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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Chicago Astronomers to gather Sunday evening

26 September 2010

The forecast is calling for clear skies Sunday evening and if so, the Chicago Astronomers will be out, under the stars to enjoy and share Jupiter, the Moon and other objects of interests.

There are no scheduled events n the area, so parking should be open - but feed the meters.

We will assemble at 7:00 p.m. some where in the vicinity of the Adler. I would like to try the area by the Sundial just north of the Adler, but look for us and share the skies.

[patrickm]

Seems like conflicting weather reports about tomorrow night. I'm rooting for the clear sky forecasters to win this one. Will be there if I can.

Still no first light on 9.25, but had an absolute blast last night with friends and small scopes. Will post about it if Jon will send me the pics.

Hope to see you tomorrow with my CGEM in a saltine box lined with rice paper.
patrick

[Paulie pchris00]

Hopefully clear skies and no weddings tomorrow night.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

No first Light!?!

Such will power!

I would set it up as soon as I got it at the expense of everything else.

Hmmmm..............

Maybe a reason why I'm single.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

As of 6:00 am...the weather for later on tonight's session looks good....

Yay...!

[patrickm]

Sept 25, 2010 22:43:06 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

No first Light!?!

Such will power!

I would set it up as soon as I got it at the expense of everything else.

Hmmmm..............

Maybe a reason why I'm single.

Well there were only two nights I could have possibly seem anything, Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday I had a heap of work to do on the computer that didn't finish until 130AM when I was physically and mentally exhausted. Friday was dinner at friends house with their scope and I took my 4.5 along. The point was to show them how to use THEIR scope and show them and their kids a few things, not to have the watch me struggle (and cuss) setting up and using mine.

I have HORRIBLE will power! It was just circumstances and the new scope curse.
p

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Weather update:

Although it's pretty overcast here in the Heart of Chicago, the forecast still calls for partly clear skies...

It appears that the cloud edge is sliding south, uncovering clear sky.

I'm gonna take a gamble and still declare tonight's session a go and hope the heavens show themselves.

[michaelp]

I do believe I might shwing by for a bit and enjoy the crisp Fall evening.

Mike

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

[patrickm]

If it's cloudy, you can just show me how to use this thing.

In fact, you can do that even if it's NOT cloudy!

see you after I feed the beasts.
p

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Sun is out in the West!

YAY!

[patrickm]

Sept 26, 2010 17:28:00 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

The Sun is out in the West!

YAY!

Glory be! It's a miracle!

En route.

[patrickm]

Next thing you'll tell us is that there's some sort of visible comet up there.

[patrickm]

First light = Navy Pier

I'll let Joe tell the story with words.

I will only say this: Accuweather astro had tonight tabbed as a 6 at midafternoon. If this is a 6, who needs a 1?!







Still, I had fun. A good trial run with nice people around to answer questions and show me what's what. A long way before I grok CGEM.


I love our city!

p
-Click for bigger, grainier phone photos. I dig photobucket for posting.

[patrickm]

Sept 26, 2010 5:15:09 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

As of 6:00 am...the weather for later on tonight's session looks good....Yay...!

And that place was...Reno, NV.

[patrickm]

Interestingly, as of 00:25 they are STILL saying that it's a 5 outside! LOL. Wow.


More interestingly, when you click on "About the Stargazing Forecast," it reveals that "this experimental feature is moderated by Nim Chimpsky."

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Chicago Astronomers Welcome new fans...

It was a crap shoot to cancel this session or maintain it, as the weather was iffy. Weather radar showed a counter-clockwise rotation of cloud cover, with the possibility of the whole mass just sliding south and offering clear skies. I arrived at 7:00 p.m. to mostly cloudy and threatening skies...

I was hopeful for the clearing to strengthen, but it was not to be...

This was Chicago Astronomer Patrick's first outing with his brand new 9.25" Celestron SCT and we all gathered around while he assembled the instrument - welcoming the new addition to the Chicago Astronomer family of instruments...

It was like a baptism and we were all there to watch.

But, the skies just did not cooperate for first light...

Chicago Astronomers Paulie & Hillary joined in on this session and brought along his 6" Dob - now with red safety flashing light and large lighted Moon phase display...

Chicago Astronomer Steve brought his seldom used Celestron 8" Nexstar SCT...

But, had no luck in finding any celestial objects, as the clouds were thickening...

I, of course, brought along the C11 beast and now we had three SCT's - lined up...

Young Citizen Astronomer Mac, came to join us and brought his cool 6" shorty Bob...

We took time to talk about equipment and techniques at the lack of astronomical targets to view. (I started out in astronomy at around Mac's age and have very fond memories of learning the sky with my trusty 60mm Montgomery Ward refractor...still got it.) We welcome Mac and his Dob to our future observation sessions...

I recently received a very nice email from Susan, who wanted to see Jupiter, as it's closest to Earth since 1963. She tried calling the Adler for information or opportunity to view, but she said they were of no help. She found The Chicago Astronomer and discovered we had an observation session set up for tonight...

Susan, Roger and myself.

Then...there was a break in the clouds and I jumped to grab whatever I could. I demonstrated how red Arcturus was - a huge red giant near the end of it's life, the binary stars at the bend of the Big Dipper's handle, My fall favorite....the "E.T." Star cluster and yes......Jupiter!

I encouraged everybody to quickly take their peeks at the objects, before the cloud mass covered everything back up...

Here, Susan got her Jupiter viewing, but it was a quick and dirty viewing, as Jupiter was still rather low and hazy with thin cloud cover. But still.... #Yay#

I hope she comes out on our next clear night session for some real Jupiter viewing at high magnifications - as I kept it at only 40mm for tonight.

As it was a school night and the skies were crummy, young Mac packed up his gear and headed out. he will make a great addition to the crew, as he has great enthusiasm and love for the skies.

Paulie, Steve and I gave Patrick's new SCT the once over, testing out it's movements, drives and views. With no stars, I focused on Navy Pier and the views were good and sharp. There is a slight mis-balance issue with the OTA to the mount to be resolved and perhaps Patrick will share more on what we evaluated. It's a handsome looking set-up with EDGE HD coatings and an unusual rear glass optic just inside of the visual back that is part of the high emission optics. Very cool. I want to take some more in depth images next time when we have some time and proper light.

He also got this very cool Axion eyepiece - I forget the mm, but hell, it's about the size of a pop can and about as heavy...! I attached it to my C11...

And focused at the Towers of Navy Pier. Very sharp...very. I dig it lots...

Here are some details about the Axiom series of eyepieces:

Celestron Axiom LX eyepieces
The Celestron Axiom LX Series of ultra wide angle eyepieces use six to seven lenses to provide a huge 82° apparent field of view. Many observers say that using an Axiom LX eyepiece is more like looking through a “picture window” on deep space, rather than looking through an eyepiece. The view is so expansive that you have to move your head from side to side to see all of the dramatic full field of view. Each eyepiece is fully multicoated and computer-optimized for excellent correction of chromatic and spherical aberration and astigmatism. The lens edges are blackened for high contrast. They are parfocal, to minimize the amount of refocusing needed when switching between eyepieces within the Axiom LX series. They may not be parfocal with other eyepieces in your collection, however.

Each eyepiece has a twist-up rubber eyecup to shield your eye from ambient light. The 7mm, 10mm, and 15mm focal lengths have 1.25” barrels that are threaded for standard 1.25” color and light pollution filters. The 19mm, 23mm, and 31mm versions fit 2” star diagonals and focusers only. The barrels of these focal lengths are threaded for 2” filters. All have a no-slip wide rubber grip that assures secure handling, even when covered with dew. A groove machined into the chrome barrel of each eyepiece acts as a safety stop to keep the eyepiece secure should the focuser thumbscrew loosen slightly while using the eyepiece. Supplied soft rubber caps seal both ends of each eyepiece to keep them dust free. The eyepiece type and focal length are not merely painted on the body. They are engraved and paint-filled to remain clear and visible for life.

The eyepieces work well for low to medium high power observing with all telescope types and focal ratios. They have very good color correction, with virtually no field curvature, astigmatism, or ghosting. The optical performance is well corrected and sharp from edge to edge across the wide, wide field. The Celestron Axiom LX eyepieces are a good choice for observing large scale objects – open star clusters, nebulas, galaxy pairs like M65 and M66, etc.

At about $179.00 + apiece...a bit too rich for me...but it would be so cool to have a case full of these eyepieces!

The Chicago Astronomer is looking for a sponsor...

Group shot, as always...

Myself, Roger, Susan, Paulie, Hillary, Mac, Patrick, Joe, Steve and Michael...(who stopped by on this crisp fall night.)

Now, although not much astronomy was accomplished this session, it was a nice time to meet new Chicago Astronomer fans and members to the crew. We got to see and sorta test out Patricks's new sweet 9.25" SCT and Steve got to dust off his neglected 8". Paulie and I lugged our usual favorite scopes and had them at the ready.

SCT row...with the C11, C9.25" and C8....The Chicago Astronomers got all bases covered...

[Paulie pchris00]

I don't have much to add here, since my camera quit working last weekend. Weather will be something we try to understand our entire lives as astronomers, yet even with many instant resources, and good old fashioned visual observing, we will always be fooled by Mother Nature at times.

The cloudy conditions may have served well for Patrick, lending more time for Joe and Steve to assist in working out bugs with the new SCT. I was as disappointed as everybody else that "first light" wasn't obtained, but it was cool to be present for the public unveiling anyway.

Also, I have to report that as we got further into Indiana on the way home, the cloud cover was dispersing, and there was no wind. It was still poor viewing conditions, but Jupiter and the Moon were clearly visible.

[atomant]

Very impressive Celestron CAT alley!
Black, cream, and gray.

Any chance of getting Audrey's help in setting aside a star park for the Southside.

It would also be great to see reviews; the pluses and minuses for each scope setup.