Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 19, 2008 1:11:31 GMT -6
The First Chicago Astronomer Full Moon Rise Party of 2008
Last year on a lark, I organized a Full Moon Rise gathering of some Chicago Astronomer members to catch the Full Moon rise over Lake Michigan.
And we had a great time.
So much, that it's been requested to conduct more of the lunar worship gatherings. This spring of 2008 has not been kind to astronomy, and either it's been too cold or cloudy for a session, but June held promise...and it delivered.
Here we have, Myself, Terry, Micheal, Robert, Arvind, Linda, Rob, Steve with his wife Margie & two friends, Rhea and kneeling...John. (Not shown are Carmen and Fred)
Clear skies, albeit just a bit cool...I found it refreshing and crisp.
Regular Chicago Astronomers, new friends and old came down to the Adler Planetarium's South Lawn, by the galaxy stone formation, (I call it "Stonehenge"), where we set up up out telescopes. Included in the collection were refractors, giant binoculars dobsonians and newtonians.
This month's full moon is called a "Strawberry Moon" and we had on hand many strawberries for us. Chicago Astronomer Linda's strawberries were gigantic and I preferred hers to mine. We figured since strawberries are in season now, that it is the reason for the namesake...using the Full Moon's light to extend the picking of the fruit well into the night.
Moonrise was scheduled at 8:59 pm...a very late rise - as many thought it unusual. I wasn't too sure were about the horizon the Moon would peek over at and I did have some trees in my way, but the Moon made it appearance way to the south and I was the first one to yell out "Moon ho!".
It's always quite exciting to catch the lunar sphere, deep crimson and flattened on the horizon. I had the Canon Powershot S3 on a tripod and shot away. Great atmospheric "Taffy", as the Moon seemed to get stretched, pulled and deformed - very Lava Lamp like - ( I have a few...
). Telescopes were trained on the raising Moon and we invited our guests to come and observe the Moon thru eyepieces. All truly enjoyed the sight, and me too... 
I later attached the camera to the telescopes finder scope and took some shots...
I cannot get a whole Moon in the main scope to photograph, regardless of the most minimal powered eyepiece I use, but the finder scope frames the lunar disk quite well with a 25mm. The composition of the boats on the water and the Full Moon is nice.
Saturn was also up and scopes found their way from the Moon to the planet. It's ring system easily displayed and we all enjoyed the view. Catch the rings this year, as they are closing up and will essentially "disappear" from our view until 2009. I think there will be plenty of Saturn parties this summer.
It was quite active all about with laughs, conversations and much more strawberries consumed. Chicago Astronomers will not be known for berri-berri.
New individuals desired to be placed on the Chicago Astronomer email list and it was mentioned to me many times that this was fun. I even brought out the guitar to mess with...and we did some, but it was a bit cold and fingers wouldn't do what ordered. Next month I say.
The only problem was the parking situation. I managed to park in the lot, but many found it impossible and kept circling to snag a parking place on the street. I received calls telling me that they were here, but just couldn't join in. And with Navy Pier shooting off the weekly fireworks, the non-astro crowds made it very crowded.
We stayed till 11:00 pm and chased out by police.
The Chicago Astronomers will organize a Full Moon Rise party for July, and as mentioned to me...perhaps just a regular gathering to catch Saturn, some nebulae and double stars.
So it is written...so let it be done.