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[Maddad]

www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0505/23exoplanet/

When I saw this article, I immediately thought of the Chicago Astronomers. Using a new technique, these guys provided crucial data with only a 10 and 14 inch telescope. They found a planet that was 15 thousand light-years away!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

One of the things that made the Professional Astronomer, (some), so arrogant and snooty, is that it was their own private little domain...fighting amongst themselves to get scope time, appointments and recognitions.

Now...with cheaper and better imaging systems, regular folks like you, me and the kid down the block can make discoveries and substantial contributions to astronomy and humanity. And that's a good thing.

There's something distasteful with the automated search efforts, (NEAT-LINEAR), although a great tools, I like the old fashioned way...with a human at the eyepiece... discovering a new comet or asteroid. Even here at the Chicago Astronomer, we have members who have obscene sized scopes peering out from polluted skies and observing objects that only established observatories were privy. Great stuff!

Astronomy is becoming the field of the masses...and there's room for everyone...

[stargazer]

First who has the obscenely large scopes in here. and two I am a member of a online search for Asteroids. Sometimes these projects are a good thing for people like me. Yes I have a nice scope but in my conditions cant do to much. Yes I will have a bigger scope in a couple years but still I will need good dark skies to use it to what I want to do with it. which is still to continue my research of two planets and search for Asteroids and Comets. No I'm not bragging about it but alot of good research as come out of using a large professional telescope by amateurs. You know me Joe, dont get me started. I have plans for this summer of doing some massive training and viewing where yes I Will have many sleepless nights mainly come Oct. Yes I will be studying Mars and Saturn in detail. My voice will be heard this time around. Will explain later if you want to know about it.


Becky

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Becks,

Of course I want to hear about it.

Regarding big scopes, you and Richard have the decadent scopes. You with your 10" Dob and he with a 15" Obsession. Too cool, and quite envious!

Many say that big scopes are useless in the bright Chicago skies, but I tend to disagree to a degree. Of course one would get the larger return in truly darkened skies, but even in Chicago, that extra few inches of aperture brightens up planets, reveals galaxies and one has to wear sunglasses when viewing the moon. Like a fast car, drivable in stop and go traffic, but really performs on the open highway. When Chicago Astronomer Steve and I compare views in our scopes (4.5" - 8"), the object is indeed brighter, although not necessarily bigger.

Becks, it looks cloudy tonight for the Schamburg event. Perhaps next time. Thanks for the invite.

[Maddad]

I've got a web page I'm still working on. The first row, third image is a photograph at night of Earth showing where the lights are and where the dark skies are. It's a little bit scary. There's NOHTING dark in the eastern half of the country. Imagine though taking that ten incher to the Amazon rain forest, antartica, the Congo, Tibet, Siberia, or the Australian Outback!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Yes, I have seen that light pollution map. You can even make out the interstates!

What a great sky it would be in the middle of the pacific, on an island with a huge scope...sigh. To see the skies like our ancestors did.

I have my Hawaiian shirts ready and tropical drink mix at the ready whenever one of us buys an island.

[stargazer]

At the current time I am in the middle of the ALPO training program. I started a couple weeks ago. For my second phase of training I will be studing two planets then go on to Asteroids and Comets. I had asked where I am mostly needed and got a reply from a couple pro's to do these two planets. I will be studying Mars first then Saturn. Like I once said in here I will be heard. After I am done with my training I will become a certified Observer for ALPO. Yes you have to be a member of ALPO to do this. I know a Mars expert and another gentleman who's name alway pops up with pics of Mars so they all said thats where they needed someone an they all cant wait till I'm done. They all want to help me finish and teach me what I need to know. So I am looking forward to finishing that.

AS to the next scope it looks like it might be a 23". Homemade again , It will be placed in an observatory so I can do my observing from the comforts of a good warm room in the winter. Will have this one I move to a darker local. Might be about 2 hours west of here in really DARK skies. Yes you will all are invited to the new place for a night or two of observing under some good skis.


Joe, Schaumberg was great. The clouds cleared for us to enjoy the sky. We saw Jupiter, Saturn, M57, M94, and some double stars. You should have come out.

Oh well. I will keep you up to dae if you want to hear about it


Becky