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[Centaur]

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library will be hosting its annual Astronomy Night on Friday, November 4th. Chicago Astronomers Paulie and Hillary joined me there last year. There will be a free presentation in the second floor Henrickson Room from 7 to 8 pm. That will be conducted by Michelle Nichols of the Adler Planetarium to discuss the possibility of life on other planets. Then from 8 to 9 pm folks who have brought telescopes will set them up in the library parking lot for public observing.

Last year many people were shut out of the lecture hall due to a capacity crowd. So folks are advised to come early.

Below is a map of the area immediately north of downtown Arlington Heights in northwestern Chicagoland. Hope to see you there!

[Paulie pchris00]

Last year's event was fun, with a talk about exoplanets, and lunar and Jupiter viewing afterwards. I have to admit, though, I didn't enjoy the drive much.

I can't commit right now, because the last Conway open house of the year is scheduled the same night. If it's going be cloudy all night with little to no chance of viewing, I might ride the rails for the lecture. And if that's the case, I see Javier's Sabor Mexicano right across from the train station. Tienes Cervaza?

[Centaur]

Oct 6, 2011 7:30:00 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

Last year's event was fun, with a talk about exoplanets, and lunar and Jupiter viewing afterwards. I have to admit, though, I didn't enjoy the drive much.

I can't commit right now, because the last Conway open house of the year is scheduled the same night. If it's going be cloudy all night with little to no chance of viewing, I might ride the rails for the lecture. And if that's the case, I see Javier's Sabor Mexicano right across from the train station. Tienes Cervaza?

It’s too bad you won’t be setting up your telescope for the event, Paulie. People really appreciated that last year along with your expert commentary. But I certainly understand about the distance from Valparaiso. Si, Javier's serves beer: www.javiers.biz

REMINDER: Arrive early! Many were shut out of the lecture hall last year due to a capacity crowd.

[Paulie pchris00]

I missed so many of the Conway open houses this summer while I was helping Audrey Fischer present astronomy at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. I feel obligated to help staff the observatory tomorrow and on November 4, especially since nobody has used the observatory more this year than me. But if it's a cloudy night, I could end up in A.H.

[erikruud]

It looks like I should be able to make it to this.

[Centaur]

Oct 11, 2011 11:10:12 GMT -6 erikruud said:

It looks like I should be able to make it to this.

Excellent, Erik. Will you be bringing a telescope?

As a reminder to all, last minute arrivals were shut out of a full lecture hall last year.

[erikruud]

Two scopes! Unless something drastic comes up, I will be there.

[erikruud]

Temps in the 40's and no rain. We may have clouds though.

I'll see you guys tonight.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Don't forget the pics!

It will be a good night for astronomy in the region.

[Paulie pchris00]

It will be a good night for astronomy, but I won't be in Arlington Heights or at the Adler. Last year I made appearances at both, but tonight I have to staff the observatory for the last open house of the year.

[hillimolly]

Man, If i was not sick i would go with you paulie and help you out.

[erikruud]

I have no pictures. I just don't a camera that take pictures in the dark without a flash.

I was a fantastic gathering. The presentation was great, although I stepped out before the end to set up my scope.

Gomer was there and I got to see the Pleiades through the original "George Lucas Mirror".

There were at least 10 scopes, and they estimated about 300 visitors.

Somehow, I never found Curt though.

[Centaur]

I was there. I didn't see anyone I knew. The lecturer did a fine job of describing the latest planetary discoveries both inside and outside the solar system. She noted that water and food were necessary for life. She made it obvious that she hoped life would be found elsewhere, but I'll give her credit for admitting that there is still no strong evidence of extraterrestrial life, and that it may or may not exist. She gets more kudos for insisting that Pluto should never have been called a major planet, and that no Planet X or Nibiru will be headed toward us next year.

[Paulie pchris00]

Ha! I'm still the only CA to have met the elusive Centaur!

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=StarParty&action=display&thread=2902


Three hundred is... wow! 300. Impressive.

Did anybody think to tie the observing in with the lecture by pointing out Europa, it's likely liquid water, and possibility of life?


Post #1,000.

[erikruud]

Nov 4, 2011 22:40:03 GMT -6 Centaur said:

I was there. I didn't see anyone I knew. The lecturer did a fine job of a describing the latest planetary discoveries both inside and outside the solar system. She noted that water and food were necessary for life. She made it obvious that she hoped life would be found elsewhere, but I'll give her credit for admitting that there is still no strong evidence of extraterrestrial life, and that it may or may not exist. She gets more kudos for insisting that Pluto should never have been called a major planet, and that no Planet X or Nibiru will be headed toward us next year.

I still had one guy comment the Planet-X is hiding behind Jupiter.
He must not have been at the presentation.

I arrived at about 6:50 PM and found a spot in the parking lot, but I didn't notice the section where the scope were getting set up.

I kept looking around for Curt, but I have only seen the one picture of him form his website. Curt, if I did see you, I didn't recognize you. Sorry.

I went inside and found the lecture hall. It was mostly full, but I don't think they hit 100% full this time. I thought she did a great job of presenting the material so that it wasn't above peoples heads and kept most of the kid's interested.

I watched the presentation until about 7:45 and then went out and found the scope area to set up. Everyone else was all set up and there were already people circulating through looking through the scopes. I setup ARES 5 and nothing else. I didn't align or setup my laptop. I focused in on Jupiter using my 10mm eyepiece so that it was large enough to see the major bands. I had a steady stream of people for the next hour. I switched to the moon for a while and then back to Jupiter. I also wound up putting the scope on the ground for a while because I forgot my step stool and i wanted to make it easy for the kids to see. At the end of the hour, I got a chance to focus on the Pleiades for a bit. I wasn't able to make them out early because they were kind of hiding in some thin clouds.

I chatted with a few of the NSA members for a bit. A guy named Gordon gave me his card. He lives in Bartlett and is interested in joining us out at Hickory knolls.

They invited me to go have pizza with them, but I had to head home because this is a pretty jam packed weekend for me with my father-in-laws birthday today and drill team competition tomorrow.