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[NatureDevil]

I have some interesting info for you too. I'll mention it to you in the e-mail.

Looks like it'll be a fun night. I will be getting out of my class before I come by, and it is the last day of that class, so it will be somewhat of a celebration for me.

NatureDevil

[Doug]

Hey Al,

I would be interested in attending the Star Party. Did you have any specifics, like what time to attend? What should people bring, apart from telescopes? I can bring food or beer or whatever. Also, do you have directions to your place posted somewhere? Thanks!

-Doug

[Al Degutis]

Doug,

I sent you some info via private message. Looks like we'll have a good group. Hopefully we'll get some clear skies.

[Doug]

Hey Al, I didn't get an email. Did you send a message via email? Or is there somewhere I need to look for a private message?

[Doug]

Actually I just found the message -- I wasn't logged in. Duh!

I'll be there with bells on.

-Doug

[Al Degutis]

I guess we should set a threshold and a protocol for deciding if it's go or no go due to clouds.

As for threshold, I'd suggest no more than 50% clouds forecasted by the Clear Sky Clock website. The closest clock is about 20 miles away so it's not entirely accurate for my site so I use it plus a few others to try and "triangulate" my conditions. The four I use are at the bottom of this web page. Clicking on one of the graphics brings up the full (detailed) view. I'm suggesting up to 50% clouds because a good number of people can't make the following Saturday (Oct 16th).

As for protocol, I'm thinking something like this:

1. I'll post a message in this thread on Friday night at approximately 10pm Central time.
2. I'll post another update Saturday at noon. The Clear Sky Clock data is updated twice daily but I'm not sure when so it may not have any new info.
3. Attendies could call me directly to verify if things are still on anytime after noon on Saturday.

How does that sound? I'm open to suggestions.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Al, is approaching this like a General sending in his army!

I haven't checked yet, but what does the long term forecast say?

I was kidding when I first mentioned a caravan of Maurading Chicago Astronomers heading your way.

Let's not open this... not just yet. It's our first time and with Chicago Astronomer members....one of the perks of being a member here.

That and autographed star charts by me. Available for a short time only!

Put your Sherriff on notice.

[Al Degutis]

Chicago said:

Al, is approaching this like a General sending in his army!

If I don't show a take charge attitude now, who knows how out of control you city-folk may get.

I haven't checked yet, but what does the long term forecast say?

I haven't looked and won't start looking until Monday the earliest. It'll change too many times.

Not just yet. It's our first time and with Chicago Astronomer members....one of the perks of being a member here.

Sounds good to me.

That and autographed star charts by me. Available for a short time only!

We'll hold you to that!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It's only a week away!

Much to do and prepare. Giving the scope a tune up, gathering star charts and my route maps. A couple of days before, I'll print out satellites that may be visible to us. And, I think that we could use lawn chairs just to gaze up wards with binoculars. Are we doing a mini Messier Marathon?

Thanks again for setting this up for us. It looks like it will be a great - first ever - Chicago Astronomer organized and sponsored Star party!!! Astrofest & Prairie Skies....watch out! ;D

If it stays clear next Saturday, I'll gladly accept a weeks worth of clouds and rain.

And the Chicago Astronomer group is only some five months old!

Ain't America wonderful?

[Al Degutis]

Chicago said:

Giving the scope a tune up

I was starting to worry. Last week I sent my scope to Doc Clay for one of his supercharges and started to wonder if I'd get it back in time. I had mentioned the star party in correspondenses with him so he worked on it all weekend so he could ship it back ASAP. It arrived Friday. ;D

I'll print out satellites that may be visible to us.

That will be helpful if you want to spy one with a telescope, but not necessary for naked eye observation. If you don't see at least three or four satellites with the naked eye before 10pm, then either:

• you're only looking through a telescope
  
• you're not looking up
  
• you're riding with Brian who is being fashionably late
  

And, I think that we could use lawn chairs just to gaze up wards with binoculars.

Good idea! We have about 6 canvas folding chairs and nearly a dozen plastic patio chairs available.

[sarwat]

Al said:

If I don't show a take charge attitude now, who knows how out of control you city-folk may get.



I haven't looked and won't start looking until Monday the earliest. It'll change too many times.



Sounds good to me.



We'll hold you to that!

Control?! What's that? some exotic bird? Never heard of it.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

That supercharge is quite a kick. You should able to see the caravan of Loud and obnoxious City Astronomers as we start to peek over your event horizon.

Brian,

I would be honoured to show your friend around the Universe. Ihave an idea that just might work but I need your guys yes or no on it. As a Pres of Class for Ill and a Chicago Astronomer of The Night Sky Network we could use one of the kits from the NIght Sky Network to help us figure out what to see. Then I can log the Star Party along with the CF name in it. A little bit more publicity. Please tell me what you all think. I can bring the Treasure Hunt Sheets with me. It has a variety of objects to hunt for.

Tell me what you think soon so I can copy the sheets.

B

Becks,

I think you should bring copies of the NSN along anyway. I would like to knock them out myself and we could do a joint search on the targets and assist one another in achieving the goals.

What do the NSN excersizes show and how many targets do they require to be found?

[stargazer]

Its not that they require you to find these objects, its just a way to help people figure out what to see. Some people who go to Star Parties have no idea of what to look at so NSN has come up with some idea's. I have an idea I'm working on for the Star Party. I think you will all like it.

B

[stargazer]

Hey Guys,

I need names of everyone who is going to be at the party. It is for an idea I have. I need FORMAL names. First and last.

B

[stargazer]

Hey Guys,

I asked my teacher who is a Pro Astronomer to join us and he is thrilled. He will try to make it. Sowe have a better chance of geting to see more. Joe youve met him before.

B

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Fellow Chicago Astronomer Star Party members...

It is now Wednesday morning about 2 in the am. It's now time to start coalescing our plans in meet and travel.

I will be in contact with all of the participants today and tomorrow for updates and planning.

The weather seems to be good for Saturday night so far, and I am getting my items together, and quite excited about the event.

Al, I shall be calling you first!

[NatureDevil]

I will be home all day, as I took the day off, but I will be outside installing a sway bar, doing an oil change, and doing a brake job on two cars. At on epoint, I need to stop by a transmission specialist and get an estimate. Other than that, if I miss the call, leave a message and I will definitly get back by tonight sometime. I think I am playing at Palace Billiards tonight in Villa Park again, but not sure yet.

NatureDevil

[Al Degutis]

I've put some info together on some of the observable objects for the night of the star party. This is not a complete list just a list of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters (open and globular).

Check it out here.

The list is available in PDF and Excel formats. I've included a lot of information but don't let it scare you. The main columns are:

• Class - Open/Globular star cluster, Planetary Nebula (PNe) or Gal (Galaxy)
  
• Primary ID - its most common ID
  
• Mag - its magnitude
  
• Optimum - when it's at it's best position for viewing

Some of the object listed are borderline but most are above the obstructed view. I had to remove a lot of objects (over a hundred) because they were too low on the horizon below the obstructed view. Personally, I really enjoy double stars (not listed) and globular clusters. Skies permitting we can see whatever is available that interest you.

Weather update - still too soon to get a clear picture but it looks fairly promising. The Saturday daytime forecast has gone from Partly Cloudy to Mostly Sunny. The evening forecast is still Partly Cloudy. I won't get a good idea until late Friday what percentage of clouds are forecasted. Stay tuned.

[Al Degutis]

I'll also create a Messier observing list for what will be visible that night from our site.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

;D

I want to get as much observing time as we can squeeze out of the scant few hours we have together.

I am impressed on your homework, and observational plan. Let's work from west to east and attempt to pick off as many as we can before they set or get mucked up near the horizon..

Of course, we will have a photo shoot as a group and as individuals with our scopes before the sessions begins. And the weather looks like it will cooporate with us. A miracle!

Hail the Chicago Astronomers! ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

My God Man!

I just scanned thru your excel sheet of our available targets that you created, and it's all there in black and white!! And you even created it in PDF format too!!

I have taken the liberty to reproduce your daylight graph here. I recommend that all the star party participants should save and print out Al's observational list accessed from his link.

And the Messier is list coming up as well? Too cool!

What you have prepared for us, regardless of your modesty....we will certainly be a well armed team of astronomers. Now....will you be timing us with a stopwatch and whistle?

Chicago Astronomers only attract the finest members.

[Al Degutis]

Chicago said:

And the Messier is list coming up as well?

The Messier list has been added. Only 27 made the cut out (i.e. above the obstructed view) of the 55 or so that are out that night.

In case your wondering, the daylight/darkness graphic is called the NightBar in SkyTools (the software I used) and shows the sun's position thru the day (yellow disk and yellow line), the moon's position thru the day (light blue disk and line). The red line is one of the objects from the observing list but I don't remember which one it was. Based on it path though, that object will be prominantly visible all night.

[Starstuff]

Where is it? Thanks for fixing your forum , Joe. Now I can post.

[Starstuff]

[e-mail]

[NatureDevil]

That is an extensive list, and well organized. I am going to need to bring a clipboard to the event as well. I wanna keep track of exactly what I see, and then go back through all my books and revisit some old friends. Seen the photo album, now gonna meet the family at a reunion.

NatureDevil

[Al Degutis]

NatureDevil said:

That is an extensive list, and well organized. I am going to need to bring a clipboard to the event as well. I wanna keep track of exactly what I see, and then go back through all my books and revisit some old friends. Seen the photo album, now gonna meet the family at a reunion.

NatureDevil

I'll have copies of the The American Association of Amateur Astronomers printed out and available for all. I find them extremely useful.

For the more serious observers, I will also have copies the Observing Log and Sketch Template available.

[Al Degutis]

Weather Update

weather.com and wunderground.com are reporting CLEAR SKIES for the entire evening of the event. The National Weather Service is predicting less then 5% clouds.

The Clear Sky Clock, which uses the Canadian Meteorological Center, hasn't been updated to include Saturday night passed 7PM yet.

Temps will drop around from 70 during the day into the mid to upper 40s so dress appropriately. We'll be on grass which can dampen with dew so gym shoes can get soggy. I'd recommend something more waterproof for comfort like a pair of hiking or work boots.

[Doug]

Sounds great! I was worried we might get rained out! So how many people are coming to this gig, Al? Is there anything else we should bring besides the scopes? Beer, chips, soda?

Apart from the fine lists of objects that you are putting together, I have a goto scope (a Meade 90 ETX) which has a nice feature that will find that night's best objects. The handheld computer basically starts with the brightest object in the sky at that moment and lists them out brightest to faintest. We could use that feature along with your lists if it helps. It has a database of about 30,000 objects.

At any rate, looking forward to seeing everyone there!

-Doug

[stargazer]

Hi Gang,

Cant wait until tomorrow night. Brian- Can I get some of those sheets from you. Message on ~board.

B

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

On the day before the sanctioned event, the skies bore moisture and hath overcast from the farthest visible horizon to the next. Faith in the gathering was low and a great doubt spread amongst the tribe of astronomers...

The prophets, with thine Doppler radar, and ever seeing angels in the sky, spake into the masses..."Fear not liquid from the heavens on your chosen date of gathering, for the powers granted onto us herald desired clear heavens and dry environments. Rejoice in the wide open skies...for the night of your chosen voyage to the northwest - the darkness shalt be dry and thy barometer readings shalt be high. We have spoken."

And so, the Chicago Astronomers, (thine raunchy and marauding group from the city of sin), with grace from the anointed and most consulted weather service - and all of the implements of prophesy at the beckoning call of the great ones... granted thine fallen individuals hope and happiness in a most reverend and joyous night of astronomical bliss and commensuration

So it is written, so let it be done.