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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Venus Transit Account of 1882

December 7, 1882

Across the Sun’s Face

Good Observations of the Transit of Venus - Chicago, IL – clear

Crowds viewing the rare phenomenon – smoked glass and telescopes in demand – observations taken at Columbia college and elsewhere.

The slow transit of the planet Venus across the disk of the sun was observed in the City yesterday by thousands of amateur astronomers, and, judging by the comments of the gazers, the observations were remarkably satisfactory to them, whatever may be the result of the experiments of the scientists. The day broke dark and cloudy, and the predictions that the day was to be characterized by a storm of rain or snow seemed likely to be verified. But before the time set for the opening of the celestial panorama the clouds cleared away, and by 9 o’clock the sun was shining from a comparatively clear sky…

The transit of Venus was a popular exhibition and as it had been widely advertised in advance as the last performance for 122 years everybody who could possibly get a sight of the show embraced the opportunity. A very satisfactory view was obtained through smoked glasses, but the speck which was made on the disk of the sun by the planet was so small that it required some time of close application to the glass before it was recognizable. The dark spot appeared no larger than a small sized dried pea… Enterprising proprietors of telescopes of all sizes and powers stationed themselves in favorable places all over the City, and reaped a large harvest by exhibiting the planet on its journey across the sun at the rate of 10 cents a sight. In the City Hall Park a telescope was erected, and so great was the rush of people to take a look through it that the services of a Park policeman were required to keep them in line awaiting their turn. Once at the telescope a view of a few seconds only was allowed, and by actual count 20 men peered through the glass in 5 minutes… An interesting phenomenon was noticed between the first and second contact at 9:21:51. The part of Venus’s disk not yet on the sun was faintly surrounded by a semicircle of light, and at 9:24:11 this semicircle was very beautifully seen from and astronomical point of view…

(Courtesy of Cincinatti's Observation Center)

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WOW....Ten cents a shot! I could clean up and actually fill up my tank with premium!

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[NatureDevil]

I can see the Chicago PD dressed in riot gear surrounding the Planetarium in preperation for the outbursts of excitement.

Well, maybe not, but I am sure one cop will be there ticketing cars.

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Allow me to share a story.

I am a retired police trainer who taught young men and women basic law enforcement and the like, so I am no stranger to standard police procedures.

During the 2003 Mars Madness, I of course set up my scope by the usual spot by Copernicus. Lines stretched and snaked with hundreds of people wanting to take a peek at Mars.

Now, the parks in Chicago close at 11:00 pm, that includes the lakefront. When 11:00 came around I still had a considerable line still waiting. But the police come, see the crowd and call in re-enforcement.

A few minutes later, beat cars, foot patrols, bike cops and ATVs converge on to the area and start to chase all out, while ticketing all that were parked there. It was gestapo tactics and intimidation. Totally un-necessary and out of line. Here were people wanting to catch a piece of the sky, bringing their kids and aged parents...where in the neighborhoods of Chicago, gangs are terrorizing, assaults are occurring and some can't walk the streets.

People voiced their displeasure with the show of force, and were threatened with arrest if they continued. I had one blue shirt hover over me, prompting me to complete as I was dis-assembling the scope, asking if I had a permit!.

I bantered with him as I did so, chatting about the white shirts I knew with and the details I worked. His tone lightened up and he walked away.

But man, that was an incredible night. Considering your encounter with law enforcement the other day Brian, I can empathize.

Now, I do get some great police that come by and share astronomy and a laugh, but some have no business being on the job. Worked with many, few are the best, most need another line of work.

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[NatureDevil]

It is just very Nazi-ish in that every officer is "doing there job" and "following orders".

Like it is a crime to use better judgement.

NatureDevil

[MuseAphelion]

Nice to know you have a background in law enforcement Joe, the Brotherhood of Blue always has a soft spot for one of their own. Nothing like it for smoothing over slightly difficult situations. Your post sparked some questions and a few ideas.

NatureDevil and I were discussing the oddness of the park not being available at all times just last night (we were at the planetarium looking for you, you must have been resting up for the upcoming excitement) Our tax dollars pay for the upkeep, heck the very existance, of that park area, why are we denied the use of it at any time of our choosing?

Secondly, on our last two visits, more than a third of the meters are socked over with "no parking" signs. There seems to be no real pattern and the socks are placed almost randomly over the meters. What purpose does limiting access to the park serve beyond forcing people to use the outrageously expensive lot? The appearance of these socks doesn't seem to follow a discernable pattern, would you happen to know if there is one and if there is a place where we can find out when they cover up the meters next? I'm going to inquire the same thing of a friend of mine who is currently on the CPD and see if he has any clue (though I doubt it)

Finally, the "do you have a permit" question. Does such creature exist? If it does would said permit grant, oh say a certain astronomy club, access to a closed area before or after its posted hours? Probably not, that would make too much sense, eh?

Muse

[NatureDevil]

We pay taxes to have those parks, and we pay police to serve and protect us. Throwing us out and taking away our rights doesn't neccesarily protect anyone. It was just last year the parking meters were free at night and on weekends. Now they are 24/7.

Does it ever get better? Do the freedoms ever come back? Don't look too far into this, I am just annoyed about it.

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

On the matter of the Orange baggies. I really do not know the real purpose behind it, but my spidey keen sense of observation sees a correlation between bagging and activities at and around Soldier field. And yes, it's to force people to use the $12.00 a car parking lot.

Parks are an odd situation. There was a time when there was no curfew to adhere by. People used to sleep out in the parks to escape the heat of the summer. But, society changed, (I think color television did it). It would certainly be unsafe now if it were left open to all. And of course, the low-lifes would be the ones who would commandeer the areas. So it's a preventive situation that I wished did not exist, but alas.

Yes...Joe was "resting" and prepping equipment.

Although my years working within the Chicago Police Dept. left me with no great love for most of the people on the job. Here are ordinary people who day in and day out deal with society's trash, death and mayhem. It would change most people with little or no character. I understand the shield of indifference and hardness to survive, but it is often at the expense of the innocent. Most people "on the job", need another line of work, as they have an aggresive/hostile attitude to begin with.

Yea....permits do exist, and are primarily for "sanity" , accountability, crowd control, and to a lesser extent...revenue. I say sanity for the reason that I could set up shop at the lake edge, and charge people $1.00 to dip into the lake for a cleansing. Someone drowns and there you go....fish food.

Yea....sometimes we wade thru the human muck. I get fed up sometimes. Where's my martini?

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[NatureDevil]

Here's an olive...oh wait, it's 4am...time to head down to the lake....

NatureDevil