Planets this week, Sidewalk Astronomy this weekend

[Jane H Jones]

Step outside when the sun sets this week for a nice pairing of red 
rocky Mars and gassy giant Saturn.  Then turn yourself around and 
watch bright Jupiter rising low in the southeast.  You won't need a 
telescope to see these three planets.  You just need good horizons, 
clear skies, and the ambition to step outside.

Here is a little feature I wrote for the JPL website explaining 
what's going on this week:
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2198 . I hope 
you'll share it with your friends.

Our Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers website also features these star 
charts, and July's monthly astro roundup.  http://www.otastro.org/

And speaking of the Sidewalk Astronomers, weather permitting, we'll 
be out with telescopes this weekend. I say weather permitting because 
there is a slight chance of monsoon thundershowers this weekend here 
in southern California. You can follow the weather forecast yourself 
if you'd like to, but we'll update our webpage (top right box) with a 
weather cancellation if it is warranted.

LA weather from NOAA: 
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=LOX&llon=-118.968747&rlon=-117.578747&tlat=34.802084&blat=33.414584&smap=1&mp=0&map.x=174&map.y=119

Weather permitting this weekend:

Friday July 11 Colorado Blvd 7:30 - 10 p.m. but we may not be able to 
see Mars and Saturn or Jupiter - buildings and palm trees may be in 
the way.  Beautiful view of the moon, however.

Saturday July 12 Myrtle and Lime, Monrovia 8:00 p.m. - 10 p.m. same 
planetary disclaimer as above.
.
Over and out, 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 at jpl.nasa.gov
Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html