Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on May 7, 2005 1:54:49 GMT -6
Far Out Friday/AstroOvernight - 06 May 2005
The start of the Adler session did not hold much promise for clear skies, as we all started to assemble around 5:30 pm, the rains came down...sometimes quite hard.
In the pre-session prep, we ate our pizza while discussing our activities since we last saw each other. Some congratulated and discussed the CBS interview of mine, and fellow Telescope Operator John got a kick from my interaction with the Chicago Ironworkers on the night I did the interview by the lakefront...
It started to rain harder for a spell, and the prospect of a decent viewing session seemed unattainable this evening, but either way, we set up the scopes for the public to view the skyline. What I have started doing recently is to turn the scope I am operating 180 degrees away from the city, and focus across Lake Michigan into Indiana, and target the Huge lit Horseshoe on the casino and Petroleum plants with their lit fire stacks. Makes quite a different change of pace.
All of my fellow telescope operators played it safe and reasonable, and choose to set up their scopes in the inside of the Adler, looking out thru the glass plates at the city...and at me!. Joe under glass. I wanted to be out in the warm spring air and try to do some solar projecting. The clouds were in a state of confusion, as it would rain one moment and break for intense sunshine the next. I braved it out, and decided to remain outside. But how to accomplish this without rusting the scope? I saw this huge patio umbrella in the telescope storage area that I have been intending to utilize for solar observing sessions, (The sun really beats down on you!), and decided to use it on this occaision...
It worked quite well, wrapping corded rope around it and to the railing, it kept the sprinkles at bay, but the hard rains had ceased by that time, thank goodness. I kept it out just in case, but dammit..it will be an outside activity for me regardless of the conditions!...
John named me "MacGiver", as nothing would stop me in my desired activity.I got to get some direct projections of the sun while it was sinking into the west, and spotting the huge sunspot very close to a limb, and a large grouping off center.
I was the only one out on the terrace for quite awhile with fellow Telescope Operator Steve, discussing astro content with each other and the public. Then, as it was getting darker, the rest of the operators swarmed outside unto the terrace and invaded my once undesired area!
Jupiter was out in great force this night, and we all focused in on it. Dobs, SCT's and refractors were out this evening and all provided a nice view of Jupiter, with Io just off the planet's limb. Steve made mention that he would be the first one to spot Saturn, and he was. I sloohed my scope, the 4" refractor, to Saturn, and using a low-powered eyepiece targeted it quite easily.
Glowing yellow, Saturn always put's on a great show, with Titan at it's 12:00 o'clock position. I kicked up my mag to a 10mm which gave me 100x on Saturn and the view was quite good. I manually had to track the planet for the rest of the night, but thats ok. I enjoy the fascination the public always has on first sighting Saturn thru a scope. many felt it just didn't look real, that they could not believe that such clarity could be witnessed by them.
We must have served hundreds this pleasant spring night, with all ages lining to our scopes to catch a glimpse of the Chicago heavens. I met many interesting people during the session, discussing telescope properties, astronomy and theories. One group from Wells High School in Chicago was out here on a field trip. They are studying astronomy and I offered a avenue to this Chicago Astronomer Forum for continued interaction with astronomers here...and I hope they take advantage of the invitation. Cool group.
Another couple wanted to spot their star that the were engaged to, just off of Vega, but it was not visible from our locale, but we did talk for a bit, and offered to show them it later in the season when it's higher.
All of the telescope interpreters were humming along and great as always with the public. We had laughs, shared stories, and I really didn't want this session to end when it did at 10:00 pm, (one of the latest sessions), but end it did.
Respectfully submitted
Joe Guzmán
Telescope Interpreter
Adler Planetarium