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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Usually warm November Chicago Astronomer Observation Session

08 November 2010

Hey kids....

It's gonna be warm, really warm and clear for November.

Ergo - Time to set up telescopes by the Adler and totally enjoy this opportunity to check out early winter targets and share the skies with friends.

I will set up at Chicago Astronomer Site #1 by the Adler parking lot...

and with the return of Standard Time now, we can start earlier, so I'll be there at 6:00 pm.

Tuesday, the 9th also promises to be clear as well - most likely setting up for part 2.

[RobbW]

Joe, I so want to be there. Unfortunately, the timing won't work for me. At work, I've been working (imagine that) relentlessly to set up and prepare for an on-site visit from our software manufacturer. We haven't been happy with their product for several years and intend to hold their noses to the grindstone once they get out here. But, even though we're not happy, we still have to bat our pretty eyelashes and play nice in order to get them to make the changes we want them to make. Ergo, I have to wine and dine them.

So, while the CA crew is freezing its collective arses off (I know temps should be above freezing, but I'm trying to be dramatic), I will be forced to dine on succulent fillet and gingerly sip fine wine. I know, it's hard work, but someone has to do it!

Okay, I'm being overly facetious. But trust me, I would rather be out with the gang hunting down late fall/early winter celestial treasure! I don't do corporate brown-nosing very well and despise it even more! On the other hand, I AM the pee-on who has been tossed under the bus and into the fire in this particular situation. So, maybe I should relish in the moment and soak both companies for everything I can!!!

Anyway, the bottom line is that I am very sad that I, once again, do not get to participate personally with the crew. As punishment, I fully expect complete reports with awesome photos of everything that I missed! Do not be gentle on my behalf!

BTW, I'm digging the new logo you're sporting at the top of your pages, Joe! Any chance we can get a bigger look at it?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Robb...

I am digging the logo you created for us and I'm playin' around with several variations and have not settled on one final yet. Seeing how it feels and some tweaking.

I'm going to create a separate thread on this later, so that we can discuss.

But, maybe you will be free on Tuesday but if not....there will always be more to enjoy.

[Paulie pchris00]

Tonight is a no-go for me, as well. Calumet Astronomical Society has their meeting tonight, and there are topics I really want to push with them. I don't see any reason why I can't make tomorrow night though, if there happens to be a part 2. Clear skies tonight, everybody!

[Centaur]

Have fun guys. I’ll be rehearsing my General MacArthur look for a play. Don’t forget to catch the occultation this evening: astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Conjunctions&action=display&thread=2953
. Precise timing reports would be appreciated.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The occultation will occur too early for me to observe, but it will be a great evening for scope time wherever you all may be.

[patrickm]

No can do tonight. Was gone for four days and got back just in time to put our 17 yr old cat to sleep. Had her since the year we got married. Exhausted and sad, I needed to be home tonight.

I have book club tomorrow so can't make that either. Ah well.

Have fun!
Patrick

[Paulie pchris00]

Awww...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Chicago Astronomers have an easy fun filled night...

Taking full advantage of a rare warm November evening, I set up the C11 beast at our usual star party spot...in full glare of Soldier's Field. Skies were not optimal, rather murky, but no serious astronomy this evening anyway. I set up the Astrobrella, (now that fully repaired it), providing me with much needed shade.

The crescent Moon was hanging low in the west, but I got there too late to observe it, as it sank away while I setting up...

This session was more a celebration of friends under the stars, with cursory views of Jupiter, "E.T." Star cluster and the Double Cluster.

Jerry comes from quite a distance to join us and included his observations on his blog:

E.T was looking at Chicago.

Yesterday evening was enjoyable, the weather in Chicago seems a bit warm for this time of November with temperatures hovering around the 60's and dropping into the 40's at night. Wanted to go to the Adler Planetarium as the Chicago Astronomer, Joe Guzman, was hosting a star party for the evening. Upon arriving, was able to see the Moon hanging low in the western sky's over Chicago's skyline. Jupiter and two of the moons were visible in the sky, even with the high cloud haze along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is always great to meet individuals that are interested in the sciences and learning, Joe is excellent in explaining various astronomical sights to everyone. While there, we all got to see "E.T" placement in the night sky and Universe above us. The "E.T" constellation was once called "The Owl" constellation, not to be confused with "The Owl" nebula. It was enjoyable to meet other people and especially talk with the bus driver, we all learn every day something fascinating when one looks out into the night sky and beyond.

I was hoping that two other friends, Paulie Christman, and his girlfriend, Hillary, would be there last night. We had communicated earlier about seeing Sun-dogs, on our social network connection. Paulie, you got some excellent pictures of the Sun-dogs posted over on your blog site!

During the time, I went for a walk along the shoreline and the reflections of the City of Chicago is like a Christmas Tree when viewed from near the Adler Planetarium. People and families walking and enjoying a warm night, the couples that embrace and have their special memories, the occasional motorbike that one hears along the street.

I attended one about a month ago, but the humidity and cool moisture off of the lake made the evening a bit chilly. Plus, that day the President was in Chicago and traffic was a mess along Lake Shore Drive. It seems like every time I go into the city, something occurs and traffic is re-routed in some way.

I live out in the western burbs near Ohare Airport and last night CTA, Chicago Transit Authority, had reported "police activity". Well, this shut down the Blue Line from Addison to Jefferson Park on the train route. Everything might as well be viewed as an adventure, so off the train and onto one of the buses. Later, as people tried to figure out what was occurring--the bus driver had said that a bomb-threat had been called in and that the police were checking the rail-transportation between Addison and Jefferson Park. During the same time, there was accidents on the incoming and outgoing lanes of I-94 in the same region.

E.T was looking at Chicago.

arewestillearthcentered.blogspot.com/2010/11/et-was-looking-at-chicago.html?spref=fb&ref=nf

Barbara is a great Chicago Astronomer ambassador, promoting observation views to visitors...



...and invited her bus driver to join us.

Dan came by last July and biked to our event tonight...and we keep the "stache" alive...

Jaik and his girlfriend Allison, regular Chicago Astronomer guests, also biked this evening

I met Pim at a Surf concert recently and invited her to join us. She also biked to the site.

Kate and Mike stop by whenever they can and made time after their yoga session.

Busy Gerry came out for a short time, provided me with a stogy and always great to him with us.

The Telescopes always gain the attention of Chicago Police and tonight brought two fine gentlemen from the Marine unit.

And of course....

...our mandatory group shot

Shown: Jaik & Allison, Dan, Mac & Joe, Steve, Pim, three visitors, Barbara and myself.

Throughout the evening, we discussed cosmology, birth & death of stars, Jupiter factoids, asterisms and even caught Uranus in the C11. Using a 80A blue filter on the 2" 26mm, it brought out the nice cool greenish-blue of the planet.

Our scope crew of the evening, Myself, Bill and Steve...with Gerry as our support.

Tuesday will be another warm and clear night...and there will be a part two.

Note: The city has increased the meter parking fee around the Planetarium.

Prior, it was 25 cents for fifteen minutes. Now, it's 25 cents for 10....forcing $1.50 for an hour.

Bring your quarters...

[Paulie pchris00]

I noticed Halloween weekend the meters just off Fullerton were 12 minutes per quarter. It didn't seem like a good deal at the time...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It's a go for the second Chicago Astronomer Star Party for tonight.

I will arrive closer to 5:30 pm in order to make some adjustments and catch the crescent Moon.

Jupiter & Uranus on hand for enjoyment.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

One telescope - new friends...

I arrived on-site at 5:30 pm and set up at my leisure, using the astrobrella for much needed shade. This was going to be a "Adjustment & Tweaking session" for me. Adjusting lasers, trying out a new filter and play with the artificial star for collimating.

Skies were not great, as haze and transparency cut down visibility, although at least it was clear.

But, as usual and welcomed, visitors see the C11 beast and want to know what I'm doing...

This nice couple on their honeymoon stopped by and and took in the Crescent Moon, Jupiter, E.T & Double star clusters. Saying that this was much more enjoyable, seeing the objects first hand than their visit to the Planetarium earlier.

Another couple on the Chicago Astronomer mailing list stopped by to catch some scope time...

Good friend Cate and fellow Yelper stopped by with very tasty homemade brownies...

Thanks Cate!

There were other visitors that I missed on taking a pic with, but new Chicago Astronomer fan Brian and I talked for quite awhile on cosmology, sci-fi and related topics. He really enjoyed viewing the objects and I gave him control of the control pad to slowly tour the Moon under high magnification.

I took the time in between visitors to adjust my targeting laser. I have a 50 Mw and a 100 Mw green laser. The 100 just barely fits inside my OTA laser holder and is big - with not enough adjustment for precise targeting - so in goes the 50, which is pencil dimensions. (More on this later.)

But in comparison, the 100 Mw green laser blows the 50mw away. ( I think the pen laser is more like 30-ish).

The laser really helps me locate objects quickly. In conjunction with the Rigel and/or finder scopes....I can slew faster and Identify my desired targets easier...

I can view the beam in the finderscopes and right into the reticle of the Rigel. With some tweaking, I was able to adjust the beam to my target in the main scope - assisting in centering the "E.T" Star cluster nicely...

And an easy slew to the Double Cluster...

Jupiter was good this evening with sharp banding and a good four satellite display. Sliding to the east, I directed the C11 toward Uranus and showed my visitors a planet never before seen in real life. And took some shots...

I met a nice couple taking a fall evening walk. The gentleman was from Lebanon and the lady from Romania. We were chatting when he asked me which star it was that was part of a poem. It's a star that fluctuates/pulsates. She said that in her country, there is also a similar poem, a lovers poem.

I don't know of this poem, but it certainly sounds like a variable star that it written about. Antares...?

Everybody enters ones life for one reason or another and I am on a quest to find out what Poem they were referring to.

If anybody knows....let me know please.

I did not have a chance to work the artificial star for collimation and will try soon.

This was a very easy session, with plenty of time to myself and my scope...

[patrickm]

Hiya Joe.
Sorry you were there by yourself...but maybe you liked that for a change?

I vote for...

Bright Star by John Keats

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art —
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors —
No — yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft swell and fall,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever — or else swoon to death.

or

Evening Star by William Blake

Thou fair hair'd angel of the evening,
Now, while the sun rests on the mountains light,
Thy bright torch of love; Thy radiant crown
Put on, and smile upon our evening bed!
Smile on our loves; and when thou drawest the
Blue curtains, scatter thy silver dew
On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes
In timely sleep. Let thy west wind sleep on
The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes
And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full, soon,
Dost thou withdraw; Then, the wolf rages wide,
And the lion glares thro' the dun forest.
The fleece of our flocks are covered with
Thy sacred dew; Protect them with thine influence.

...though both are western poets. I know that the Arabs had plenty of great astronomers and poets, but we are further complicated in finding this because, like Istanbul, Beirut has historically been a crossroads for East and West. So, it is probable that Blake and Keats are studied there as well, probably with more vigor than in US public or private schools. Thus, I don't think we can rule them out, even in translation.

Would love to see anybody else who might have more specific knowledge of either or both of these countries take a stab at it. I will ask a friend who is Romanian and see if he has any idea.
p

[Paulie pchris00]

I took a nap yesterday afternoon, and didn't wake up until after 8 PM. Promptly fell asleep again. Missed a warm, clear night.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Patrick,

Time at the scope, (with fellow astronomers, friends or solo), is never a bad activity.

But the western poems you posted are a great start to searching for the variable star in European literature.

[RobbW]

Wouldn't be Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, would it?!?!