(Viewed 2,937 times)

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A Vernal Spring Equinox Chicago Astronomer Star Party

Tuesday - 20 March 2012

The weather looks good for a 1st Day of Spring Chicago Astronomer Star Party. With temps in the 80's, it will be the warmest Spring Equinox ever...and I'm there.

I will set-up the C11 just south of the Adler Planetarium building by 7:00pm and remain till about 10:00 pm or so. We will have the great Venus & Jupiter planetary conjunction still in progress, throw in some Mars and some Saturn for our fans, friends and visitors.

Let's celebrate the Sun hovering over the Equator with some urban astronomy this Tuesday.

[Paulie pchris00]

Hmmm...

I really shouldn't.

But...

I'm seriously thinking about it.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Listen,

Throw on some pants, shave a bit, get a Mountain Dew.... and share the skies with the masses.

It's the Spring Equinox!!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Listed in Free things to do in Chicago...

Free Chicago Astronomer Spring Equinox Star Party Near Adler – March 20

Join the Chicago Astronomer crew in celebrating the Spring Equinox and share the skies with Astronomers. They will set-up telescopes and target four planets for this warm spring evening session.

They will be setting up the C11 just south of the Adler Planetarium building by 7:00pm and remain till about 10:00 pm or so. Make sure to see the great Venus & Jupiter planetary conjunction still in progress, throw in some Mars and some Saturn for our fans, friends and visitors.

Let’s celebrate the Sun hovering over the Equator with some urban astronomy this Tuesday. Check the link below for details. With temps in the 80s, it will be the warmest Spring Equinox ever. Be there….you know you want to.

Read more at Free Things to Do in Chicago: chicagofree.info/2012/03/19/free-chicago-astronomer-spring-equinox-star-party-march-20/#ixzz1pbPsANf3


chicagofree.info/2012/03/19/free-chicago-astronomer-spring-equinox-star-party-march-20/

[headdunce]

Have fun out there, I promised my wife I'd teach her how to ride on two wheels so she can get her motorcycle license (so she can ride her scooter to work this summer)

[erikruud]

Of course they came out with this AFTER my children have already learned.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

We are a solid go for tonight's Equinoxical Telescopic Observational Session with the Chicago Astronomers.

It will be a great warm and clear night for planets and other goodies.

Be there...!

[erikruud]

Sorry I couldn't be there.

Did anyone see a really bright meteor around 10:15?

I went outside last night to look at the sky, it looked a bit too hazy so I didn't get out any scopes. I was trying to see how many of the Plieades were visible. I took a few steps to put a tree trunk between me and the street light. Just as I turned to the west again a meteor came right over my head. It was traveling roughly NE to SW, passed right down the south side of Orion and faded out close to Saiph. It didn't leave a trail and I was away from it's origin when I saw it so I am not sure how long it was visible. It appeared to pass through at least 30 degrees of the sky.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

One Hundred and Eighty Six Equinoxers -

Bam.....!

The 2012 Chicago Astronomer regular public observation season started out big and busy...

I arrived later than I expected, at 7pm. I had planned to be on-site at least by 6:30 pm, but delays. We had a treat for this session...

David Lehocky, an Astronomer from Hometown and very busy with surrounding regional astro crews, joined the Chicago Astronomer with his neat 10" Dob.

And as usual, people are attracted to the tools of science and started to assemble before we even set-up. But it takes me a bit longer to prep the C11 beast and David took off with showing our visitors the Venus and Jupiter conjunction...

C.A. Paulie arrived soon after with his 6" dob...

And along with Support Crew Barbara and Maria...we spent the next 3 1/2 hours attending to the lovers of the night sky - non-stop...

Lines formed at all our instruments and we were bouncing from all the visible planets. C.A. Bill arrived with his trusty shorty refractor - and then we had four telescopes...

And then...C.A. John joined in with his C5 Nexstar...

...and we had five Telescopic time machines to share the cosmos with.

Many regular fans of the Chicago Astronomer stopped by to say hi and enjoy the first night of spring...

The temps were fickle during this session, as it was an easy 20 degrees cooler lakeside than it was just a few blocks inland. We had waves of chill and warmth wash over us, but by the end, it was a bit chilly. No dew to contend with, but the skies were not optimal nor very transparent. A lot of haze and it made visuals difficult. With Jupiter sinking into the atmospheric muck now, we only had a very small window of clarity. I did slew the C11 over to the king of the planets from time to time, displaying the four satellites, (Io hugging the polar region) and even though it was a bubbling mess, our visitors enjoyed it. The Tablet was a hit again, displaying each planet I targeted and assisting to explain the orbital mechanics...

We got a big promo from "Free things to do in Chicago", as many mentioned that's how they knew about us...

A astronomy enthusiast stopped by with his ETX scope and asked if he could join in.....but of course!...

He would like to share the skies with fellow Astronomers and we welcome him.

All Astronomers were deep into astro talk with our visitors and David asked me several times how far M42 is. I didn't know, so I consulted the Tablet, but I kept getting diverted by our visitors and never did shout it out to him - (1300 - which is what he thought).

Local media Helicopter pilot Tom stopped by while riding his motorcycle and enjoyed his time with us...

And the crowds continue....

New Chicago Astronomer forum member Scott stopped by to share in the activities...

Barbara and Maria were busily attending to our visitors, directing and explaining what was going, with Maria taking most of this sessions pics....

Here is my favorite shot of Paulie of the session...

...doing what he digs best!

A big shout out to fellow Astronomer Dave for coming out and joining the Chicago Astronomer crew for this session.

I hope he joins in for many more.

A total of 186 visitors stopped by our Vernal Equinox Star party. Venus, Jupiter, Mars, M42, double stars, clusters were all at our call - and our visitors enjoyed them everything we shared. Eager faces and smiles all around, young kids who were deep into space and astronomy were excited and many thrilled to be able to peek through our scopes - majority who never have viewed through a telescope. I had a tight sharp crew and attended to our visitors smartly and solid.

I too, had a great time - (some star parties are better than others for many reasons)...but with special comfort shoes now, I felt great, gellin' and not worn down .....

...although you couldn't tell from this pic.

Onward to the next Chicago Astronomer gathering!

[magic612]

Ah.... bummer! I missed Dave Lehocky! Well, I had to finish up next week's "Eyes on the Sky" video since I'll be doing a live astronomy presentation down in Bourbonnais early next week.

Sorry I missed this one Joe, but it looks like you had an able crew for the night.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Always Amazed at What You Have To Share With Us Joe!

Thank You Again For Another Awesome Experience! Great Start to The New Season

P.

[patrickm]

Fun night! Sorry I missed, but it was not to be. A great crew.

I particularly love these two shots.
This one because I'm still not quite sure what's going on here, but it looks awesome.

This one because the perspective is great.

Nice work, Maria!!

Joe, your graphic at the top clearly shows the Sun orbiting the Earth just as I always suspected and learnt in Texas vacation bible school. I knew it!

[Paulie pchris00]

This was a fun one despite the sky conditions. It was good to see everybody. I don't know if it was the summer weather or the plug from "Free Things to do in Chicago," but this was one of the biggest crowds I've seen.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Speaking of FTTDIC.....

Our Star Party here, was listed as 4th in popularity for this week:

Very cool!