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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

[yellow]Far Out Friday Public Sesssion at the Adler Planetarium[/yellow]

This Friday at 7:00 pm, the Adler will set out the scopes for an evening of planet watching and astro talk. I will be there to operate a scope, (haven't decided which one yet), and would be pleased to see Chicago Astronomers present.

Planetary observing won't occur till later due to the late sunset times, but perhaps we can do some solar observing while we wait.

Rain or shine the event goes on.

[stargazer]

Well Joe looks like a rain out for you. Looks like rain till next Tue. Hopefully you'll get a good night.


Becky

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Public Session Activities...

It was cloudy and overcast all day, and the prospect of astronomical activities later on was not promising. I arrived at around 6:30 pm, and discovered I had just missed "The Bad Astronomer", Phil Plait. He was in the house to head a talk at the Adler and had eats with the telescope crew, which I normally participate in, but missed today....damn!...

I met fellow associates at the session, and there were quite a few of us present to assist the public this evening. We also had the most recent telescope operator graduating class with us, and they were learning the ropes along the night. I enjoyed talking with them, getting to know who they are and about their interest in astronomy.

A nice young couple with a 4.5" Meade stopped by to figure out how to assemble and operate the scope. Quite similar to my own, so I took the initiative and assisted them in putting it all together. The scope used .096 eyepieces, so the views were limited, but it did provide views, where there was not before, and I passed along some of my own personal tips on operation and semi-breakdown of the scope. It needed some collimation, but I got it as close I could.

The rest of the night was spent showing the public views of a misty skyline and talking amongst ourselves, going thru Astronomy magazine and offering our opinions on this and that, telling jokes and getting to know each other better.

Although we did not observe any celestial targets, and the clouds were offering "Sucker Holes" to tantalize us, it was an enjoyable evening of commiseration regardless.

Respectfully,

Joe Guzmán
Telescope Interpreter
Adler Planetarium

[John]

Hi Joe (et. al.)

Sorry I don't get to the site more often. You have so much rich content and so many forums ... I hardly know where to begin or how to decide what to read.

I appreciate your continuing Adler session Narratives (so I can remember what I did and where I was ... ha). I read your piece on the 75th anniversary - GREAT!

You've really done your homework. I am proud of Chicago's legacy or at least its past tradition of having those who built their fortunes in the city give back - in a big way. I am also all the more proud to be a small part of the Adler - having learned more from you on your site. We're really lucky to be able to have access to and contribute to such a great institution.

At the risk of sounding political (not - since there is no such thing on this site), CEOs and other big wigs should be ashamed of their greed and selfishness today compared to the generosity of some of their Chicago predecessors.

Max Adler in a quartet with my science hero, Albert Einstein - and some amusing quips and quotes to go with it ... Joe, I've got to start reading more of your stuff! Thanks again for all you do on the site, and as a fellow volunteer.

Respectfully submitted 6/4/05

John

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

John,

Hey, bud...nice to see you here...

I thought posting the narratives on our Adler sessions would be a good way to archive our activities, in whereas the experiences would be lost forever. People doing a google search could stumble upon these posts and see what we actually do at the sessions. And like you mentioned, it also reminds me on what I experienced as well. I encourage all other Adler/Chicago Astronomer to post their own experiences too, as we have different perspectives and encounters of the same event.

CEOs and other big wigs should be ashamed of their greed and selfishness today

I know these are different times than what they were in 1933, but we don't have the philanthropy and civic obligation that once was. For gosh-sakes...it was during the depression too! I wonder what the critics were saying about squandering funds on this folly.

Hell, if I had a few extra thousand stuffed in a drawer, (ala Gomez Addams), I would trash the telescope terrace and build a decent and usable observation area with permanent scopes...with at LEAST a 180° view. But, in the meantime, I think it's quite cool that the Adler allows me to play with their toys and interact with their public.

And greed and selfishness? That's all I report on and write about, and at times I get so tired of corruption and incompetence that I get weary of it all. They should be ashamed of themselves. But someone's gotta hold them accountable... , and Joe's always watching...

Max Adler in a quartet with my science hero, Albert Einstein

That certainly would have been a great sight to behold, regardless of the level of performance....I wonder if there is a recording of that somewhere? I can picture Einstein doing a Jack Benny routine, playing a few bars with Max, stopping and quoting a scientific formula, and resuming the performance a few times during the act.

Thanks for the compliments and glad to be of service. It's quite fun being a solo astronomer, but even better when you all come out to play with me and share the same passion.

I enjoy our laughs at the Adler and Don't be a stranger at the Chicago Astronomer.