SCDVA Southern California Desert Video Astronomers

Southern California Desert Video Astronomers

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Our Mission.............................
" To share our abilities with astronomy in order to preserve dark starry night skies and a vibrant healthy environment in the California Desert and everywhere else on our Planet for future generations! "

SCDVA, moving the line for dark skies and environmental awareness.

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The World's First & Only Live Astronomy Theater.

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WELCOME

FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD!Let's explore our wonderful Universe together!

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WHAT'S HAPPENING?

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July sixth will be the night of the First Crescent Moon. The Terminator Waxes over the area where Man first set foot on the shores of the Sea of Tranquility.

The sky will darken with the early setting Moon and King of the Solar System, mighty Jupiter, will climb high in the Sky following the Zodiac Constellation, Scorpius. Dazzling Antares will be glimmering as the Scorpion's Heart.

Above, the Milky Way streaks near Zenith from South to North where the Summer Triangle sets markers of the Celestial Compass.

Lots to see, more announced soon.
As always,
DRIVE SLOWLY IN THE CAMPGROUND!
No Pets Please...
Bring comfy stuff and libations as you enjoy.
Dark happens about 9pm.
Five Dollars, please. $5.00 at the door...

Clear Sky Chart for The Joshua Tree Astronomy Arts Theater

Moon Phases for June 2019

January moon, February moon, March moon, April moon, May moon, June moon, July moon, August moon, September moon, October moon, November moon, December Moon

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SCDVA, Official IDA Chapter Serving The High Desert Region
of
San Bernardino County

IDA International Dark Sky Association

"Ask not what dark skies can do for you, rather,
Ask what you can do for dark skies."

Inspired by a quote from JFK

Click the above image to see amazing live views of our earth
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Book Your Fun Events Now Under the Beautiful Joshua Tree Night Skies
JTAATinfo@gmail.com

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For our next Star Party or Event,
Why Not Make it an All Nighter Under the Starry Nights of the Joshua Tree Desert Skies.

Make your camping reservations early
At the Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground




Questions?
Contact us at:
scdvainfo@gmail.com

July 2nd - Total Eclipse of the Sun
If you happen to be in South America the eclipse will be visible from South America and Pitcairn between 09:20 and 15:18 PDT. From United States, no eclipse will be visible.

Country and the Percentage of Sun covered

Brazil 96%
French Polynesia 90%
Paraguay 83%
Bolivia 82%
Peru 71%
Falkland Islands 53%
Cook Islands 43%
Ecuador 41%
Kiribati 24%
Colombia 23%

Your can also watch a Live Stream of the total eclipse from Chili at the following link:

https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse

July 4th The Earth at aphelion & Independence Day U.S.
Which means, the Earth's annual orbit around the Sun will carry it to its furthest point from the Sun. In Joshua Tree, its aphelion and will be at a distance of 1.02 AU.
According to In the sky, "The Earth's distance from the Sun varies by around 3% over the course of the year because its orbit is slightly oval-shaped, following a path called an ellipse. In practice, this variation is rather slight, however, because the Earth's orbit is very nearly circular.

The Earth completes one revolution around this oval-shaped orbit each year, and so it recedes to its greatest distance from the Sun on roughly the same day every year. In 2019, this falls on 4 July.

Technically speaking, this marks the moment when the Sun appears smaller in the sky than at any other time of year, and when the Earth receives the least radiation from it. In practice, however, a 3% difference in the Earth's distance from the Sun is barely noticeable.

Annual changes in our weather, for example between the summer and winter, are caused entirely by the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation, rather than by any change in its distance from the Sun."

July 9th /10th - Saturn & its Moons Brightest of the Year
Saturn can be observed in the constellation Sagittarius and will be visible for much of the night, reaching its highest point in the sky at around midnight local time.

From Joshua Tree it will be visible from 8:48 pm as it rises in the South Eastern horizon thru 4:49 am. as it sets into the South Western horizon the morning of the 10th.

At around midnight optimal positioning occurs when Saturn is almost directly opposite the Sun in the sky. Since the Sun reaches its greatest distance below the horizon at midnight, the point opposite to it is highest in the sky at the same time.

At around the same time that Saturn passes opposition, it also makes its closest approach to the Earth, called its perigee, making it appear at its brightest and largest.

As an added bonus, Saturn will be at such an angle to show us its northern hemisphere at this opposition, and the rings will inclined at an angle of 24° to our line of sight, which is almost the maximum inclination they can have. Meaning this will be the best view of the rings.

July 13th - Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
From Joshua Tree, they can be seen in the early evening sky, at around 8:15 pm (PDT) and can be seen above the south eastern horizon as dusk fades into night. They will reach their highest point in the sky at 10:15 pm, about 33° above the southern horizon. They will continue to be observable until around 02:30, when they sink to 8° above the south western horizon.

Both will be in the constellation Ophiuchus but, will be too

widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, but will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
At around the same time, the two objects will also share the same right ascension known as a conjunction.

July 16th - Full Moon

According the the Farmers Almanac, this full Moon was known by Native Americans as the Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month. Also it was known as the Full Buck Moon as a buck’s antlers are in full growth mode.
Moonrise in Joshua Tree will be 8:05 pm. PDT.

Late July around July 28
According to EarthSky "The shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, though is still visible from mid-northern latitudes.

In years when the moon is out of the way, the broad maximum of this shower can be expected to produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour."
"Late July presents the nominal peak of the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, but this long and rambling shower is officially active from about July 12 to August 23 each year.

The new moon in early August 2019 means lovely waning crescent moons in the optimum predawn hours in late July, and dark skies throughout most of the night all through the first week of August 2019. The best viewing hours are after midnight and before dawn, centered around 2 a.m. (3 a.m. daylight-saving time) for all time zones around the world.

This shower overlaps with the more famous Perseid meteor shower, which in early August is rising to its peak (this year on the mornings of August 11, 12 and 13). Those who observe the Perseids are likely to see some Delta Aquariid meteors flying on the same nights."

David S. Brown caught this meteor on July 30, 2014, in southwest Wyoming.

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Check out the
Joshua Tree Astronomy Arts Theater

Facebook site
for further & future details
on
Upcoming Events

Follow Us On

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Check out the JTAAT Movie by Leonard Holmberg,

Showing some of the Happenings and Fun

Click below to take a journey.

Take a trip to our Astronomy Theater, live images captured and displayed on our giant screen. JTAAT a magical place for Concerts, Star Parties, Art Exhibits, Weddings and Special Events. Special thanks to SCDVA.org and Nasa.

Click for more info. On Astronomy Camping at Joshua Tree Lake
RV & Campground

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Please Help Support our efforts. To contribute, click the link below.

Or mail your Contributions to

JTAAT
P.O. Box 425
Joshua Tree Ca. 92252

Thank you for your support

Note: non tax deductible

Last updated July 1, 2019