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[tim]

My wife and I went to the drive inn theatre in W Chicago last night. So naturally I checked out the sky in a darker area than I usually get to see. The zenith was filled with stars, I guess about a mag 5.25. Quite a few more stars show up than under mag 4-4.50. In the south I could see the whole constellation Scorpius. I can't see naked eye down past E scorpii from my observing site at home due to LP. In the north I could see the big dipper and almost all the stars in the little dipper, cassiopeia, cepheus and draco, all at the same time. Thats a first for me. Its good to have low horizons. These observations took about 15 minutes. The rest of the evening was spent watching Bewitched and snuggling and playing kissy face with my Beautifull wife, a wonderfull night I will remember with fondness for a long time to come.
The next time we go with the kids so I'll bring my scope and enjoy some darker skys.

tim

[Chicago Astrononomer Joe]

The rest of the evening was spent watching Bewitched and snuggling and playing kissy face with my Beautifull wife,

Oh Tim...just goes to prove that being an astronomer, by our very nature...are incredibly romantic. (Except those that I mention in the "Soapbox" board, but they are in the minority and ignored.)

An excellent evening all around for you...

[Al Degutis]

WOW. You were able to find a drive-in that didn't shutdown. They are becoming extinct. I found a closed one in Crystal Lake. Didn't know it at first because it was overgrown with weeds and plants. There's one in/near McHenry city but my wife said that there was a petition going around to try and keep it open.

We actually are planning a walk-in theater in our yard. We bought a projector on eBay and a 15' x 20' tarp elsewhere online that fits perfectly between two trees facing this "screen" to the largest open area in our yard. We had hoped to do a movie showing for friends and family this passed weekend but a test run of the tarp shows it's too glossy so I need to sand it down a bit. We plan on showing Lake Placid as the first movie. Judy, my wife, found some drive-in intermission clips/spots that we'll also use. Ya'll invited... if you're willing to make the looooong trek.