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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Star Parties

Sunday 04 & Monday 05 of September 2011

This coming week will be a very busy one for Chicago Astronomers, as we have a Art reception to work, a full Moon session, a movie shoot and a possible Park District gig...

But...

I think I still want to set up telescope Sunday and Monday evening on the Adler grounds. Pretty soon, the warm nights of summer will be behind us. Then gloves, woolen caps and boots will help us extend the observational season a bit longer. So, I say...let's take advantage of as many clear nights as we can - while we can.

If clear...I will set up the C11 beast at 7:00 pm both Sunday and Monday evening, just west of the Adler building and stay till 11:00 pm. We will have a great Moon to enjoy and pick out some other Deep Space Objects for our fans....and maybe - Jupiter, if he clears the Adler building in time.

Stop by if in the area and say hi.

Chicago Astronomers are always on the move....!

[Paulie pchris00]

Go or no-go for tonight? It looks like maybe some sucker holes. Tomorrow night might not be any better, though, and I don't want to deal with the late night holiday traffic. Tonight is my one shot this weekend.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie...

It's a go.

May be breezy and puffy clouds...but it will be nice to be out with a scope.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Part 1 - Sunday's session - The Chicago Astronomer Delivers despite mostly cloudy skies....

The observational session was an uncertain one. With lakefront effect in progress, lines of clouds were hugging the shoreline and it was to be a suckerhole star party.

And...even with the mostly cloudy skies, we had a very large number of visitors this evening. Tallied at 175, it was one of the largest number of visitors of this observational season.

I arrived on scene at 7:00 pm and a bit dis-heartened with the clouds, but as soon as the C11 goes up, I get curious visitors and we start...

Here, was a cool dude who attached his camera to a helium balloon and was going to take pics of the city from high up. I hope he sends me the results!

The Moon was riding high in the south, and managed to avoid the clouds. Popping in a 80-B blue filter, it created a nice contrast in the still bright skies, to the delight of all our traffic. Support Crew member Barbara was out doing her thing, organizing our visitors, explaining what the scopes were on and counting heads. She makes the C.A. events go smoother... ;D

Wheaton college was in the area and we took a group pic after some peaks at the Moon...

When the clouds finally played with the Moon, I focused on the ever faithful great Chicago Skyline, picking out the rivets on the Sears tower antennae arrays, the faceless statue of Ceres - Goddess of grain, on top of the Board of Trade Building, Navy Pier Ferris wheel and such...

But I slew back and forth from the Moon to the skyline as the sucker holes in the clouds permitted a few sneaks at the Moon.

After decades of observing the Moon, I never, I mean never - get tired of courting her and sharing with eager lovers of the cosmos. At times, the only open patch of sky was straight up, and so we go to Vega, shining like a bright diamond in the telescope and we talk about the movie "Contact" and the possibilities of Extraterrestrial life.

Of course there is...


A great treat we had this evening, was fellow Astronomer Dave. He heard about the Chicago Astronomer crew from C.A. Bill and C.A.S Audrey while at the Starved Rock Star party that recently occurred and made the long trip from Peotone...to join us...

Sweet!

Bringing his 4" Astroscan ball reflector and homemade steady base, he made a great addition to our session.

When new individuals join in the fun, I listen and watch. Do they deal with the public well - children - know their content - able to find objects unassisted etc.... Or do they display a sour attitude and persona, a know it all who dispels other peoples beliefs and looks down at those who come to enjoy. I have had some exhibit this and really... not Chicago Astronomer material - and off they go.

But Dave was cool and got along with all, sharing his scope and knowledge. (He also does a regular video, promoting what's going on in the night sky - more on this later).

I think Dave will make a great addition to the crew...

And so, we split double stars, did lunar walks with high magnification and some E.T. Star cluster. The winds were brisk and I dare not install the Extended Dew Shield on the C11, lest the it be a wind sail... The 90mm refractor scope performed nicely, offering wide low powered views of the Moon with the 35mm Rini. I like the reticle view and guide my visitors to it first before viewing through the main scope.

I also had space ambiance sounds playing as well as classical tunes. I like to have ambiance playing during my star parties and the visitors often comment on how it creates just the right atmosphere. But, t his time, there were actual sounds of space, taken by the unmanned space crafts screaming through planetary space. Converting electromagnetic fields to audible frequencies, we listened to the sounds of Jupiter, Earth, Mercury, interstellar space and more. A lot of low drones...seems that the movies got it right...

A Transit detail Police Officer stopped by to see what was going on, as he saw the scopes...

We talk about our backgrounds in Law Enforcement and I discover that his brother is also an Astronomer, who has his own roll off observatory in Wisconsin. Very cool and I passed on my card to him.

A lot of astronomical discussion going on this evening and a varied amount of topics while waiting for the breaks in the clouds. And then....a large wide open clear patch of sky came our way from the Northeast. Clear clean skies - just waiting to be probed. Dave selected object down low in the Sagittarius area and picked out a nice smudgee - very impressive.

And we continue...

Nothing but smiles, laughs and the amazement of punching through the light pollution baffle over the city and actually viewing the cosmos first hand...

But wait.....our clear patch of sky only lasted about 20 minutes, and what was coming did not look good...

I felt light drops coming our way and I called it at 10:00 pm and broke down the site. As I was packing all things away, great gusts of winds came racing on way down the lake shore from the North. Bracing really, we discussed astro stuff in the gale force winds and only stopped when the clouds released their contents...really pouring down as we drove home.

This was an energy filled Chicago Astronomer session and glad we did it.

Our crew for the evening:

Barbara, Dave and myself - the last pic taken before the Apocalypse arrived.

[magic612]

A great treat we had this evening, was fellow Astronomer Dave. He heard about the Chicago Astronomer crew from C.A. Bill and C.A.S Audrey while at the Starved Rock Star party that recently occurred and made the long trip from Peotone...to join us...


Bringing his 4" Astroscan ball reflector and homemade steady base, he made a great addition to our session.

When new individuals join in the fun, I listen and watch. Do they deal with the public well - children - know their content - able to find objects unassisted etc.... Or do they display a sour attitude and persona, a know it all who dispels other peoples beliefs and looks down at those who come to enjoy. I have had some exhibit this and really... not Chicago Astronomer material - and off they go.

But Dave was cool and got along with all, sharing his scope and knowledge. (He also does a regular video, promoting what's going on in the night sky - more on this later).

Joe, am so glad to have met you and Barbara last night. It was a real treat sharing the sky with so many different people. Despite the clouds, it was a joy to spend time with both the public and fellow amateur astronomers who are kind, thoughtful, selfless and fun. You and Barbara certainly displayed all of those positive attributes (and more!) last night - and I thank you for the kind words you offered about me.

We talked a little about my website last night, and you made reference to it above, so I hope you don't mind me linking to it here so others can take a peek.

eyesonthesky.com

Through YouTube videos, I try to make it easier for people to understand the science of astronomy. In about 10 minutes, I quickly describe and show where to look for the major planets during each month (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), and if time allows, any meteor showers and/or what major constellations can be seen even from most urban/suburban locations.

I hope to spend more time with Joe and the CA crew and be able to offer up more of that in-person as well. Thanks again Joe! I had a great time, and plan to come back for sure!

Interesting driving home last night too - the rain did pour going back down the Dan Ryan, but by the time I got to about 127th (or maybe a bit south of there), it was already clearing up. When I got home - perfectly clear skies! So I joined some neighbors for a small fire and looked up at the stars some more.

Couldn't have asked for a better night.

[Paulie pchris00]

Several factors kept me away last night. First, looking at the satellite images, I thought it was going to be a sucker hole night... at best.

The parking situation around Adler can get a little crazy in the weekends too, and also had me leaning towards staying home.

The final factor that kept me home last night? I fell asleep. Yep. I took a nap, and slept right through my alarm. By the time I woke up there was no point in even setting up at home before work.

So far this morning I like what I see from the satellite. It looks promising, but if the jet stream pushes back north, we might start to see the remnants of tropical storm Lee. If it's still looking good by mid-afternoon, I'll try to be out tonight, but I need to get some sleep right now.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It looks like a go for tonight.

Tropical depression remnants of Lee, look like they are slipping past up to the NE, and looks like clear skies to the west.

I'm gambling that it will be a decent night of public observation and making new fans of the Chicago Astronomer.

I shall arrive arrive at 7pm and leaving tummy room for Robb's cookies and open arms for hugs.

Ain't astronomy fun?

[Paulie pchris00]

Woke up a little on the late side, then got pressed into service working in my parents's crawlspace. I put it off all last week, and now I'm paying for my procrastination. Not going to fight the holiday traffic at this point, but I might join you guys in spirit from across the Lake for some public lunar viewing.

[RobbW]

I'm here now. VERY windy at usual spot. Not too bad by the circle on south side of Adler

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Part 2 - A quiet fun time with fellow Astronomers -

Labor day was very unlabored-like.

Chicago Astronomer Robb was already on scene when I arrived about 7:00pm and had already scouted a better place to set up, as the Alpha spot where we usually set up was buffeted by gale winds. Just south of the Adler, the building acted as a wind shield and was suitable.

Robb brought his 8" SCT and I the C11 on this very fall-like evening. Chilly and crisp, the north winds were creating a lake shore system, with a line of clouds hugging the area, but further west...clear...

It was a pretty evening, with the low fall clouds and reminded me of when I was a kid in 7th & 8th grade, launching model rockets after school in empty lots. Robb came through with the promised homemade cookies...

...of which I quickly consumed a few on the spot.

Robb also has a lot of cool devices that he has crafted to enhance the observation experience. One item that caught my attention was this thingy with a red light. He explained that it was a red-light reticle illuminator for his polarscope...

Looking thru the polar scope, it bathes the reticle plate along the edges and leaves the center clear...just right for dark sky alignments. Very cool.

This session was not to be a heavy public one, but instead a pleasant time with each other, talking astro stuff and getting to know each other better. under painted skies...

Chicago Astronomer Steve stopped by and shared some laughs and ate cookies with us...

I told him to leave a quarter "for the Children", but he ignored me...

The Moon was more occluded than open...

But when open, proved to show a crisp clean lunar surface...

Rupes Recta (The Straight Wall), was especially prominent this evening...

I like this view through the 90mm refractor and 35mm reticled Rini...

Almost like looking through the command module window on T.L.I.

We had some visitors, not many, but showed what we could with the mostly cloudy skies...

When no celestial objects could be targeted, I slewed over to the great skyline, loaded with various hidden treats...

Included the rivets on the Sears tower antennae and faceless Goddess Ceres on top of the Board of Trade building.

There was also a -8 magnitude Iridium Flare to be enjoyed...

We watched and waited, but the clouds were just too thick. And so back to astro-foolery...

I had oldies playing and Steve kept sharing with me hidden deviant meanings to the songs...tarnishing my childhood. I put fingers in my ears and refused listen....

As the evening progressed and no heavy crowds, Robb, Steve and I had a nice time talking, goofing around and enjoying the night. I spent some time attaching the 15x70's binos to the tripod and scanned very deep and clear sky, (through the sucker holes). The strong winds scrubbed the air clean and very transparent. I should do more bin ocular astronomy more often...

It was a fun night with friends and scopes....and cookies.

Our crew for the evening...

Chicago Astronomers Robb, Steve and myself.

[magic612]

Wish I could have made it both nights - looks like you guys had a nice time Monday night even though the clouds weren't very cooperative.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

As much as I dig the huge crowds we get around Chicago Astronomer telescopes, I enjoy the quiet times just as much.

C.A.s Robb, Streve and I had a fun time goofing around and talking shop...and if the sky permitted, I would have done some undisturbed imaging, comparing views and swapping equipment.

Robb did bring his binoviewers and it brings a extra dimension to observation. He had two 20mm 1.25's in, and I had two 25mms to compare...stuff like that.

With Wednesday still uncertain on the joint Park Dist/CA event...maybe we will set up scopes again by the Adler area.

Stay tuned.

[Paulie pchris00]

Still no word on the Wednesday session?

I had ulterior motives to make it to that.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie...

None.

I don't think it's gonna happen.

But we will see by the end of this day.

[Paulie pchris00]

I think my heart just stopped.