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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Last moment unannounced Harvest Moon Observation session.

29 September 2012

It's such a beautifully warm and clear day...and I really had not planned on a Full Moon Rise party....but I hate to let a great clear night go to absolute waste.

I will set-up the C11 scope at 7:00 pm to catch some great lunar views for our visitors. Won't be a long session...perhaps until 9pm or so...but just enough to grab some shots and share some views.

I will not be at the Galaxy rocks south of the Adler Building, but at the usual Chicago Astronomer Star Party site - just west of the Building.

If free or in the area, stop by and say hi.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Harvest Moon fun....

It was twilight as I arrived on-site for this very last minute Full Moon session and if it were just me or a large crowd...it's all good.

Good pal Jerry stopped by to join me and Chicago Astronomer Bill, (sans scope). There was a college Football game at Soldier Field and the area was temporarily locked down...but the Chicago Astronomer always gains access and ready for some lunar viewing. I had to wait till the orb slid passed the Adler building...

Soon though, we were attending to several visitors who were taken in awe of the Full Moon in the C11. I had to filter the view with a variable 2" Polarizer to cut the intensity and bring out contrast.

We had Vince stop by with his bicycle tour this evening....

...he stops by the Chicago Astronomer session regularly with his Segway tour group often.

A 001st Dist Sergeant and also regular Chicago Astronomer fan took some time to enjoy the Moon, star cluster and Binaries, discussing astronomy with us...

At around this time, a predicted flare made it's showing...

45 high and at -8...it made a nice display. (There was also another very bright flash in the NW sky at about 7:45 pm...but unknown what it was... )

Back to the Moon...

Here, at Bill's prompting, you can see the tell-tale libration of the lunar limb..."peeking" over the edge...

One of C.A. Paulie's favorite observations.

We were not out too long, as I had not planned a full three hour session and...the winds were picking up. Breaking down the site, Bill and I had a nice chat as I pack the gear away on the crisp fall evening...

We attended to about 25 visitors at this brief lunar session.

[Paulie pchris00]

Sept 30, 2012 10:36:22 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Here, at Bill's prompting, you can see the tell-tale libration of the lunar limb..."peeking" over the edge...

One of C.A. Paulie's favorite observations.

First, I like the filtered shots of the lunar disk.

Second, that whole week I was seeing Mare Marginis (to the right of Mare Crisium) and Mare Smythii (below Marginis) quite well. The near "shores" of these two maria should be visible most of the time. Seeing the highlands beyond them along the limb requires a favorable libration. It's the easiest way I know that I'm seeing the "far" side."

Now I need to recognize libration on the other side of the Moon. I don't remember the date offhand, but for September's third quarter Moon Bill and I had a decent look at Mare Orientale. I really wanted to get some images of that area after Bill left, but I got sick to my stomach and had to end the session.