NOVEMBER 18, 2020 VOL. 1 IVANHOE ELEMENTARY

MOON WATCHING NASA SPACE PLACE METEOR CALENDAR PLANETS ABOVE

STARGAZERS GAZETTE

wenty-twenty has been an unusual year for students all over the world. We have had to T reinvent how to learn and be a school community in the context of a virus, wildfires, civil rights actions, and political change. “Necessity is the mother of invention” so the saying goes, and so here is a STARGAZERS GAZETTE to help families have a different and very 2020 stargazing experience to end the year. As you may know, in October we had a full Moon on the day we honored the Mid Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) on October 1st, and again on Halloween on the 31st. Here’s the inside scoop about how unusual that is from the Farmer’s Almanac:

For more than half a century, whenever two full Moons appear in a single month (which happens on average every 2 1/2 to 3 years), the second full Moon is christened a “Blue Moon.” When you look[ed] at the full Moon on Halloween night, it [didn’t] appear blue in color but you [were] looking at something pretty uncommon. A full Moon on Halloween occurs roughly once every 19 years—a pattern known as the Metonic Cycle.

If you think the moon is cool, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab has a great Moon phases calendar you can print at home to help you see the phases of the moon for what’s left of the year. The last full Moons of 2020 will be on November 30th, and then again on December 29th. GO OUTSIDE To hear more about what to look for in the sky, check out the monthly WHAT’S UP youtube series from NASA or visit the Griffith Observatory’s Sky AND THEN Report. LOOK UP!

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SHOOTING STARS! GREATEST METEOR SHOWER OF THE YEAR The Geminids peak December 13-14th!

Meteor showers happen when our planet passes through the bits of dust and space rocks left by comets or asteroids. Those particles burn and glow as they pass through our atmosphere. There’s a shower to be seen nearly every month, including one in November, the Leonids. But the big news is that a major shower is coming up! This year, the night of December 13-14 will be the peak of the Geminids, considered to be the best meteor shower of the year. In the right conditions, you could see 100 meteors per hour! Light pollution from cities or even light from the moon can get in the way of seeing many meteors. In 2020, the moon will be nearly new so its light won’t interfere. Now you just have to flee the city lights.

Where should you go to watch?

You will have the best chance of seeing meteors if you go somewhere in the wilderness. Some great options inside Los Angeles County or a short drive away are Topanga State Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Mt. Wilson, Mt. Piños if the weather allows, and a little farther out in Antelope Valley. If you feel like making an event of it, Joshua Tree National Park is a designated Dark Skies location perfect for stargazing. As long as there aren’t too many clouds, it should be spectacular.

SIGHTS in the SKY SPACE CURIOUS? The images of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn (top to bottom) were captured In Los Angeles we have many observatories close by, but since by Griffith Observatory Telescope Demonstrator Blake Estes public places are closed and Star Parties have been canceled to

SPACE IS COOL SPACE IS COOL SPACE IS COOL SPACE IS COOL SPACE IS COOL SPACE IS COOL!2 NOVEMBER 18, 2020 VOL. 1 IVANHOE ELEMENTARY keep us all safe, going outside to see the stars (using binoculars or a telescope if you can) at your own home is the best option. And if stargazing piques your curiosity, the wonders of technology allow us to see the newest space research from home. Check out incredible footage of space and learn about the universe with the scientists at NASA, the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, and the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Science Center of the American Museum of Natural History. When it is safe to socialize again, take in the celestial sights with local astronomers with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and Sidewalk Astronomers, or visit one of our local observatories.

LAAS https://www.laas.org/ LA Sidewalk Astronomers http://sidewalkastronomers.us/ Griffith Observatory http://www.griffithobservatory.org/ Mt. Wilson Observatory https://www.mtwilson.edu/ Garvey Ranch Observatory https://www.montereypark.ca.gov/facilities/facility/details/Garvey-Ranch-Park-7 Stony Ridge Observatory http://stony-ridge.org/

STAR WORD SEARCH

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MOONDANCE The moon and stars are very old and so are most of these songs but they are still good! Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest, Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay, Shining Star - Earth Wind and Fire, Moondance - Van Morrison, Pink Moon - Nick Drake, Moon Shadow - Cat Stevens, Walking on the Moon - The Police, Starlight- Muse, Gemini - Alabama Shakes, Everybody is a Star - Sly & the Family Stone, You Are the Everything- REM, Eine Kline Nachtmusik -Eine

This disco moon is a false-color photograph composed from 15 images of the Moon taken through three color filters by Galileo's solid-state imaging system. Image c/o NASA/JPL

SPACE BOOKS There is something special about having a physical book about space in your own hands. You can still reserve and borrow books from the Los Angeles Public Library and from the Ivanhoe library with the help of our librarian Ms. Nava. Below are some places to find great books vetted by scientists:

National Science Teacher’s Association Award The NSTA has created a gorgeous compendium to the annual awards for science writing for children: https://static.nsta.org/pdfs/2020OSTB.pdf

Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize The Royal Society has a group of judges review and devise a short list of finalists but children determine the winners of this science book prize: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/book-prizes/young-peoples-book-prize/

Subaru Science Prize The Subaru Science Prize is awarded to books whose scientific facts are accurate and which promote science learning for children. Visit their site to see the list of current and past winners. https://www.sbfprize.org/childrens-science-picture-books

Emily Lakdawalla's Recommended Space Books for Kids The Planetary Society's Senior Editor Emily Lakdawalla creates an annual list of great science books and a greatest hits list too.: https://www.planetary.org/articles/emily-lakdawallas-recommended-kids-space-books

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