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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Last minute Chicago Astronomer Star Party by the Adler

14 September 2010

7:00 pm

I had three emails of recent, asking if the Chicago Astronomer crew will set up scopes this week. Well, I had none planned, but it's such a nice day out and our comfortably warm evenings are limited.

So...let's have one tonight!

A little different this time...

Instead of our parking lot area, (great darker site), will set up telescopes by the Sundial, on the north side of the Adler. A little different vista, a great skyline behind us and more foot traffic. Let's see how it works out.

There are no events scheduled in the area, so it should be clear and parking available.

Weather forecasts all look good and we will have the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and other celestial delights to be enjoyed this evening.

If free or in the area, stop by and say hi on a great night to be under the stars in Chicago.

[michaelp]

I'll probably swing by after yoga, 'round 9:30.

Mike

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Also...

I'm gonna test out the new "Astrobrella"...to help block out stray streetlamp lighting.

If it's a viable tool, then it'll be a compliment to the Chicago Astronomer arsenal.

Thank goodness for a van!

[patrickm]

Sox game for me but have fun. Looks great at the moment!
Go Sox!

[patrickm]

I mean the weather looks great. Unfortunately not the Sox!

[michaelp]

Hey, did I miss something? Or did I walk right past all y'all? All I saw was one dude with a camera on a tripod and a panel truck - don't tell me you were behind the panel truck?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Michael,

I decided to move the observation site back to the usual area, due to a wedding reception at the Adler, only discovered as we pulled up.

It was a very satisfying evening.

Full narrative and pics coming up.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Clear skies for the Chicago Astronomers -

A great bright day gave promise to a clear evening, meeting new friends and big hugs to old astro pals.

Setting up around 7:00 pm, we had four scopes this evening...lined up and ready to go.

Chicago Astronomer Bill brought his 5" Vixen with the cool Binoviewers, Chicago Astronomers Paulie & Hillary brought their 6" Dobsonian and 4.5" Reflector....and I - the C11 Beast.

Venus was our target early on, showing classic crescent phase, but the Moon was a tempting target to enjoy and share as well.

In a rare sight, I spotted three stars off the lunar limb this session in the C11...

I have tried to identify them, but so sleepy now to do more than a cursory search...

We had new Chicago Astronomer fan Donald stop by to visit the Chicago Astronomers...

Donald, (seated), read about the Chicago Astronomer in a recent Chicago Tribune article on us, tracked me down, sending me an email and joining us for his first star party. He brought along his friend in the red vest. He really enjoyed himself and will attend more in the future...

We had a nice time sharing targets, from The "E.T." cluster, to the Double Cluster, Andromeda galaxy, Alberio and Jupiter with the visitors....

Chicago Police friends Frank and Sam stopped by to talk astronomy and share in the views...

Chicago Astronomer fan Dan and his daughter Kristina joined in this evening...

Not really a imaging session, but I managed to capture a half-decent Jupiter shot...

The newly replaced 50 Mw Raw power Green Chinese Laser works great in assisting to locate objects....

The beam is nicely centered in the C11's finderscopes and the visitors dig it.

So do I...


The Moon was sinking fast behind a building....

I managed to take some lunar shots before we lost it for the night....

And also....

Testing out a potential new tool for the Chicago Astronomer crew, I set up the "Astrobrella" near the end of our session...

Meant to act as a light barrier against intrusive street lamps and other lighting, I set it up next to the C11...and it does the job. my fellow astronomers say they dig it, but probably think I'm nuts....

It cranks open, tilts and I think will be a great addition to the equipment arsenal. It needs work, as I found it recently and an easy fix. The base that it rests in - I had for over ten years in the garage and debated if I should throw it out. See....everything comes in handy someday.

One day, (night), all astronomers will have one!

You saw it here first... ;D

At 11:00, we called it a night, packed up and were all satisfied on yet another successful session of the Chicago Astronomer crew.

[michaelp]

those moon shots are kick-a$$!

I must have rode right past y'all, I glanced over at the regular spot but didn't see anyone, maybe it was a lull in the action / bushes / 5-0 had one of their big SUV's parked there blocking.

Next time ...

[patrickm]

Bummer I didn't make it down! Sox game a real drag, as I more than halfway expected.

Great moon shots. You will have to show me how when I see you next, when you will also finally show me the SECRETS OF THE BAHTINOV MASK!! Grrrr.

I have used our tilted backyard umbrella to block out the heinous sodium vapor street conveniently located just over our back gate. Base is too heavy to move more than a few feet, but if we'd been able to set it up over the light Monday night at Sunken Gardens (NOT in "quotes!" Despite its diminutive size, it really IS a CPD park! ) No law against that, except after 11pm I suppose...
p
--Moon sets over the Sox season and the Comiskey upper deck.

Attachments:

[patrickm]

iPhone pic of The Pleiades through my binoculars on our back deck about 1am this morning. Couldn't stay awake long enough for Orion nebula to rise above the muck, but also caught M56, M57, Coathanger, Heiades, Jupiter, M71, and the Double Double.

Attachments:

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Patrick,

I used the Bahtinov mask last night, near the end of our session.

I feel my images are kinda, "soft" in the C11. Perhaps because of it's age, maybe the Starbright coatings are not pristine anymore. And it was stored haphazardly for years in a damp environment before I got it.

So Bill and I planned to collimate the beast before packing up. And using the mask, found perfect focus. But we found that the optics are pretty much in line.

I must investigate this some more.

[Paulie pchris00]

I don't have a whole lot to add here. Patrick, you put it well. The Moon set on the White Sox's season last night. Now I guess I have to root for Thome to get a ring...


Depression always find me rather easily, especially in the fall. I've been in a funk the last few days, except for when I'm writing or at star parties. it was nice to get out the last two nights, get under the stars, and try to get my mind right. It helped, but only until I got home.


Anticipating the big series this week against the Minnesota Twins, Hillary and I both wore our White Sox gear last night. I didn't know Patrick was going to be at the game, but I took a shot of the ballpark as we drove by.





I tried getting down to the Adler from 18th St. as usual, but found out it was blocked due to a police memorial dedication. Later I saw the city was lit up in blue to honor the Chicago Police Department, and it was cool to have officers Frank and Sam hang out with us for awhile, and it sounded like they might come down sometime when they're off duty.










The skyline decked out in blue for the CPD.


Donald and John hung around for the early part of the session, asking many good questions and gaining a new understanding of our solar system's orbital mechanics, demonstrated through observations of Venus, the Moon, and the Jovian system. It was nice to talk with them.


Two weeks ago Hillary went on vacation to Florida with her parents, and she asked me if I'd like a souvenir. I told her Space Shuttle Discovery was for sale for only $129 million, and she could get that for me. She brought me back a space shuttle, but it's a toy that fits in my pocket. I set it on the eyepiece tray of my go-to, and it attracted the attention of Elan, who had been out for a walk with his parents. We'd seen them when we first arrived, and they inquired about the telescopes, and came back to have some looks before heading home.




Elan and his family with Hillary and the Meade.


Dan and Kristina came over and talked a little bit, and he showed me his new iPhone app. I must be the last person without a smart phone. It's cool technology, but I already feel a slave to my cell phone, and would rather get rid of it altogether than replace it. Hillary must have been impressed with the app because she downloaded the Android version for her phone.


I talked with Bill some, and had my first look through his binoviewers. Man, those things really put you in the middle of Andromeda Galaxy! I know he's anxious to come out to the Indiana Dunes State Park soon, to get better views of targets washed out in the city.


By 10 o'clock lack of sleep was catching up with me, but I stuck it out until 11. I had fun hanging out with the crew and everybody who came by, but as soon as Hillary fell asleep on the Dan Ryan, my depression came right back, and hit hard. I'll come out of it, but I might be a little quiet online for awhile.

[patrickm]

Sorry to hear that Paulie.

Certainly don't hitch your well being to a sports team, and heaven forbid a Chicago one.

Coming from Texas, fall can still be a real drag for me as well, but with so many new sights in front me of up in the skies, I am actually excited for whatever clear nights have to bring.

I prescribe more star time, a few good books, green tea, movie time with Hillary, and a boatload of omega-3s daily.

p

[Paulie pchris00]

The Sox had nothing to do with my mental state. I've backed off a lot since they won the Series.

Since I've found astronomy, my occasional bouts of depression haven't been as severe as in the past, and after catching up on rest, I feel pretty good again. I'm looking forward to getting out to Valpo University' observatory tonight, and International Observe the Moon Night tomorrow.

Green tea sounds good, plenty of caffeine. I'm trying to finish the "Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide," the collection of all the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" books. After that maybe Buzz's "Magnificent Desolation." Not much of a movie guy any more. With the night about to be longer than daylight, the star time will come.