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[-=CROMAN=-]

The stargazing forecast for Tinley Park looks good tonight.

www.accuweather.com/us/il/tinley-park/60477/outdoor-astronomy.asp


I will be checking out a field across from my families house today that is pretty much wide open and dark for the area.

maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.562162,-87.821527&aq=&sll=40.868158,-88.262039&sspn=0.022815,0.038581&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16


If anyone is interested let me know and I'll post back on the board after 5pm if I'll be out there.

[erikruud]

I didn't know that AccuWeather had that feature. Thanks!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Rich,

I appreciate your long drive to the Chicago Astronomer site. It says 25 miles as the crow flies, but more like 30+....!



Tell me more of this field. I am interested in a overnight session. Who owns it, how are the neighbors/Police/wildlife in the area? If cool, perhaps we can organize a Chicago Astronomer Observation session.

I just may do a quick set up tonight by the Adler if clear.





Oh, and there is an alien landing pad just off 175th & south 80th....

[-=CROMAN=-]

Joe... I will try to figure out who owns the field this afternoon. I've been watching it over the years and it seems like an abandoned farm field. I'm fairly certain the village of Tinley owns it, I'll let you know for sure.

Yeah I guess I'm used to driving all over and don't mind the miles much. I've got 36,000 miles on my 11 month old car!

As far as the aliens are concerned there has been high UFO activity in the area that is very well documented. Google Tinley park lights and read up. About 3 years ago I was driving with my kids on I-80 near the Harlem Ave north entrance and saw a large triangular craft in the sky hover then speed off north -east of my position. By the time I got my camera out of the glove box it was gone. And no I was not drunk! I had my kids with me... =)

[-=CROMAN=-]

A call into the village zoning board tells me that the area has been zoned for private development for years. There is also an area across the road from the place that is not private but is closer to the metra tracks. I will check for no trespassing signs today. I haven't seen any in the years I've been driving around it.

I've see guys riding snowmobiles through this area in the winter and folks walking through it for years. If the weather permits this evening I am going to go out there and check it out. Hopefully the aliens wont see me.

[Paulie pchris00]

Tinley Park isn't a bad drive if I can avoid the rush hour traffic at the first tollbooth on the Tri-state. Unfortunately, though, I can't make it out tonight. I am already committed to public observing at Conway Observatory. A CA star party sometime would be cool though!

[-=CROMAN=-]

For some odd reason the skies over tinley opened up from 9pm until 11pm. The field in question was perfect! I could not find a no trespassing sign anywhere and the old road is now nicely grass covered so there are actually multiple places to set up. I had some great views of Saturn and the moon this evening.

Unfortunately I was unable to locate any Messier objects on my own. =( Even with laptop in hand running stellarium and gps locating apps on the droid, i was unable to do what i have been waiting for. I chalk it up to being a total noob! Or maybe its the noobness, lack of great "seeing" and poor eyepieces? Maybe next time the group gets together someone can give me a few minutes of their time?

Anyway, other than that the night was a success as far as im concerened.

[patrickm]

Rich,
Generally in the city, skip any Messiers/NGCs that are galaxies (except Andromeda). Also, skip the fainter planetary nebulae as well. Stick with globular and open clusters to start. Also, remember to try averted vision on the faint ones. Look to the edge of the field and use your peripheral vision on objects in the center. It works! I just had to see a few to get used to what it is I was looking for.

Try: Beehive (Open) Cluster and Hercules (Globular) Cluster to start and then you're off and running. Both are great examples of their respective types. A little later, try the Ring Nebula, the brightest planetary nebula we can see (I think). A beautiful smoke ring floating in the sky.

Also remember that for many of the faint, fuzzy guys: > magnification = < brightness. So start with your low power eyepiece or even binos to locate and then slowly add magnification. You will eventually find the highest useful magnification for the object given that night's seeing conditions and transparency.

Another good lesson, if the cops show up, SHOW THEM SOMETHING IN YOUR SCOPE! The easier to see, the better. Saturn is always a hit. Usually, they say, "Cool!" and leave you be. A flashing red light is also helpful to let them know you're not hiding...unless you are.

I would love to hang out and observe sometime. If the weather clears for Wednesday(?), meet us at Union Park for the Park District thing. Not looking promising so far, but things change.

Cool that you found a spot!! My spot is the dark hill in the big park by our house. Am almost completely invisible there and have never been hassled. Yours sounds better!
p

[RobbW]

Rich, when the weather warms up some more, I wouldn't mind checking out some possible observing sites out here closer to us. I have found a decent spot up in the Algonquin area that has great potential. Let me know. Maybe we find a decent observing site out here in the western suburbs somewhere.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Rob.. yeah sounds like a great idea. lemme know when and where

[hillimolly]

Hey I saw the moon at 8:17pm

[Paulie pchris00]

If you can find a site with a limiting magnitude of 4 or even three, just a little magnification will make the brighter Messiers pop out. A finder scope or binoculars will do the job nicely. I would like to add M22 to Patrick's list above. It is the first DSO I ever saw in my Dob, and I found it just by looking for fuzzies through the finder scope.