is a lot bigger and the rings are obviously more distinct.
The rings are still nearly edge-on, being inclined about 3 degrees to our line of sight. That makes Saturn look a little bit like a meatball with a toothpick through it.
Between 80 and 120 people stopped to view in Monrovia. The official count was lower, but I think Mojo must have missed some viewers because, again, the line was almost continuous between 7:45pm and 9:00pm.
Twice a week is a little exhausting, but I did want to see what Pasadena was like as a sidewalk astronomy location.
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