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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer mini star party
15 May 2010

The Chicago Astronomers are planning to conduct a mini star party by the Adler Planetarium area on this warm Saturday evening. But clouds are threatening to ruin a good night for looking up and sharing views of Saturn, Mars and the Crescent Moon.

So far, it's anyones guess on the sky conditions.

If a go, we will set-up by the Adler's parking lot at 8:00 pm and remain probably till the park closes at 11:00 pm.


As an added incentive, both the ISS and Shuttle Atlantis will make a bright and high flyover pass during our session. Very cool and great opportunity to catch one of the last passes of Atlantis. (We caught a good flyover last night.)


And...

Members of the Chicago Astronomical Society will join us for the fun. Quite cool.

I will post an update on the go/no-go status on this thread at around 5pm here...but I suspect that it will be a thumbs up for the gathering. And also on www.twitter.com/astronomerjoe

and on Facebook: Joe Guzman

If desired, you may contact me for confirmation via the Astro Phone: [phone]

[patrickm]

WOO! Will take the sting off another likely Cubs loss.

Spent all last night again trying for collimation. <sigh> It can't be this hard...

A bientôt!
p

[patrickm]

The new forcast looks terrible!!! Baaaaahh

cleardarksky.com/c/Chicagokey.html

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I don't think it's gonna happen kids.

But...

I can be convinced for a Sunday evening session!

Let's see how it looks at 5pm this evening.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Scrubbed.

I am cancelling the star party due to heavy clouds.

It may clear up later, but I ain't gots all day, and there's mischief to be done.

Sorry kids...let's see how Sunday looks.

[patrickm]

Agreed. Good call, Joseph.

Probably can't make it tomorrow as we have tix to see Eleventh Dream Day at The Hideout, but I'll be there in spirit.

Thanks for trying.

[patrickm]

Of course it's 2000 and finally clearing! It was still the right call, but JEEZ.

Off to work for me I guess...

Thanks for the effort though.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Alright...

I know I cancelled it, but the sky is absolutely clear and I'm heading out to the Adler site with a fellow Chicago Astronomer.

If you read this in time, you are free to join in.

[RobbW]

I was so hoping it would clear up for you, Joe. It certainly wasn't looking good, even up until around 7pm. But then after we finished dinner around 8:15pm and headed home from our friends' house, the skies were nice and clear. I got to show my wife and daughter the ISS flying over. Then 15 minutes later, I took my daughter across the street to a clearing to watch the STS go over. If it is still relatively clear later this evening, I may head out again with at least my binos.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

- The skies clear for two Chicago Astronomers....

I had resigned that there would be no astronomy this evening - considering Clear Sky Clock and weather maps said we would be socked in with cloud cover. So I spent some time in the garage, messing around with new filters, (more on this later).

Every once in awhile, I would go out and look skyward, and although did see some blue sky, it most certainly be "sucker holes", and would soon close up. But, as it got darker and around 7:30 pm - I was amazed to see the thin crescent Moon and Venus...and no clouds!

Dang!

I took some quick shots, enjoying the sights...and feeling bad that I called off the session, started to set up my C5 SCT, but stopped. The promise of a clear sky evening was too tempting and I called Chicago Astronomer Bill to see what he thought about an impromptu session. He too checked the weather sources, and they say cloud cover....but they skies were clear. There were clouds hugging the western horizon, but I wasn't sure if the blanket would be heading our way.

We agreed to make good use of this unexpected opportunity and shoot over quickly to the Adler site for some Saturn imaging.

Rushing to pack the C11 equipment into the car, I was trying to beat any incoming clouds and make it a wasted trip. When I got to the area, there was a concert going on at Northerly island and cars were being turned away en masse. But, The Chicago Astronomer was granted access, (of course), and off we went to set up. Police stopped by to see what we were doing, and as a former member of the CPD, (seems like a lifetime ago), we were in like Flint and with rock star parking. The Officers enjoyed the views a lot and want to bring their kids along when we have more sessions..... ;D

The skies were holding out nicely, although it was a it windy, preventing any serious astro-imaging - the OTA was just shaking too much with the breeze - I did manage to capture some half decent Saturn pics...

A private event was being held at the Adler as well, and people from the concert and the event stopped by and asked to see what we were doing. Sharing views and talking astronomy is a fun part of public observation sessions, and Bill & I were happy to share.

The Crescent Moon was quickly sinking fast and managed to grab a wind shaken shot against the skyline..

Views of Saturn were very good this evening and I counted four Saturnine satellites in this shaky shot....

Bill attached his own DSLR to the C11 for some imaging, but without the proper adapters for his camera, the results were limited...

Bill located M57 as it was popping into view over the Adler, and it was a nice view. We used a nebula filter on his 12mm eyepiece...and with a darkened site and dark adapted eyes...it will bring out nice detail...and maybe even the central star.

And with that and at 11:30pm...we closed up shop and happy that we took the time to ventured out on this surprise session. This was not to be a serious session, but one to enjoy the surprise clear evening. ..but with the events going on...and the traffic limited to the general public, it was a good thing to have cancelled the call for a group. I would have felt bad if you all came out and got turned away.

Wednesday, May 19th, looks like the next good night for some observing and Thursday is the Adler's After Dark activities to work scopes for our visitors.

Updates on the Wednesday session later.

[patrickm]

Nice! I'm glad I didn't see the notice about you going down there! I would have hopped in the car in a second. In fact, I did check the boards just before heading out to the backyard and you hadn't posted. Must have just missed it. My persuasion skills are pretty good, so I might have made it, but who knows. Will have to get a placard printed. Glad you did though and looks like a lot of fun!

[Paulie pchris00]

Man, I was looking forward to last night. The Atlantis & ISS flyovers were going to be too good to miss, and Hillary and I wanted to hang out in Chicago. With the weather not looking so great, I slept late, and wouldn't have made it to the city in time even if I had seen the un-cancellation notice. Still, around 8 PM it loked like the clouds were clearing, so I picked up Hillary and drove back home with hopes of imaging the two spacecrafts.




There was an opening in the clouds on the western horizon, and it looked like they might be opening overhead, but that must have been an illusion.

I trust the ISS times from heavens-above.com, and so when I didn't see anything between 8:32 and 8:38, I had to blame the clouds. The opening in the west was where ISS should have appeared first, but it's usually dim at first, and I was trying to pick it up naked eye instead of using binoculars.

Same thing happened at 8:46 when Atlantis should have appeared. I was disappointed, but seeing that sliver Moon slipping away made me feel a little better.




Hillary doesn't show much interest in the Moon, but she does like Venus.




Vivitar Vivicam 5024 pressed to a 25mm eyepiece in my 6" Orion Skyquest Dobsonian.




Ditto, except for a 10mm eyepiece.

[RobbW]

May 15, 2010 20:19:17 GMT -6 RobbW said:

If it is still relatively clear later this evening, I may head out again with at least my binos.

The skies stayed nice and clear out my way for quite awhile. I took out both my binos and my 5" reflector. I got good views of Mars and Saturn, and could really make out the rings on Saturn because the wind was significantly calmer than a few nights ago.

After viewing a few of the brighter objects that I know and have already seen several times, I decided to just randomly scan the skies. First with my binos until I found something interesting, and then I'd dial it in on my scope. I happened upon M44 Praesepe without even knowing what it was. I just thought it was cool seeing all these stars clustered in a small space.

I stayed out about 1.5 hours, and then I started getting pretty cold. Unfortunately, I hadn't dressed very warm since it didn't feel all that bad when I first went out. Oh well, I know better now! I'm going to have to start making a list of targets for future viewing sessions. It's just a matter of figuring out what I can actually see from my usual position with the LP in my area and my measly 5" scope.

On a different note, I was taken aback today by a suggestion I never thought my wife would make, given the constant ridicule I receive from her about my star-gazing activities. She suggested that we maybe take a couple of short road trips over the summer to places that have things for her and our daughter to do, but also would have darker skies at night for me (and maybe even the two of them) to do some observing. I couldn't believe she was actually encouraging my obsessive habit!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Robb,

"with the LP in my area and my measly 5" scope."

I used a 4.5" Newtonian for many years and with satisfying results, despite the vicious light pollution - and sharing views with thousands over the years.

When the Mars close approach mania was at it's peak, I had the modest Newt out by the Adler area set up. (This was before I was part of the Adler Telescope crew.) I kicked up the magnification and used a red filter, bringing out detail. Visitors to the 20" telescope at the Doane, stopped by my set up afterwards and said that the views were better in my little scope.

It's more about the ambiance and experience of the observation than the actual quick peek through the eyepiece.

So, although you have a modest scope, it doesn't have to be treated as such.

--------

About the ISS/Shuttle...

I had forgotten to check the flyover info, as I was rushing out to the Adler site and didn't expect for clear skies. It zoomed over our heads while we were setting up....damn.