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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Day after Christmas Chicago Astronomer Star Party

26 December 2011

The coming week's weather forecast is calling for clear skies and decent winter temps. If so, let's do our first Post Winter Solstice Chicago Astronomer Star Party - last one(s) for the 2011 observation year.

Check for the updates here and on Twitter & Facebook, but if all is solid - I'll arrive on scene just west of the Adler building by 6:00 pm - if not sooner.

We will catch Jupiter, Venus and the Crescent Moon - as well as some DSO's for good measure. I'll lug out the C11 with the new Crayford focuser for it's first field test.

Let's see how many sessions we can squeeze in before this year ends...

[Paulie pchris00]

Yay!

If I get enough sleep through the holiday, I might be tempted to come out early for a solar session. My thought is for any interested (and available) astronomers to check out my solar filter set up. That way anybody wanting to gear up specifically for the Venus transit, or solar observing in general will have a frame of reference, and might help them decide if Baader-type film is right for their scope. And, of course, all the other stuff Joe mentioned above.

[magic612]

Joe, I'm highlighting how to find Uranus and Neptune for later next week, using the Moon as a guide. They should be easy for us to spot if clear. I'll have to see what my schedule is like that day - not sure if I can make it or not.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

Excellent on the upcoming Planet locator guide.

It's be fun to have both of you Chicago Astronomers on site Monday on a clear night for some scope time and laughs.

(I have not attached the new focuser yet and anxious to try it out.)

[headdunce]

I'd love to see some filters I have some for my camera gear, I think I need this to start on planets but I'm also colorblind...

Hopefully I can fix the whole culminating thing I completely messed up before I had to run to my mom's xmas party... if I can, I'm in. ;D

Merry Christmas

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Jim,

Try out my color filters first on your Dob and see if you get any benefit from them. I have both 1.25" and 2" formats you can try out during our next session.

At the very least, you'll get better contrast on planetary features.

[patrickm]

Jim,
No color or optical expert, but color filters aren't used for the coloration of the object, but, as Joe said, for the different features that can be seen thanks to contrast variations at different nm. So even if you don't see the green, I'd guess that the contrast benefits of a green filter would still be effective, for example. May be totally wrong, but I'm with Joe. I also second his suggestion to try some out before plunking down hard won cash in case either we're both wrong, or you decide that it's a cool thing but just not worth the money.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

In addition...

In black and white photography, the red filter brings out very strong contrast - making clouds pop out and making the sky darker.

Also, a variable polarizer could be a great filter to use. I use it on the Moon extensively and desire to experiment on planets.

For a free color filter sample, try the Rosco filter swatch packet. I got one at Shutan Camera and have experimented with good success. Just hold it in front of your eye, next to the eyepiece.

And so far for tomorrow night....I think we are still a go.

[tomlee]

Paulie, are you still doing solar session and if yes starting what time? is your new phone # the same?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Scrubbed....

Tonight's Chicago Astronomer Star Party is canceled due to a heavy cloud mass moving in.

It was clear all day and very sunny, but now that the evening is approaching, weather radar shows a cloud system moving in.

Sorry kids...I was looking forward to it.

Let's see when we can organize another one.