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[sarwat]

Go out, split stars and pump up the power on jupiter (Red spot will be right in the middle around 9:20pm). If you can stay on, catch waning moon after midnight. The "seeing" will be as good as it can ever get in Chicago.

Sarwat

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Sarwat,

Oh yes...the skies will be good tonight. I just telling Becky about it earlier. I can tell when conditions are good when the clouds are white and not mucky orange, as they were last night. The sky was a deep blue and the stars were peeking out from behind small cloud cover.

With the heat coming tomorrow, the skies will get mucked up again, and good seeing will be gone.

I won't be at my usual spot at the lakefront tonight, but remain home. I don't have good wide skies from my home, but I do get a good Eastern vantage point. I think some exploration of the Summer Triangle is in order, and see how many nebulae I can catch.

Becky, if you are available, give me a call around 10:00 pm, and perhaps a joint cell phone observation session can be accomplished.

I look forward to the observation posts tomorrow...including Sarwat.

[stargazer]

Hi Joe,

Sorry about last night I was having a small Star Party myself with a couple of friends that wanted to see the scope. We took it over by them as their mom wasnt doing to good they didnt want to leave her alone. They had a blast. I think I only look through the scope once or twice I was having to much fun hearing their oohs and aahs. We had alot of trees around us but we were able to show them a few things before the cloud gremlin got us. It was hazy just like the night at Triton, but it was enough for them to see the Bands on Jup. Of course with all the light pollution here we were limited to what we can see. Then we spoted the ISS doing its flyby and that thrilled them just to finally know what it is. They said they see them all the time and thought it was a shooting star. I dont know if anyone is interested but here is the ISS Flyby that are coming up.

STATION approx. vis. mag. -1
Date Dur. Lit Dur. Max.
mm/dd Rise Set mm:ss mm:ss Elev.
---------------------------------------------------
7/09 10:08:15pm SW ENE 10:15 10:15 49 SSE
7/09 11:44:05pm W NE 09:45 09:45 24 NNW
7/10 04:32:11am WNW SE 10:15 10:15 68 SSW
7/10 10:37:13pm WSW NE 10:15 10:15 46 NNW
7/11 03:25:42am NW ESE 10:15 10:15 44 NE
7/11 09:30:40pm SW ENE 10:15 10:15 65 SE
7/12 02:19:13am NW E 09:45 09:45 23 NNE
7/12 03:54:40am WNW SE 10:15 10:15 52 SSW

I have fun trying to cath it. I have tracked it a number of times. The best one was two min long with the Shuttle attached to it. It was so bright and I could see the Shuttle and the outline of the ISS. Hope you dont mind that I put this here Joe.

Happy Hunting Everyone and Clear Skies

Joe hows the Lunar Hunt coming along. You should be done by now.

B

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

During my two hour session last night, I saw a host of satellites pass right thru the Triangle. I did catch the ISS with the naked eye, and followed it with binos till the muck obscured it near some trees.

There had to be about five satellites all together. They do move quickly. Did you capture the image of the Shuttle and ISS on tape? If so, let's take a gander at it.

I haven't even started on the Lunar Hunt yet! Sigh...After the next new moon I will start...hopefully.

[stargazer]

Joe,

No I didnt get it on film though I wish I could have. If your not fast enough you wont get them on film. Good luck on the Hunt.

B