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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Chicago Astronomer and the Chicago Park District joint Star Party at SteelWorkers Park

Saturday 27 August 2016

7:00 pm - Midnight

Summer is wrapping up, but it's the start of great skies and cool evenings for Astronomers...and we have a great end of the summer season Star Parties with a massive gathering of Telescopes, Astronomers and fans.

We will set-up instruments of observation at SteelWorkers Park (87th and the Lakefront) along side of GIANT Ore walls when this was the massive Steel works complex in the south side of Chicago...

A rich history here of raw ore and finished steel, SteelWorkers park was created to honor all who labored here for decades...

The Chicago Astronomer crew and astronomers from around the region will set-up telescopes in this open expanse of ground and sky, right by the lake...

To get to the Star Party site...follow the long access road east along 87th st and park along the side of the road.  Can't miss us and the red lights and massive scopes.  

Link to SteelWorkers Park site

We will also enjoy live music by "El is a Sound of Joy" from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, who will play within the Giant Ore walls...!    

The weather forecast is good for this gathering by the walls.

This event is not to be missed.


Astro Joe

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

UPDATE:

Weather is playing a factor in a Go/No-Go decision for tonight's Chicago Astronomer Observation Session at SteelWorkers Park.

We are optimistic that the weather will slide away and we will have decent skies.

If we do cancel, we will reschedule before our observation season concludes.

Stay tuned.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

UPDATE:

We are a solid go for tonight...!

The rains have moved out of our area and gonna be dry.

There are breaks in the clouds and we are there at SteelWorkers Park from 7:00 pm to Midnight....

Join us in this cool environt, explore the area and share time with Astronomers and Telescopes.....!

Astro Joe

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A Great Astronomical experience at the SteelWorkers Monoliths

27 August 2016

The Chicago Astronomer has been eyeing this locale since 2015, when we came across it by accident during it's dedication on a cold blistery spring day and thought what a great place to set-up telescopes.   The Chicago Park District thought so too and schedule us for a Star Party here on a very warm night. The threat of storms in the area did not deter us from setting up scopes with fellow Chicago Astronomers.

Laying out our gear along old abandoned rail tracks ....

...and the C11 ready for show time....

Clouds prevented a full sky show for the crew, but we did manage to peek through cloud breaks and share the views with our fans, friends and guests....

The Monolithic Ore wall lend nicely to light displays with Lasers....

The area is pretty dark here, with the Monoliths blocking the glare from the city.  Over the lake the glare is minimal and a great set-up for future observation sessions.

The threat of storms were in the area, but kept it's distance....

Friends and new fans join us...

My bluetooth speaker with ambiance tunes added to the environment....






A full Moonrise is planned for October 15th at 5:30 pm....details shortly.  Should be awesomeness!!    

Chicago Astronomer crew for the session:

Myself, Brian, Ken, Johnny, Tony, Amanda and Maria...solid!

A mysterious locale, but great for urban astronomy...we will be back...