Southern California Desert Video Astronomers
Our Mission.............................
To educate & promote astronomy in order to preserve the dark skies of the California Desert and everywhere for future generations.
Clear Sky Chart for The Joshua Tree Astronomy Arts Theater
Moon Phases for January 2012
august moon September moon October moon November moon December moon January moon February moon march moon April moon may moon June moon July moon
"Ask not what dark skies can do for you, rather,
ask what you can do for dark skies."
Inspired by a quote from JFK
WELCOME! FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD! Let's explore our wonderful Universe together!  WHAT'S NEW! SCDVA Deep Space Imaging |
| What's Happening 2012! YEAR OF BOOM OR BUST? STAR PARTY Saturday the 21st
|
IS THERE HOPE FOR DARK SKIES?
As we wind down another busy year of astronomy activity, we’re looking back at the many events we shared in 2011. A Lot has happened and it has been very rewarding. One of the areas continuing to add to the wider scope of SCDVA involvement is the work we do to make our night sky darker.
There has been a movement going on. Creaking and groaning in the background and not just in our neighborhood, either. Around the world and all around our country, dark sky awareness has been clambering for attention. In our area, the counties of Riverside, Kern, and San Bernardino have been submitting new legislation aimed at updating and improving ordinances related to night lighting and light trespass.
We, at SCDVA, are very proud to say that the effort is working! Great strides have made firm footholds in how people are looking up at the Milky Way in a new and positive way. The understanding of what is good about these thoughts is getting a long awaited push forward that amateur astronomers hope for. Unknowingly, the general wellbeing of society is winning, as well.
For us, personally, the San Bernardino County night sky ordinance is under construction and a draft is near completion. Known as the Morongo Basin Dark Skies Alliance, MBDSA has been meeting monthly as the effort establishes a well thought out initiative. Kern County, and more recently, Riverside County, have been busy as well. With the aid of the International Dark Sky Association, these counties have new legislation, underway.
So, with this, we are pleased to provide the following links to some of the latest sources of information that will add insight into the work that is going on.
1. Here is information that is contained on “Cloudy Nights” website. This international group is composed of amateur astronomy enthusiasts has many other resources, as well…
Cloudy Nights Board - Pollution
2. For info about what SCDVA is involved with, this link goes to the MBDSA website…..
Morongo Basin Dark Skies Alliance
3. For info about the Kern County effort, go to…..
4. The Riverside County ordinance is very good in dealing with several difficult issues including how to amortize the old lighting and replace it with compliant lighting…..
http://rivcocob.com/agenda/2011/10_25_11/03.02.pdf
5. Here is a short article about Riverside’s effort and IDA involvement.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/10/26/29572/riverside-county-leaders-give-tentative-ok-light-p/
6. For info on dark skies and the international group working on the effort go to . . . .
http://www.darksky.org/
SCDVA is an active member of MBDSA. We continue to provide astronomy outreach activities aimed at education and support of a healthy and natural dark sky. Please join us and make the future better for the Earth and our natural environment.
Team SCDVA.org
| Morongo Basin DARK Skies Alliance Click Here for Latest News December 21st meeting report now posted |
Moving the Line
For information on how you can help to keep our
dark night skies.
click on the link below
IDA International Dark Sky Association
An early dawn sky sprinkled with Quadrantids in a picture taken in the early hours of January 4 2012, from California's Joshua Tree National Park.
Photo Courtesy of Wally Pacholka AstroPics.com
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by D.O.
The highlight of the month was the Quadrantid Meteor Shower.
Quadrantid meteors occur between January 1 and 5, but the peak of activity occurs in the early morning hours of January 4 during a 4 hour span towards the constellation Bootes.
Unlike most meteor showers, which are named after the location of the sky from which they originate from, (Bootes). The Quadrans are named after an extinct constellation known as Quadrans Muralis which used to exist between Bootes and Draco. It is now considered to be obsolete and has been removed from most all star maps.
Bootes is one of the oldest recorded constellations. To fine the Herdsman Bootes, follow the handle of the Big Dipper, which arcs southward to the bright star Arcturus, the brightest star in Bootes.
David McChesney captured this image at Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park on January 4th, 2012.
For More of David's nature photos go to Out My Windows
The bright planets also are in view this month. Neptune, along with the bright starlight gem in the sky, Venus. It is located in the west-southwest in the constellation Capricornus in the beginning of the month. By the end of the month it will having traveled from the constellation Capricornus, into Aquarius approaching Neptune, as it climbs a bit higher in the sky each night. Venus will lie just over one degree to the left of a greenish blue Neptune.
Shortly after Venus and Neptune set, the moon and Mars will be rising in the east. With the waning moon to the lower right of reddish Mars.
Jupiter is still prominent this month, becoming the brightest point of light in the night sky after Venus sets as it crosses from the constellation Pisces into Aries in January. On the 2nd, Jupiter was a bit less than five degrees from a waxing moon. The two meet again at the end of the month, on the 29th and 30th, when the moon goes past Jupiter.
The crescent moon makes a beautiful pairing with Venus on the 24th and 25th.
The full moon for January occurred on January 8th. The January full moon is known as the Full Wolf Moon. Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January’s full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Here in Joshua Tree listen for the call of the Coyotes, baying at the Moon.
WELCOME ASTRONOMY AZ
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ASTRONOMY AZ
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David's new book was released in late September.
David will be scheduling book signing events in the Morongo Basin. Go to his website Out My Windows for future events and to check out the magic of the desert that is captured by
David Jesse McChesney's photographs
$32.95 FREE SHIPPING
anywhere within the United States
Thanks to David,
A portion of the proceeds will go in support of
SCDVA
(be sure to include your ship to address)
Joshua Tree Astronomy Arts Theater
PO Box 2192
Joshua Tree, Ca. 92252
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Additional Sites of Extreme Interest
Go to Photos & Events Link
to see pictures of what we've been up to.
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Last updated January 25, 2012