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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Star Party

Tuesday - 20 September 2011

Can September be almost over already?

Time for another Chicago Astronomer Star Party and this coming Tuesday looks like a good time to set up scopes and share the cosmos with all lovers of the night sky.

I will set up by 7pm at our primary C.A. site and welcome our fans, friends and visitors.

Temps will be warm and with partly cloudy urban skies. With Jupiter rising four minutes earlier each night, (about 8:45pm this evening), we can finally catch him before the session concludes.

Make this last Chicago Astronomer session before the Autumnal Equinox!

You know you want to.

[magic612]

Joe, I'll see if I can make it up that way on Tuesday. Looks like I'll have the time, so here's hoping!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

It will be sweet to have you join us again.

I hope you make it a regular activity in your schedule!

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm available, and if the weather works out, will probably be observing afterward at Conway.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Three Chicago Astronomers...no waiting.

[patrickm]

I have book club in Oak Park Tuesday eve until about 1030. Any observing for me will have to be close to home, but by then, I'll probably just fall asleep and drool on myself.

We read The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes. Recommended.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Some Chicago Astronomers are well read.

I like thin books with pictures, car chases, explosions and chicks with guns - with ads in the back for X-ray glasses...

Ain't technology great?

[patrickm]

Stuff blows up both places. Just more words in this one.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

At 2:30 pm.....we are still a go for tonight's Chicago Astronomer Star Party.

Not really clear skies, but the Sun is shining brightly and we will have fun regardless.

[magic612]

Cool - I'm still planning on being there! The question is: Which scope to bring? I'm thinking the 127mm f/4 for today.

And should I bring my laptop that has some fun mythology videos to share with passers-by?

[barbarai]

I am planning on being there also...am looking forward to it also...will I see Io?

[magic612]

Barbara, I downloaded an app onto my smartphone. Guess what's it's called? WHERE IS IO. It made me think of you!

Cool app too - displays the positions of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter. Including Io, of course.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

Certainly, bring the laptop. I got a table ready for you.

Barbara...

See this link of my capturing Io coming from behind Jupiter last night...

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Observations&thread=3422&page=1

We'll have fun this warm evening.

[Paulie pchris00]

Io has a 42 hour orbital period. If you saw it after an eclipse last night, tonight we might see a transit.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Last Chicago Astronomer Summer Star Party of 2011 ....

I was a little concerned about the skies not cooperating for our star party, but it all worked out well. C.A. Paulie was already on-site by the time I arrived at 7pm, (and in my spot)...

Our Chicago Astronomer crew for this session would be..

Myself, Steve, Dave, Barbara and Paulie

Also....

New for the group are "Chicago Astronomer Disks"...

A prototype, we will wear them during our sessions and present them to our hard core Chicago Astronomer fans.

Dave brought his unique 5"refractor, built from the ground up. I'm sure he will chime in on the specs, but I dig that he crafts his own instruments...

I didn't expect a big crowd this evening, but was surprised at the number we attended to...

We targeted the Mizar/Alcor binaries, Vega, The E.T star cluster and lastly Jupiter for our visitors and new fans - smiles all around and we were thanked throughout the evening for conducting this opportunity for them...

These next fans were very interesting...

This 22 year old young man, had tattooed space themed objects on his body. Space ships, UFO's asteroids, astronauts and Saturn.

Very cool.


Looking to the west, we all saw the impending clouds pushing it's way to the east and unto our star party sky. Dave called up his weather app and we saw this...

A midwest vortex...and we were about to catch the leading edge soon.

I say it's End times....

We go back to our duties, with Dave explaining astronomy to our guests and showing his new Mythology video production on Andromeda, Cassiopeia etc....

Quite a fun piece.


It was cool this evening, almost cold. But I was not in the least chilly for most of the evening, going about in just a T-shirt. Dew was also down, a big change from what I experienced last night during my Jupiter imaging session.

Paulie was diligently targeting Jupiter first, carrying his uber portable Dob to various vantage points all over the place...

And we continue...

I also met Dr. Frank Clark, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Adler Planetarium...

And...

That leading end times vortex edge was sliding ever closer.

The crowds thinned out and it gave us time to chat and goof around...

...and we pack up by 11:00 pm...

C.A.S.C Barbara tallied a total of 85 visitors to our site. Many more than I expected...but after all, it's where the cool kids hang out. A big thanks to C.A. Dave and C.A. Paulie for making the long trip to join in on this session. Not bad for our last Chicago Astronomer star party for our 2011 Summer Observation season...

Onward to our fall events!

[Paulie pchris00]

Good bye, Summer 2011...

[-=CROMAN=-]

good bye mosquitos!

[barbarai]

I had a great time last nite...thanks to Joe, Paulie, Dave and Steve for helping me see my favorite - IO!! Joe, the video is great, thank you, and also to Paulie for tracking down Io...I LOVE IO!! thanks. I eagerly await the fall sessions.