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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Observation session

Monday 22 August 2011

I would like to set up the C11 at C.A. Private site #1 and do some observing/imaging. I need to confirm the site late Monday afternoon, but if clear to go, then I will set-up by 8:00 pm and remain till....?

And...I think the new R/C scope from another C.A. will make an appearance as well...

I could set up for public viewing as well, but with Saturn now vanishing, we got an awkward period until Jupiter makes his entrance.

If you would like to set up a scope, let me know.

(Limited to Chicago Astronomer staff Astronomers.)

[tecnologiaglobal]

Hey Joe,

I may be interested in setting up my scope. Let me know where and if you are planning to do this.

Thanks,

Hector
[e-mail]

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It doesn't look good for a session tonight.

Too many puffy clouds.

We will see by 6pm or so,.

[jeremy]

Joe, I'm feeling optimistic that these clouds will pass. Positive thinking at work!

[-=CROMAN=-]

im in the area .....whats the word.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ok kids...We are a Solid go for tonight.

And...we may even have a darker site to set-up. I'll check it out when arriving on scene.

NOTE: There is an event going on in the north lot, but we got the south lot...and even a little more south if it checks out..

Either way, call me if you need to. I'll be on-site at 8pm to check in and scope out the possible new site. Eats and drinks ok, but no booze.

Hector...call me for details.

[Paulie pchris00]

I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but can't do it tonight. I hope everybody has a great time.

Puffy white clouds during the day are actually a good sign of a clear night. They tend to dissipate in the evening. Somewhere I have a mini Peterson Guide for clouds and weather phenomena associated with them. I should probably be studying meteorology in more depth.

[patrickm]

Tired tired. Left the Chicago Astronomer observation site at about 3:30 and hit the bed at about 5 after very fun night! Astro Joe, Jeremy, Bill, Steve, and myself. Two R-C astrographs, one astrograph refractor, a dob, two cats, and binos. More later, I am sure, but here's my list:

08/22/11 CA Private Site

ISS (ZARYA)
(Satellite in Cetus)
Observed: Aug 22, 2011 21:00:05
"Nice pass across the entire northern horizon, brightening significantly as it emerged from behind the Great Chicago Light Dome."

C/2009 P1 (Garradd)
(Comet in Sagitta)
Observed: Aug 22, 2011 22:20:46
"Still no tail!"

(4) Vesta
(Asteroid in Capricornus)
Observed: Aug 22, 2011 22:40:24
"Faint. Orange/yellow"

Andromeda Galaxy - Messier 31
(Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda)
Observed: Aug 22, 2011 22:55:25
"No companions"

Messier 32
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 22:55:03
"M110 too faint under light polluted skies. Bill got with astrograph, but not visible visually. Tried three different times over the course of night."

Neptune
(Planet in Aquarius)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 23:15:16
"Grey blue"

Uranus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 23:20:19
"Grey green"

Jupiter
(Planet in Aries)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 23:35:54
"4 moons. Stupendous"

Double Double - Epsilon1 Lyrae
(Double Star in Lyra)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 0:20:40
"Double double clearly split at 13mm"

Ring Nebula - Messier 57
(Planetary Nebula in Lyra)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 0:20:21

GSC 2642-0433
(Star in Lyra)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 0:19:32
"M57 companion star visible at 13mm and more clearly at 8mm"

Cat Eye Nebula - NGC 6543
(Planetary Nebula in Draco)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 0:58:26

Blinking Planetary Nebula - NGC 6826
(Planetary Nebula in Cygnus)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:00:41
"Always fun to share. Source of bewildermemt."

Messier 92
(Globular Cluster in Hercules)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 0:58:06

Dumbbell Nebula - Messier 27
(Planetary Nebula in Vulpecula)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:08:19
"Wow! In the city!"

Messier 34
(Open Cluster in Perseus)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:00:50

Hyades - Caldwell 41
(Open Cluster in Taurus)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:05:44

Pleiades - Messier 45
(Open Cluster in Taurus)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:00:25

Pinwheel Cluster - Messier 36
(Open Cluster in Auriga)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:05:12
"Spectacular"

Starfish Cluster - Messier 38
(Open Cluster in Auriga)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:30:01

NGC 1907
(Open Cluster in Auriga)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:35:08
"Super faint fuzzy"

NGC 1931
(Open Cluster in Auriga)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:40:44
"Faint but dense"

NGC 1893
(Open Cluster in Auriga)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 1:45:47

Messier 37
(Open Cluster in Auriga)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 2:00:44
"Spectacular at 23 and 13mm"

Orion Nebula - Messier 42
(Bright Nebula in Orion)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 3:10:59
"Not exactly great. Too low in muck, but we saw Winter & can confirm it will arrive as scheduled! Also Jeremy's first time viewing!"

[Paulie pchris00]

Patrick said:

Jupiter
(Planet in Aries)
Observed: Aug 23, 2011 23:35:54
"4 moons. Stupendous"

You hit it up too early. Would have been great by the time you left. I still stand by my claim that is is the absolute best planet to observe, and second only to the Moon as the most interesting object in the entire sky for amateur sized telescopes. I could watch Jupiter and Moons all night and not get bored.

[patrickm]

Don't worry!". We came back to it in three scopes throughout the night as it rose in the east and it was the last thing we looked at in Joe's C11 before I left at 3:30. Give us a little credit, jeez!

We saw some weird, very dark storm thing move across one of the equatorial bands (NEB?) and disappear last night. Dunno what that was. No lunar transits.


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(doesn't take troll bait)

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A great night with Chicago Astronomers..

I arrived on-scene to check out the new observation spot, just a little south from the usual location....and found it suitable...and darker.

I set up the C11, desiring to catch Saturn and image her, but it's already too late. In the muck by sundown, turbulence and haze made it impossible.

C.A. Steve was the first to arrive, bringing his new R/C Astrograph scope...

C.A.s Patrick and his 9.25 HD , Jeremy and his 8" Dob and Bill bringing his own R/C and shorty Refractor - arrived soon after...

And we had a nice little star party going on.

Early on in the session, we had a low ISS pass to the north...

Everyone started slewing about to various targets - go-tos, digital setting circles and manuals. Patrick's list reflects what we all observed.

At star parties, you listen to what is going on, if any one needs a hand, yelps of exclamations, expert guidance & opinion or swapping equipment pieces...makes me smile. No attitudes, know it alls or Curmudgeoned astronomers makes for a fun session.

I used the LG Ally with the Google Sky app, attached to the C11 to help me guide to Uranus. It does the job, but is laggy..

In observations by other Chicago Astronomers in a recent Uranusian observations, some felt it looked washed out grey. Here in the beast, it was definitely greenish-blue and prominent disk. I offended the 11" aperture resolution limit by popping in a 3.8mm eyepiece and 2x barlowed it - (giving me an insane 1.9mm). Absolutely no detail, but a very large fuzzy dim disk....

We all enjoyed some decent Jupiter viewings. Very active and detailed - really much more than recently...

Two NEQB splotches were with us until the end of the session, when one rotated out of view. With the king of the planets approaching closer, I wonder what I can tease out with the C11....

C.A. Steve left about 11:00 pm, illuminating the site...

The rest of us remained for hours, taking in subtle details of many objects and Patrick providing information via his astro program on the iPhone. Jeremy has a neat program as well on his Ipad where he can log his observations.

The waning Moon joined in...

We explored the lunar features and Bill's vast knowledge enhanced the viewing, (cyborg).

I like Kepler's star-like ray system.

Here is an accidental pic that came out kinda cool.

Also,

Scanning with the 15x70 binos, I came across this...

Patrick and Bill helped my identify it as M103, but it looked quite odd in the eyepiece - almost galaxy like.

And then....Orion makes an entrance...

As much as I think it's a very cool constellation, it means winter is coming and fast...

I like the Moon's position last night, equidistant between two stars Alnath and Aldebaran. Here, I explored the Orion area of goodies.

Jeremy had never observed M45 - The Orion Nebula, before first hand and Patrick & I wanted to make it a good first experience. With it being so low, detail was poor and the full grandeur was lost. We forbade Jeremy a look until it got high enough to appreciate it. In the meantime we enjoyed the great approaching fall sky - which is probably the coolest of the skies...

When Orion got higher, the gas smudge could be seen naked eye and finally, the keep out Jeremy tape was cut and a Chicago Astronomer got his first look of M45 in the C11...

The tendrils and "thumbprint" of the gas nebula are clearly visible, as is a good separation of the Trapezium. It will only get better!

With that Jeremy and Patrick headed out and Bill earlier...and I stay for some much desired quiet time - not leaving till 4:30 am. Just me and the stars...solo. I took peeks of Mars in Gemini and some better views of Jupiter and just scanned the skies with no direction, coming upon interesting objects and grateful for a beautiful session with friends and the cosmos.

[jeremy]

I had a great time last night! I paid for it today doing my best zombie impression for most the day, but it was worth it. I enjoyed the star cluster hunt we got onto last night, there are so many great ones out there, and so many out there still to see. Thank you guys for posting the observation notes, letting me try out those eyepieces, and for a great session last night. I loved seeing and learning about the blinking planetary nebula, and of course I will never forget where I first saw the Orion Nebula. Thanks again!

[atomant]

Urban Astronomy lives on.......

Joe, cool serene shots of the xmas stars rising as the big city slumbers!

Here are some photos to add to the memorable observing session.
Equipment used:
- my 1st real scope Celestron spotting scope 80mm f/5
- used AT r-c 150mm f/9
- used Orion SVP GEM [no polarscope]
- Nikon D5k dslr

Note the image scales


by jove! , 5secs , iso400, 400mm


ngc869/884 just one of many open clusters tonite, 20secs, iso400, 400mm


m27 apple core, 30secs, iso800, 400mm


m27, 25secs, iso1600, 1350mm


m31/32/101 galaxies, 20secs, iso800, 400mm


m31/32 galaxies, 25secs, iso1600, 1350mm


vega, pretty thick rc spider vanes, 20secs, iso400, 1350mm


m57 ring, note "companion" star, 20secs,iso400, 1350mm


m15 glob, 25secs, iso1600, 1350mm

and Comet Garradd

20secs, iso400, 400mm


25secs, iso800, 1350mm

this lil sucker can move! Onward to Sagitta!

[patrickm]

Very nice Bill! Do you have a setup for AP tracking! And why not use the R-C you had?

Love the comet and Andromeda photos especially!

[RobbW]

Okay, Bill. Gotta know, how did you get your shots? Are you doing prime focus or afocal? I doubt it's afocal with those exposure times. If prime, how the hell did you get magnification on M27, M31, and the comet? When I do prime focus, I'm stuck with the focal length of my scope and that's it. Did you crop those photos to get the magnification?

[atomant]

Hi robbw,
They are all prime focus.
I just hooked the body of dslr with t-ring+1.25" t-adapter directly to telescope.
I was using two telescopes: 400mm and 1350mm to vary the image scale.

Hi patrickm,
I do have GEM for AP but living on the 5th floor and being a school night,
I decided to take my chances on the GEM I keep in car for outreach.
The fast f/5 was ok; definitely see drifting with slow f/9.
I had sold my Vixen 200mm f/9 modified cassegrain to fund a dall-kirkham scope.
I couldn't resist a used at6rc for 2 ben franklins.

The digital revolution has made AP much cheaper and easier.

[RobbW]

Aug 24, 2011 11:42:41 GMT -6 atomant said:

I was using two telescopes: 400mm and 1350mm to vary the image scale.

Ah Ha!!! So THAT'S your dirty little trick! Thought you could just slip that one past me, huh?