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[dapple]

Hi!

My name is Doug Applegate. I'm a beginner amateur astronomer (~1 year) in San Francisco, where I visit my local dark sites with a classic 8" Dob. Online, I hang out at The Astronomy Connection, observers.org.

I'm going to be in Chicago for work (where I'm supposedly that other type of astronomer) during the 3rd quarter and new moon. I'd hate to waste good dark skies just because I'm away from my scope! And I'm always up for a chance to meet fellow astronomers. Are there any public star parties planned for the second half of August?

This might be a bit of a stretch since you don't know me, but is there an astronomy club that might loan me a telescope (4,6,8", anything really) for a night, and let me tag along to set up at a local observing sight? I recently started working on the Astronomy League's Messier and Double Star clubs, and I'd like to keep up my momentum by logging some more objects. I can even bring my own eyepieces and telrad if needed.

I can't wait to see Chicago!

Cheers,
Doug Applegate

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Doug,

The Chicago Astronomers welcome you to our great and light polluted city. Even here, with the glare of the urban setting, we can still pry out secrets of the cosmos and share them with fellow lovers of the sky.

I can arrange a star party upon your arrival and we will set up directly in front of our cool skyline like this recent Chicago Astronomer star party...

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=StarParty&thread=3332&post=13300

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and the Chicago Astronomer crew can share a session with you.

On the matter of loaner scopes......no.

There are no venues to lend out scopes anywhere around the metropolitan area. The problem is that such practices are hard on the instruments and they can get banged up pretty bad. Even at supervised star parties, some visitors and guests attempt to move telescopes with clutches engaged, fingers on eyepieces or turn the focuser to ridiculous runs.

Let me know the details on your visit and let's see what we can do...and also a visit to the Adler Planetarium is in order.

[dapple]

Fantastic! Looks like you all have a great setup next to the Adler. I'm sure it won't be too hard to convince people to come out for a warm summer evening of star viewing.

I'll be in town Aug 16 - Aug 25. Looking forward to meeting the crew, checking out the Adler, and grabbing some photons!

[-=CROMAN=-]

doug... i can bring along an extra scope for you to use. its a 4.5" reflector on a cheap alt az tripod. its good for planets and easy stuff like the orion nebula, pleiades, etc..

[patrickm]

Hiya.
Just keep an eye on the board here. We all try to post when we're observing, even if it's not an official CA star party. Engaging the public & hanging with fellow astronomers at Adler is fun, but getting away from the street lights even a bit gives huge returns. We'd love to have you join us! If I can make sure that my 4.5" SLT is working, you can borrow that one if I'm going to be attending. No prob.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

...and see?

Scopes at the ready for sharing and enjoyment.

It'll be fun...and the added excitement of the crowds who flock to our telescopes make our star parties high energy sessions.

[dapple]

Amazing! I really appreciate all the offers!

@joe: I can imagine that you get quite the crowds. I'll bring my A game, and fill in all the astrophysics and cosmology background I can. Outreach can be exhilarating.

patrickm: Yes, a dark(er) sight does sound good as well. For example: With a willing local guide and a local telescope, I figure I can afford (in time and money) to sneak out of work early one day, rent a car, get a solid observing session in, and then crash at my friend's place in DeKalb. I noticed that the Hinsdale public library has scopes on loan, but that may require an orientation first. I also looked up a few of the suburban astro clubs, but they seem rather secretive about their dark sites!

[patrickm]

The 4.5" is having power issues. I'll try to see if it's fixable or not.

[dapple]

Quick update: I got a response from the astronomy club at the University of Chicago. They may be able to lend me a 6" Dob, and are seeing if there's interest to head out to Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife in Indiana for some dark observing.

I have to admit I'm a bit humbled by all the positive feedback I'm getting from people this morning. I would be fascinated to know if someone would get an equally positive response if things were turned around and someone was visiting the Bay Area.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

How cool that the Ryerson crew there has one to lend out.

I would visit the Observatory at the U of C.

They have a neat old school refractor from the early 1900's, with huge setting circles and a cool spinning clock drive in the base of the mount.

One climbs a gothic helical staircase to get to the roof.

Perhaps we can schedule a group outing and visit.

[Paulie pchris00]

Aug 10, 2011 16:01:11 GMT -6 dapple said:

Quick update: I got a response from the astronomy club at the University of Chicago. They may be able to lend me a 6" Dob, and are seeing if there's interest to head out to Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife in Indiana for some dark observing.

I have to admit I'm a bit humbled by all the positive feedback I'm getting from people this morning. I would be fascinated to know if someone would get an equally positive response if things were turned around and someone was visiting the Bay Area.

Welcome Doug. As the resident Hoosier of the group, I have to ask: where the heck is Willow Slough?!?

[dapple]

Willow Slough appears to be in Morocco, Indiana on the Illinois border. www.google.com/maps?q=willow+slough+fish+and+wildlife,+indiana&hl=en&ll=40.974196,-87.441902&spn=0.210997,0.346069&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=55.937499,88.59375&vpsrc=6&t=h&z=12

Here's the government website: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3080.htm#camping

According to the Bortle map, www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/??, it's a yellow zone with a limiting mag of ~6. Apparently, there's a camp ground, and the best spot is on the east side of the lake in the ice fishing parking lot.

I assume you wouldn't want to go during hunting season!

[-=CROMAN=-]

I'm in! Lets go

[dapple]

OK, its confirmed. I've got access to a 6" Dob for a dark site visit. I think you'll understand if I don't bring it down to the Adler, however, since it obviously isn't my equipment and I can imagine taking a telescope on public transit is rather awkward!

Willow Slough, or perhaps somewhere where people have more familiarity. No Ryerson astronomers have expressed interest yet, but I bet any who do will be game to go anywhere. If no local carpool presents itself, I'll just rent a car for a day. Should we move the planning of the dark site trip to some other section of the forum where it might have more visibility? Also, how fickle is the weather around Chicago? Can we even plan the trip more than a few days out?

[erikruud]

Where are you going to be staying?

You mentioned DeKalb, which is sort of close to CROMAN and I.

[dapple]

I'm staying just south of downtown Chicago, near the university of. If the dark site is to the West, I may end up crashing in DeKalb at a friend's place instead of driving back to Chicago at 3am.

[erikruud]

Let us know if you do end up out west.
\

[dapple]

So what are the good dark sites near Chicago?

From poking around, here are the options that I've come up with:
- Willow Slough in Morocco, IN
- Indiana Dunes, IN
- Conway Observatory, Lowell, IN
- Starved Rock SP, Oglesby, IL
- Silver Spring State Park, Yorkville, IL
- Green River SWA, Harmon, IL

What are the best sites? Am I missing any? Where would other people be most interested in going?

[patrickm]

Conway is great. You can read a few of the threads on here. Darker that the Dunes, AND a 16" Meade!! The rest, I dunno.