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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Mini Star party 19 June 2010

The day looks great, but a chance of cloud cover later.

But...we are taking a chance and setting up by Chicago Astronomer site #1..

For a leisurely prep, I'll be there at 8:00 pm to set up and enjoy the turquoise sky transition.

Nothing heavy or serious tonight, just some fun targets with friends and visitors. I'll set up the C11 for some large aperture entertainment....and there will be plenty of planets and quarter Moon to enjoy.

If free or in the area, stop by, say hi and share the skies with us.

[patrickm]

Hmm. Interesting. May have a date night tonight though...If not, will see you. If I can't, then will be there in spirit.

[Paulie pchris00]

I have to work tonight. I might do a little sidewalk astro in Valpo again tonight. Lots of people around.

[RobbW]

No fears, Joe. You won't be alone! I'm finally heading down. Leaving in two minutes!!!! Just gotta figure out how to get there.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A nice evening with Astro friends...

This session was to be an easy going, no-rush and no hurry one. - setting up scopes and go anywhere the requests took us.

Arriving at 8:00 pm, I discovered that "The Eagles" were playing at Soldier Field...and the area was blocked off to motor traffic and parking spots along the Drive tagged off-limits. Being that Chicago Astronomers are the coolest, I was let thru - and notifying the Traffic Management people that I was expecting fellow astronomers to join me in sertting up scopes. I parked at my usual spot and set up the C11...

Although the area was blocked off to automobiles, there was plenty of foot traffic and a great many stopped to see the C11 beast being assembled. I tell them to stop back in a few after I'm set up and I'll show them the planets and Moon.

Pretty soon, fellow Chicago Astronomers, Linda & Alfred, John and new C.A. member Robb...joined me, setting up scopes and binoculars...

This was Linda's first Chicago Astronomer session with her new 4" Vixan refractor - providing excellent razor sharp views. John brought along his 5" SCT go-to and Robb- his 10x50 binos and 35mm SLR camera.

I came across this parabolic mirror most recently and thought to have some experimentational fun and see what I could do with it...

John goofed around with it...



And Robb and I did some experiments in reflective sky shooting with our cameras...

I thought it would be a great "Album Cover" shot with the Chicago Astronomers...

Rubber Soul Astronomers

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Skies were just so-so, with some haze, but good enough for good planetary and Lunar scoping. We had some groups stop by and ask what we were doing - and after seeing Saturn or the Moon, we spent time discussion astronomy...

Here, Fellow Yelper Victor, (center), shouted out and of course, we take a pic...

I was able to pick out The Ring Nebula (M57) and The Hercules Globular Cluster (M13) quite easily this evening - (sometimes it takes forever... ).
Here, Robb and I compare various nebula filters and conclude they don't provide much enhancements...

And yet....another parabolic drive-by...

The evening was turning out well, with the crew focusing on various targets, attending to visitors and making people quite happy...

This was Robb's first Chicago Astronomer session and I was very happy he made the long drive from the Elgin Illinois area to join us. We had good laughs and shared stories. I hope he is a regular participant in our sessions...

Parks close at 11:00 pm here, but we stay longer....'cause we can. Chatting and taking our time to break down the site and we were all out of there at 12:30 am.

It was a slow and easy session...with Saturn, Mars, Venus, The Moon and a spattering of DSO's.

Good times.

Parabola Boy Joe

[RobbW]

Joe, I had a most excellent time with you and fellow Chicago Astronomers! It was such a good experience to observe with other like-minded astronomy buffs rather than just hanging out in my backyard by myself. I hope I didn't annoy anyone with the frequent questions or my constant yammering on and on and on... I can sometimes be long-winded, and talk too fast, and lose my thoughts, especially when I'm around new folks.

Anyway, I had a great time and look forward to many more sessions when I get the opportunity. I have several photos from the 06/19 session that I will get posted within the next day or two. I had a wedding yesterday that kept me from working on the pics. Also, I have to reinstall Photoshop on my new PC. So, I hope to work on them tonight and get them posted. I got a couple of good action shots with you and the C11 beast (love that scope and your acquisition story). Also, there's a decent sky shot with the parabolic mirror that frames Lacerta pretty well. I can't wait to see how the pics look once I get them cleaned up in PS.

Joe, let me just say that I am very impressed with what you and the other CA members do for public astronomy. It is remarkable the time and effort you guys put into coming out, setting up your scopes, and showing and explaining the nights skies to complete strangers. I really hope that everyone who gets a peek through the CA scopes develops a new-found appreciation for our night skies. I loved all the reactions from folks walking by and taking a look through the scopes. A lot of these were people who probably never gave a thought to looking up at night. It was really cool hearing all the "oohs" and "Ahs" and "Awesomes" as they put their eyes to the sky.

Keep up the good work you guys, and I really look forward to spending more time with everyone at future sessions. One of these days when I find a good viewing location in my neck of the woods, I'd love to invite you all out for a session out here by me. Thank you for the experience.

[RobbW]

Okay, as promised, here are some pics from the mini star party that I finally got to attend. Most, if not all, of the images are long-exposure shots. So, you'll have to excuse any blurriness caused by people who refused to stand still.

By the time I arrived a little after 9pm, everyone else was mostly set up. John with his 5" Go-To, Linda was just finishing setting up her new 4" Vixen, and, of course Joe, with the C11 Beast. All I brought to the party was my 10x50 binos on a tripod with a pistol-grip ball head. (Love those pistol grips!)





Linda was getting some action with her new "toy", as well. That is one fine-looking tube she's got there!

Soldier Field was brightly lit up for the Eagles concert that night. I could barely hear/make out the songs being sung, but you could definitely hear the crowd roaring.

We had several passers-by stop throughout the night, ask questions and take a peek at the heavens. Joe was ready at the helm with his trusty laser/saber pointing out celestial objects to anyone and everyone.

Being Saturday night in DT Chicago, we were treated to fireworks at Navy Pier. I couldn't resist tearing my DSLR away from the star party to snap a few long exposures of the display.





As to be expected, Joe was happily being Joe and snapping pics of the hapless strangers who were lured over to our group by the magnificent display of astronomical machinery. I was impressed by how ready and willing people were to stand motionless for five seconds while a mustached stranger posed with them for a photo.





Naturally, I had to get a few shots of the man and the machine.











Joe was gracious enough to let me play around with his new acquisition, a parabola mirror he "ganked" from an unsuspecting bank drive-through (don't know if I believe that story).






Joe getting in on the mirrored action!






The mirror was put to good use as Joe used it to block out some glaring street lights while I snapped an action shot of Linda with the C11.





I like this mirror shot of my binos with the group in the background. It kind of looks like Johnny 5 standing guard over the star party. And if you have to ask "Who's Johnny?", then you're just too young, or I'm really freakin' old!





Before Joe broke down the C11, I tried to snap a quick pic of the moon through the eyepiece using my little P&S cam. My hands weren't very steady. So the pic doesn't do the C11 justice.





Well, that was the narrative of my first star party with the CA group. I stuck around while Joe broke down the beast. We hung out and chatted for a while as we waited for the Eagles crowd to clear out of the area. All in all, I had an awesome time with the group. I hope to make it out for many more sessions in the future. Thanks for having me, all!!!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I'm digging Robb's pics.

Usually, I'm busy attending to visitors or taking the pics, that it's nice to see the activity from a different perspective. I also like the manner that Robb's camera captures the images.

I was impressed by how ready and willing people were to stand motionless for five seconds while a mustached stranger posed with them for a photo.

No one can resist the power of the 'stache...

[RobbW]

Ahh, my love for photography is finally starting to make a comeback, Joe. The star party really helped spur that on! Although, I'm kind of disappointed in how the shots of the mirror on the ground came out after converting and compressing them for the Web. The original images show Lacerta pretty well in the mirror.

I'd try growing a 'stache, other than the fact that I can't (darn them Native American genes). Plus, I'd just look like a sleazy 1970s porn producer!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Plus, I'd just look like a sleazy 1970s porn producer!

Chickee wah Chickee chickee wah wah