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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Star Party

Tuesday - 16 August 2011

Short notice, but I think Tuesday, (16 August), would be a great evening for some public scope time. And considering that Wednesday could be our Park District Star Party ( Weather permitting), Thursday is the Adler After Dark event and Friday night might be a trip to the Dunes for a all night session...Tuesday is the only open evening for a session this week.

I will set-up at 7:30 pm and remain till 11:00 pm, most likely by our west observation site, just off the Adler building. There will be two ISS passes - one bright and very high pass at 86 degrees and -3.5 magnitude.

Always a treat.

Of course, we will catch the last of Saturn and see if the Moon will peek over the Adler building for some viewing.

Be there for this weeks only Chicago Astronomer star party by the lake!

[dapple]

I might be able to make it! (Depending on how exhausted I am after travelling today).

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It's a solid go for tonight's star party under a beautiful summer Chicago sky.

And will be great to meet our fellow San Franciscan friend!!

[patrickm]

Back still hosed. No can do. Next week's trip in jeopardy. Sorry. There in spirit

[dapple]

I just barely made it, but I'm sure glad I did! Had an awesome time with Joe showing some last minute folks the moon and some double stars. Between this and the impromptu session I had the other day with my neighbor's family, I gotta do outreach more often. It's such a rush!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A nice time with new fans and old friends....

This was a last moment decision to conduct a Chicago Astronomer star party...or really, just setting up a telescope and see what happens.

It turned out pretty good...

I arrived pretty early, about 7:00pm, parked at my site and took my leisurely time setting up the C11...and like clock work, people gathered to see what was going on and talk astronomy.

Set a scope up and they will come.

It was still too early to check out Saturn, so I scanned the great skyline we enjoy, focusing on the Sears Tower antennae array and the Ceres stature on top of the Board of Trade building..

We had a great ISS flyover at 8:21 pm and at 86 high and -3.1 mag, it thrilled our guests...

We also experienced another ISS pass an hour later or so. This time only 15 degrees high, but still entertained the crowd as it arched in the Nw/Ne.

With the 15x70 binoculars, I scanned the western skies for Saturn and spotted it after we all crained our necks for the ISS...

And as usual....

....take pics with our new fans and friends.

I like this one with Chicago Astronomer fan Michael...

And we continue with Saturn, many who just did not believe such an object could be seen...

Many this session had never peered through a telescope before, much less wonder at Saturn's rings. I saw some finish their view and head back to the end of the line for another peek. It's great that we can still catch the last evenings with Saturn. I'll miss her when she darts away...

Chicago Astronomer Steve & Margie joined me a short time later, and set up his refractor for some sharp Saturn viewing as well with nice Tele-Vues he has...

When Saturn sank into the muck, I slewed over to the E.T Star Cluster, while we waited for the Moon to clear the Adler building...

A small break for some sugar...

Back to the session...

I deputized burly men about me to assist in moving the C11 over 10 feet, to avoid the Supernova streetlamp that would be right smack at the point where the Moon would rise over the building. Once reset, the Moon was enjoyed by many...

New Chicago Astronomer forum member Doug, visiting from the Bay Area, stopped by late to join me...

An Astronomer working on advanced imaging, including gravitational lensing and working on the big boy scopes like Keck, he is a very interesting person to talk with. He also took it upon himself to work the crowd, answer questions and monitor the C11.

Very cool!

Also...

Peter, an imager in stills and video and on the ladder taking a Moon shot, stopped by to see what was going on and was taking some pretty nice shots of the synergy of the session...

He will send me his shots and will include them later.

The 90mm Ebay scope, riding on top of the C11 works beautifully, as I instruct out visitors to start out there and then take in the full magnification in the main tube while observing the Moon. The Extended Dew Shield was saggy this session, as I did not secure it tight enough and did in fact fall off. Dew was low this night and not an issue.

A lot of astronomy discussions this session, including Black holes, stellar life cycles, Nibiru, planetary system formations and a host of other subject. Made me think and explain .... #idea# Many expressed that they never knew such things that we were showing them were accessible to the average person. Just another service of the Chicago Astronomer...! ;D

I roughly counted about 60 visitors, but I know I missed many. Support Crew member Barbara wasn't there this time to count....

I enjoyed myself and glad I called this session on a beautiful summer night.

A big shout out to C.A. Steve, Doug for assisting and to my friend Lala for taking some of the pics.

[patrickm]

Joe,
You are such a rock star. You and Neil Tyson in the same room would cause the Earth to wobble.

Rock on.
p

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Except that Tyson would want to take a pic with me....after the lovelies of course.

Precession wobble Joe