Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Mar 11, 2008 21:45:56 GMT -6
This has been a hell of a winter...and I am tired of it.
But this evening saw a break in the cold and moderately clear, so fellow Chicago Astronomer Steve and I ventured to the Adler to try out his new cool mount for his 4" Ed Orion.
We arrived about 7:30 pm and set up by my usual spot by the Copernicus statue.
It is still winter...
Steve is using 2" hardware now, and it provides a crisp view of our targets this evening...Saturn and the Crescent Moon.
More info on his equipment when it gets warmer and I can get good shots...but I like his set up.
People came up to us and asked what was up...anything special going on? Just us testing out equipment and enjoying celestial wonders...that's all. But we welcomed our visitors to peer thru our scopes and talk astronomy. I tried to capture some lunar shots, but the winds kicked up, and wind shake made any imaging impossible.
A pleasant family came around after celebrating the Aztec New Year by the lake front, which I thought quite cool. We discussed the observation and the Mayan calendar that ends on December 21st 2012. They tell me it's similar to the Aztec calendar, in that it means the beginning of a new cycle, as the start of the "Cleansing" has already begun. 2008/2009 may see incredible weather or Earth phenomenon.
I had noticed that my images we not "clear" and a bit muddy. I saw this the last time I observed early in the winter. Peering down my tube, I see my mirror no longer is pristine and contaminated. It still provides good views, but it needs replacement soon.
By this time, the winds picked up too much for any decent observation, but it was a good start in breaking winters back and the start of springtime astronomy....
But this evening saw a break in the cold and moderately clear, so fellow Chicago Astronomer Steve and I ventured to the Adler to try out his new cool mount for his 4" Ed Orion.
We arrived about 7:30 pm and set up by my usual spot by the Copernicus statue.
It is still winter...
Steve is using 2" hardware now, and it provides a crisp view of our targets this evening...Saturn and the Crescent Moon.
More info on his equipment when it gets warmer and I can get good shots...but I like his set up.
People came up to us and asked what was up...anything special going on? Just us testing out equipment and enjoying celestial wonders...that's all. But we welcomed our visitors to peer thru our scopes and talk astronomy. I tried to capture some lunar shots, but the winds kicked up, and wind shake made any imaging impossible.
A pleasant family came around after celebrating the Aztec New Year by the lake front, which I thought quite cool. We discussed the observation and the Mayan calendar that ends on December 21st 2012. They tell me it's similar to the Aztec calendar, in that it means the beginning of a new cycle, as the start of the "Cleansing" has already begun. 2008/2009 may see incredible weather or Earth phenomenon.
I had noticed that my images we not "clear" and a bit muddy. I saw this the last time I observed early in the winter. Peering down my tube, I see my mirror no longer is pristine and contaminated. It still provides good views, but it needs replacement soon.
By this time, the winds picked up too much for any decent observation, but it was a good start in breaking winters back and the start of springtime astronomy....