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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Observation Session by the Adler

04 October 2010 - 7:00 p.m.

Monday, the 4th of October will be our next observation session by the Adler, at our usual spot by the parking lot -( or maybe by the Sundial...look for us.) With forecasted crystal clear skies and cool temps, the viewing should be great. The evenings of sweltering sessions are now over till next year...

web.mac.com/carlosdavid1/iWeb/DSLR%20Astrophotography/Solar%20System_files/slideshow.html?slideIndex=0

We will observe Jupiter, (making for great seeing), and other targets. We will also attempt to locate Comet Hartley 2P, but I really don't think it's going to evolve into anything for decent viewing - unless it fractures. Presently at Mag 7, astronomers much smarter than I are sayin' it'll bloom into a Mag 4...which still just barley makes it into a naked eye object from Chicago skies. But the image above is of Comet Hartley, taken last weekend by stacking 50 1 minute exposures. No wonder it's been so elusive through Chicago skies!...

As an added enticement, NASA's Launch escape tower will be displayed by the Adler for a limited time.

Details here:
astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?
action=display&board=Annoucements&thread=2904&page=1

It will make a great backdrop to our sessions.

The weather forecast is calling for great skies all the way into Thursday, so perhaps this will be a muti-session week for the Chicago Astronomer session crew.

Stay tuned, but I think it's a go for a three consecutive session...even if it's just me and the C11.

[cathy]

Woo! Hope we can get out for this one. What time are you going to be there? (Sorry if I missed that info!)

[patrickm]

I might be able to make Wednesday if I have the energy after flying back, but we'll see if there's an event and the energy to do it. The will is certainly there.

Have fun tomorrow and hope the skies clear for you. It has been tremendous in Austin this weekend!
p

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Cathy,

7:00 pm is now the usual start time for our sessions, and then probably sooner when Daylight Savings kicks in.

One good thing about winter, is the longer hours of observation.

70's this week, so it may be just light jacket weather, but I already stoked the wood burning stove with a toasty fire early this chilly morning.

Patrick,

RedBull man.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Tonight's observation session by the Adler is a solid go - as of 10:00 am Monday morning.

Gotta squeeze a nap in somewhere...

[RobbW]

Wish I could make it. Lord knows I'm missing the group! Unfortunately, I have a few must-do projects this week that will prevent me from traveling downtown for a session. However, if I'm lucky, I may be able to set up out in my backyard for a bit to enjoy the night skies at the same time as you all. According to AccuWeather.com, pretty much every night this week is supposed to have phenomenal skies for stargazing.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

5:30 pm and all is clear.

This bunch of days ahead of us will be just spectacular for observational astronomy.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

What a nice time with friends - new and old...

...and I got gifts too!

I'm too sleepy now to process and post the pics, but a very nice group shot of the crew.

The rest of the pics and narrative tomorrow morning.....

[cathy]

Couldn't come out last night because by the time we got done with the day, the kids were exhausted. BUT if you're going to be out and about tonight, we definitely want to stop by.
Jupiter's red spot is supposed to be visible tonight starting at 9, I think?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

New Location and new friends for the Chicago Astronomers...

I thought to change the locale for this session closer to the lakefront and for a great skyline backdrop. Terrible for serious astronomy but great for glory pics.

Setting up by 7:00 pm, it was a clear night and Jupiter already cleared the Adler building, but it was definitely fall astronomy and the warm sweltering evenings are behind us.

Jupiter was our first target of the evening, but being so low yet, the heat from the Adler building was causing some turbulence, but our visitors lined up to view the Jovian system...

Fellow Chicago Astronomers Paulie & Hillary, Steve and Bill joined us for the session, with Paulie bringing his 6" DOB and 60mm "always in the car" refractor.

And Rhea (Pinky), brought along her 60mm refractor and B.J....who brought along his 4.5 motorized reflector..

Yelper J.B came by and her first time to a Chicago Astronomer star party, wore here Moon Boots and quite fun...

I slewed over to the "E.T." Star cluster for a bit, making a good display for the evening and our visitors enjoyed it...

Yelper Jen & BF Joe, brought me a nice present..

It's a CD with "When you wish upon a Star" on it...

Wrapped in an appropriate star pattern...this was very nice and thoughtful....

Thanks Jen & Joe!... ;D

And the gifts kept coming...

Here Gerry and Tom brought tributes...

Tom, a cigar aficionado, brought me a nice short sweet cigar...

..and Gerry, I.T master, brought me a much needed cable for my Digital Setting Circles - the NCG Max...

This cable will enable me to hook up my laptop to the C11 beast and use a planetary program to help guide the scope to celestial targets. Hopefully we can get this working before the real cold hits.

And then, Rick, (shown above), presented me with a number of Bahtinov Masks...

Rick followed my homemade Bahtinov Mask project - ( astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ATM&action=display&thread=2775 ), and made me one from white foam board during the summer. This time, he made me some from black foam board - and in various sizes...

(While taking this shot, my dog Laika was with me and approves of the masks. And the squirrel looking from above, making a racket, was too stupid to understand the principle.

What we got here are: two 11", two 10", three 5" and three 60mm focus aid masks - very cool.

Sweet!... ;D

I will use the masks for my various scopes to help in focusing for astrophotography. Thanks Rick...you too cool and I hope you bring your your 7" refractor scope to a Chicago Astronomer session very soon. I bet the views are sharp and sweet!

*I could be convinced to let go of some of the masks for my fellow Chicago Astronomers...maybe...


The evening went on with my slewing to the Double cluster while Paulie was showing various objects, including Alberio and discussing star temps via color. I am always happy that he and Hillary make the trip from Indiana to join our sessions...

I attempted to locate Comet Hartley...with no success. Both Paulie and I had our maps at the ready and I could discern the guide stars in my finder scopes easily, but no hint of any fuzzies...

Here Gerry takes a break form taking pics and manhandles the beast.

Chicago Astronomer Steve and I before wrapping up for the evening

And of course, our mandatory group shot...

Shown back row L to R: Janice, Rick, Nathaniel, Jen, Tom, Rhea, C.A. Steve, & C.A. Bill

Front row L to R : Gerry, Joe, Jen, Stephanie, C.A, Paulie, C.A. Hillary and myself.

Oh, what the hell...let's put them all up...

Although this location right off the Sundial is great for photo-op, it's terrible for true observational astronomy, as the headlights from cars wash over the entire area and the glaring supernova not 20 feet away was quite over powering. But it was a fun night with friends and fans of the Chicago Astronomer.

We will be back Wednesday or Thursday for another session, but maybe this time just around the Adler, blocking out the supernova.

We will see, but thank you to all who showed up with smiling faces and desire to explore the cosmos. You are all welcome to join us anytime.

The men and women of Science!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

cathy,

No...we won't be by the Adler this evening, (Tuesday the 5th). Instead some of us are going to the Indiana Dunes area to do some deep sky observing and perhaps finally catch Comet Hartley.

We will back on site by the Adler Thursday evening at 7:00 pm and I hope you can join us.

[zeusdammit]

A few more pics here...

www.flickr.com/photos/gxydis/sets/72157624977742405/

Gotta remember the Tungsten option dammit...

[patrickm]

Very sorry to hear that the astronomy was poor from this site, because the photos are spectacular. This view of our wonderful city is one of my favorites! I almost always stop on the way out and take a shot of downtown. I can't resist. Would be really nice to have that backdrop for all of our sessions. It looks so cool.

Maybe some day you will actually let me see one of the masks in action!

Have fun at the dunes and happy comet hunting!
p
--Wondering if the comet I saw in Austin via binocs was actually a comet...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Patrick,

It is the best skyline line in the world to have as a backdrop for a telescope, friends and the cosmos.

Now, If I set-up my "Astro-brella", I could shield the beast from the glare of the supernova 20 feet away...or perhaps just move the observation site a few feet around the building...and still maintain the skyline as our backdrop.

Skyline astronomy...a Chicago Astronomer natural.

And Gerry,

I want to post your pics on the site, but no time now and will do so tomorrow. Thanks for taking them and documenting our activities...

More to come kids....

[patrickm]

Oct 5, 2010 14:27:59 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Now, If I set-up my "Astro-brella", I could shield the beast from the glare of the supernova 20 feet away...or perhaps just move the observation site a few feet around the building...and still maintain the skyline as our backdrop.

Attachments:

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Civil disobedience makes for darker skies.