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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Full "Blue Moon" Rise Party

31 August 2012

Pending weather, the Chicago Astronomers will set-up telescopes and enjoy the second Full Moon rise for this August 2012....

Due to Time constraints, I will not set-up the gear by the "Galaxy Rocks" as we usually do for Chicago Astronomer Full Moon Rise observations, but will set-up at our primary spot - just west of the Adler Building. I will arrive on-site at 7:00 pm and remain till 10:00 pm. Moonrise is at 7:09 pm, but there will be plenty of time to catch the Full Moon as it rises over the tree line to our line of sight.

We had a great time at our first Full Moon Rise party in the beginning of this month...

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=StarParty&action=display&thread=3940

...and this one will be equally as fun.

The weather so far looks good for our lunar session and looks like it'll be warm. Apply your bug spray, take a pic with me and come join us for this relatively rare lunar event. And...we will "Wink-at-the-Moon" for Astronaut Neil Armstrong in our second -

astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=StarParty&action=display&thread=3971

- Tribute to the first Man on the Moon, (who passed away this past Saturday), - sharing the Apollo Landing site with our fans, visitors and guests.

Be there with the crew of Astronomers...you know you want to.

(Note: The above Moon image is of course not full, but I like it and was taken a night ago... )

[erikruud]

I'd love to join you, but I will be at a Cub Scout fundraiser at the Potbelly Sandwich Shop in Geneva that night. Maybe I will bring my scope with.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Erik..

You gotta bring a scope, man!

Pics if you do.

[Paulie pchris00]

When is the go/no go decision going to be made? What's left of Isaac is pushing our way.

[erikruud]

Aug 30, 2012 6:59:03 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Erik..

You gotta bring a scope, man!

Pics if you do.

I won't be bringing a scope. I have other plans for after 6:00 PM.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ain't lookin' too good kids for tonight's lunar session by the lake.

Hurricane Issac is dropping in with remnant cloud cover, killing our Lunar Blue Moon activity.

Let's see how it looks in a couple of hours or so...but I'm not optimistic.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

- CANCELLED -

Checking weather maps....nope...ain't gonna happen.

I am CANCELLING tonight's Full Blue Moon Rise with the Chicago Astronomers due to Hurricane Issac's push north.

Who bought a new scope....?

[Paulie pchris00]

Oh, man. I hope everybody took advantage of the sucker holes we had tonight. On the side that the terminator is now slipping across, the far side of the Moon was visible tonight. It was the best I've ever seen it, with some shadows to help identify features. I took some pictures through the haze, but I'm not sure how they turned out yet. If I got anything decent, I'll post them. The zone of libration is always worth a look when the chance comes around.

[Paulie pchris00]

Uh-oh. Now I'm not so sure about that.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I did not have any scope time during this time, but anticipate what you were observing "over the edge".

[Paulie pchris00]

Even if I was right, the terminator is now sweeping over that part of the Moon, leaving it dark. I'll keep my eyes open for other chances to peek around and wave to the aliens on the other side.

[Paulie pchris00]

I shouldn't second guess myself. 'm usually right the first time.

When I saw last week's "blue" Moon, I got pretty excited because I thought I was seeing the "far side," in the zone of libration on the visual western limb. When I first reviewed my images from that night, I wasn't so sure, though. I've finally decided that I did indeed catch a glimpse of the far side during the blue Moon.

It was mostly cloudy, and where it wasn't cloudy, a foggy veil obscured the sky. It was decent enough for visual observing, but most of my images are soft and fuzzy due to the sky conditions. This one wasn't too bad, and shows a little bit of the far side of the Moon.

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