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[patrickm]

If we wanna go all the way to Poplar Grove, I have use of land at the airstrip there. A bit of a haul, but it's there.

[RobbW]

Checked out the soccer fields/playgrounds near my house. They have wide-open views of the sky in all direction; not all the way down to the horizon, though. There are trees up to about 20-25 degrees, but it's not like we can see anything below that in the Chicagoland skies anyway. There are a couple of streetlights in the parking lot to the playing fields and one brighter light light waaaaay at the other end of the fields on the school. They are, meh, relatively bright, but once you are out in the fields they aren't too bad. And with basically a full moon overhead anyway, the moon's doing more harm to our seeing than the lights are. The location is relatively easy to get to and can be seen in this Google map. This is probably the best I can do without more time to scout more spots. I have a couple other sites that would probably provide better viewing locations. However, one is very convoluted to get to. And the other is a soccer field at a different school that has signs posted reading "Field use with permit only." So I don't know if we'd get in trouble trying to set up there without prior permission.

I'd be very interested in hearing any recommendations that Rich has for sites he likes. My biggest concerns for tomorrow night are the full moon and the fact that the forecast has degraded from completely clear to mostly clear/partly cloudy. Also, I don't know what the dew point is supposed to be tomorrow night, but they was some fog tonight in lower-laying areas.

[atomant]

Awesome video, Dave!

I had a small clear window tonight over the city.
Barely able to see mag 3 stars naked eye with the almost full moon on my back.

Here are shots of the SN !

crop of Utica,IL photo from Aug 26th.


from downtown Chicago
10sec, iso1600,1350mm

Hoping more transparent skies tomorrow nite.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

A very cool vid man!

A lot of time and prep to make it and it is a valuable tool.

Bill,

I am pleased that you imaged the SN from our bleak LP urban skies. This too is valuable.

Excellent...!

It it sandwiched nicely in the that pic with two guide stars.

I'm in the company of the greats!

[-=CROMAN=-]

Robb... Did you have any luck finding a spot? Im was in tinley this weekend but will be back in elgin around 7pm. Where is everyone going to be?

[magic612]

Hey, thanks for the kind words everyone. My local cable access provider, for whom I also provide my monthly sky videos, suggested I make a 2-3 minute video about the supernova. Because I wanted to appeal to the widest audience possible, it is obviously a few minutes longer than that, as I walk even the most basic star-hopper through every star along the way. Hopefully most anyone can watch the video and find the SN.

Joe, it did take some time to put that together, but it was also probably the fastest video I've compiled: From initial research/writing to rendered video, it was about 8 hours of time for that 8 minute video. Usually my videos take 20 hours or so to complete, but then with the monthly ones, I draw from more resources and add a lot more to them.

By the way, for anyone south of the city or south burbs, the Kankakee Area Stargazers will be at Davis Creek near the Kankakee River State Park off Route 102 on either the 17th or 18th, weather permitting, to show the comet to students of Olivet Nazarene University, and others who wish to stop by. If you follow me on Twitter or "like" on Facebook, I'll have updates on the date/time for that.

Bill, those are GREAT shots of the SN! Nice job, and truly impressive - especially that city shot!

[patrickm]

BILL!!
We're not worthy!

[RobbW]

Sept 11, 2011 5:32:41 GMT -6 -=CROMAN=- said:

Robb... Did you have any luck finding a spot? Im was in tinley this weekend but will be back in elgin around 7pm. Where is everyone going to be?

Hey Rich, check my post about 3 above yours. I was gone most of the day yesterday. So I didn't have much time for recon. Checked out the school fields over by house, and they should be about as good as any especially with the full moon. It's easy to get to from I90.

I'd also be good with Patrick's airfield if everyone wants to head out there. Really, I'd be okay with anything that has unobstructed views. I just want to settle on something.

[-=CROMAN=-]

I'm good with your spot if everyone else is. lets settle on a time to meet regardless. i sent you a PM as well.

[atomant]

Not looking good for me guys.
Stuck in Chicago until 9:30pm.

Happy starhopping to the SuperNova.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Since I'm not able to trek out to darker areas.....I'm thinking about a lakefront session this Sunday evening...primarily to hunt the SN.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Dang Bill! That's awesome......

[RobbW]

Sept 11, 2011 10:05:14 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Since I'm not able to trek out to darker areas.....I'm thinking about a lakefront session this Sunday evening...primarily to hunt the SN.

Jeez, they're dropping like flies. First Bill, who started this whole supernova hunting expedition, and now Joe! Personally, I think Joe's just afraid of the suburbs, what with the reducing lighting levels and wide-open streets and such!

So, it looks like it's just you and me, Rich, and possibly Patrick if we head out to Poplar Grove. Patrick, are you only available out at Poplar Grove or are you coming out no matter where we wind up?

If we set up at the airstrip out in Poplar Grove, we would probably have significantly darker skies that around here in the Elgin area. Although, with the full moon, "significantly darker" is just a relative term. It'll wash out most of the faint fuzzies in the sky.

If Patrick drops out of this altogether, too, then I'd probably prefer setting up in the fields near me. It's only a couple blocks away. So, I should be able to wheel all my equipment over on my scope buggy, or astro cart. My wife doesn't like the term scope buggy. Too nerdy for her! Actually, I think I'm going to call it an ATV, astronomy transport vehicle. Anyway, Rich, you'd be able to check it out first-hand, and I can answer any questions you may have about it. I really wish I could give you a link to the plans I used to construct it. Unfortunately, there are no plans. This was all whipped together in my head, and trust me, you really don't want a link to there!!!

Let me know what anyone wants to do. If coming over by me, I will post directions.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

"wide-open streets"

Such horrible freedom...

I think, that I will set up outside of the garage this evening, as my doors face due north. Hopefully I can do the SN from there....punching through the offensive alley lights.

Oh Robb,

I think you should name your buggy...Trololo:




Welcome.

[RobbW]

Wow! WTF?! I didn't think it was possible to lip sync so poorly for 10 minutes to a song with no words!!!

Wait a minute.... I just went back and checked that video again. That's not 10 MINUTES. That's 10 HOURS!!!!! Why would anyone wait a minute of their life splicing together a 10-hour loop of this drudgery? Better question, why does Joe have any knowledge of this?!?!

[patrickm]

I am just offering the Poplar Grove as an option. CSC looks less than awesome tonight. I have a few household projects to do and a nap to take. Will see later. Make your plans and I'll check in.

I don't really wanna load up and travel only to find clouds (and nice people). Do your thing and I may glom on.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Robb,

Astro Joe knows all...sees all...

I even know about this...



Settled then.

The Astro buggy is now named Trololo.

Now back to the Trololo SuperNova...already in progress.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Where am I going tonight?

[RobbW]

Okay, for any and all who are concerned, I will be towing my STD (Scope Transport Device, NOT Trololo, thank you very much, Joe. Trololo would just sound weird!) to the play fields a couple blocks from my house. I will be there by 8:00pm to start setting up. The nearest address to the parking lot for the fields is 875 Stockbridge Place, Elgin, IL. The Google Maps coordinates for the center of the parking lot are 42.053318,-88.242821. Basic directions are to take I90 West out to Beverly Road, which is the first exit past IL59. Turn left and head south on Beverly to Shoe Factory Road, a T-intersection with a light. Turn right and head east on Shoe Factory Rd. Go to the second stop light, which is Maureen Drive. Turn left on Maureen Drive and head to the T-intersection at the end of the road. Turn right on Stockbridge Pl (I think it is Russel Dr to the left). The lot and playing fields are on the north side of the street about half a block after you turn right onto Stockbridge.

I will be towing my STD... scratch that (and not because STDs itch), I think I'm going to refer to it as ATV (Astro Transport Vehicle) or MOV (Mobile Observing Vehicle) or maybe even MTV (Mobile Telescope Vehicle) instead. STD just has an odd ring to it! Anyway, I will be towing my scope to the fields, so you will not see my car there. You'll just have to park and check if you see me out in the field (assuming I beat you there).

I still haven't decided if I'm going to to try imaging the SN or if I'm just going straight visual. Either way, I'll be there. If anyone wants to join me, great! If not, it should be a nice solo expedition!

[-=CROMAN=-]

On my way robb...

[RobbW]

Save a spot for me if you beat me there!!!

[patrickm]

Gotta pass. Have fun

Why's this in Eclipses... forum? Confused (as usual)

[-=CROMAN=-]

I think im here... Which lot..lol

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It's a beautifully clear night!

I hope you snag the SN.

[magic612]

Spotted it early this evening just after 8:00 using the 4" Astroscan. NOT an easy feat even in my less light polluted area - BUT - the sky was not yet dark, and the Moon was up. But spotted it nonetheless.... barely. Just took out my 10" Dob about 15 minutes ago - easy spot. Even showed it to my wife and younger daughter, who could pick it out with ease when I told them exactly where to look (pretty easy when it's centered in the eyepiece).

How's everyone else faring with it? Any luck so far?

[atomant]

Unfortunately did not get done with stuff until after 10pm tonite.
Quickly went with a grab-n-go setup, 6in RC on AT voyager, up to roof of condo.
The dipper's handle was just barely above the city muck.
Plus that giant lunar spotlite was on my back,
Using a right angle corrected image finder [RACI], I was able to starhop from Mizar to the vicinity.

Caught SN using averted vision.

Hope all of you get to see this cosmic blast.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chalk me up on capturing the SN from my light polluted alley observation site....

Full details here:

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Observations&thread=3410&page=1#14002

Conditions were not optimal, but workable.

[-=CROMAN=-]

sweet!

[RobbW]

Rich and I caught it out in Elgin. We couldn't see it visually in either of our scopes, but we found it once I hooked up the camera to my SCT. Below is a very poorly processed crop of the galaxy/SN combo. My polar alignment wasn't spot on as evidenced by the slight star trails, but oh well. We found it anyway. This was a 60-sec exposure at ISO1600 on my Canon 40D at prime focus on my Celestron C8. At work now, so I'll post more about our outing later.

[RobbW]

After reviewing both Bill and Joe's pics of the supernova, I had to go back and edit my post and pic. Rich, it turns out that the "star" we thought was the supernova was incorrect. We had the core of M101 right, but the actual supernova was the even brighter star further to the northeast of the core, rather than the close one to the southwest of the core. I have relabeled my pic accordingly!