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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Star Party

03 October 2011

The first Chicago Astronomer public star party for the 2011 fall season looks good for this Monday, the 3rd of October.

The Chicagoland area has been socked in in heavy clouds and rain for over a week from a stationary low pressure area that just wouldn't move. But...

The weather forecast for the coming week is looking good and sky clarity should be great. We will set up at our primary C.A. site, just west of the Adler building - and I'll arrive at 7pm.

(This weekend looks good too, but the Chicago Bears will be having a game in the campus on Sunday, and the area should be avoided... )

With fall upon us, the refreshing crisp temps and earlier darkness will be much appreciated....bringing Jupiter to an earlier observation time.

Stop by and say hi....you know you want to.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It's a solid go for Monday's night observation session.

A great lunar and Jupiter observation is ahead for us with warmer temps and clear skies.

We will also enjoy a -8 magnitude Iridium flare at 7:02 pm. It'll be the first event of the session.

[Paulie pchris00]

Grab your scopes and Moon maps, folks! I just noticed the lunar libration is favorable for seing the "far" side of the Moon! Mare Marginis and Mare Smythii are peeking over the western limb, giving us a chance to see the "other" side of the Moon. Take a look, but do it quickly!

[Paulie pchris00]

I woke up too late to make it out to Adler. I'm out doing sidewalk astro at Valpo's downtown park, but there is nobody really around. That gave me a chance to lunar observe in detail, which is how I noticed the libration.

Here is a quick pic. Mare Marginis is just below the limb on the left, and Mare Smythii is to it's right. Enjoy!

(No sign of the alien base, though).

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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A chilly October Star Party...

I need to start pushing for earlier start times for Chicago Astronomer star parties, as by the time I arrived it was already darkened at 7:00 pm...and I always feel better when I set up before sundown.

But I had Chicago Astronomer fans already waiting for me before I arrived...

Keith and Christina are regulars to our star parties and keep abreast of our events via our Chicago Astronomer email notices.

And there was an Iridium Flare to enjoy while I was setting up - high at 55 degrees and -8 Mag.

I didn't expect a lot of people this evening, but we got a respectable amount - I say about 20. C.A. Barbara wasn't here to count...

C.A. Steve joined in and brought his R/C scope...

Steve had some issues with the flexible dew shield he has and was not cooperating at all. I had wanted to do some astrophotography with his scope - as it's a fast scope, but the time just got away. Next time.

We started out with some lunar views and I always like to hear the gasp of amazement from our visitors when first gazing upon the lunar surface, especially just before a Full Moon...

C.A. Paulie was doing lunar observations too in Indiana and rang me to catch the Lunar librations. I couldn't spend the time searching for hidden lunar artifacts that this brings, as our visitors were enjoying talks about astronomy, exo-planets and 2012....

These two fine gentlemen, stopped by and brought us some pizza...

We talked for the longest and hope they become regular Chicago Astronomer fans. And...Astronomers like pizza!

And girlfriend Maria joined me for her first working Chicago Astronomer session...

I also attempted to image Jupiter after our visitors thinned out, but the winds were rather breezy, the planet was still low and over the Adler building...making for less than prime viewing...

It was a nice session for me and I like the bracing chill of a fall session. I didn't even wear my coat for the first 3/4s of the evening, but others were feeling the cold.

It was an easy night, long talks and old friends that shared the skies with us. Our observation nights are now limited and we dread the coming of grey winter skies. Let's see how many more sessions we can squeeze out!

[magic612]

Nice report, Joe! Wish I could have been there, but I am in the process of revamping my studio for more/better videos in the future. Hope to make it again soon!

[Paulie pchris00]

Nice lunar shots. I'm still working on labeling my images showing the "far" side, and will probably look through some older first quarter shots to compare the difference. I'll start a new thread when I'm done.

[patrickm]

Pizza?! Free?! Damn!

Sorry I missed.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Are you planning another before friday?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Rich baby....

I'm thinking about doing one tonight, (Wednesday) and tomorrow after the Exo-Planet lecture at the Adler....and again on Saturday/Sunday.

[-=CROMAN=-]

exoplanet lecture... i forgot about that. if i can get there, 80% chance, ill bring my gear

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Remember kids...

Walk-ins for the Exo-planet lecture is 10 bucks.

But, I will set up the C11 directly afterwards for some solid lunar viewing.

[skyluvr]

Sorry I missed out. I did spend some time viewing Luna with the 4" from the driveway. Hoping to make it out for the Exo lecture.

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