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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Two night's in a row....

Chicago Astronomer Star Party

29 June 2011

We take 'em when we can...clear warm night's that is...

The Chicago Astronomer crew had a great time at last evening['s star party session...that some of us are doing it again tonight.

We will set up telescopes by 8:00 pm, (if not earlier), and remain till 11:00pm. Saturn will be the highlight of course, but there will also be two ISS passes, a bright Iridium flare and Navy Pier fireworks for our friends, visitors and fans to enjoy.

I would like to set up the equipment just west of the Adler, with the great skyline behind us, but just look for us.

Don't know when the next clear evening will be, so if free or in the area, stop by and share the skies with the crew.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Bam....two great star parties - back to back....

A beautiful evening was ahead for the Chicago Astronomer crew...right off a great one the night before. This time, I elected to set up scopes on "The grassy Knoll" spot, just north of the Adler, with a great skyline backdrop.

Chicago Astronomers Linda & Alfred, John and Steve would join me for this session bringing a refractor and three SCTs. Lugging all this equipment is rough and a brief rest before our session starts...

But... Chicago Astronomer telescopes bring the curious almost immediately and wondered if there was anything special going on or to discuss equipment and astronomy. So before any celestial objects could be targeted, we spent time with our visitors, explaining equipment and helped with their own telescopes...

New Chicago Astronomer fan Tony, joined us for this session and was part of our support crew in taking pictures and explaining astronomical related topics...

...here, shown with Linda and myself.

The highlight of the evening will be Saturn and it's always a contest to see who can spot the planet "blink" into view...

I believe it was Linda who spotted and targeted it first in her Vixen refractor. I was busy talking with our visitors and grabbing pics...

Saturn is always a treat, especially for those who have never seen it first hand. A few asked how much it would cost - to view through our telescopes. I always say that the skies are free and so are the views. And so the lines formed at our scopes...

There was to be two ISS passes and three Iridium flares during this session. The first pass off the ISS early on was a good one...

But the others were either too low, behind passing clouds or I was just too busy to stop and announce the event.

And we continue with the session...

New Chicago Astronomer fan Nina and her family stopped by to share in the evening's activities...

This being Wednesday, we had the scheduled fireworks off of Navy Pier...

Chicago Astronomer fan Ray and his family brought their 3" Bushnell computerized reflector for a telescope 101 lesson...

A very nice family and we will get them to exploring the skies soon with proper eyepieces to match the scope.

The evening goes on...

We had the pleasure of attending to energy scientists coming out from a conference at the Adler...

Saturn was sinking into the muck quick, but people still wanted to see it. As others kept the planet in their scopes, I went up - and targeted M57, explaining what it is and why the star left behind a wispy ring of smoke to our visitors...

This was a busy active session and a great many visitors to our site. I had a gentleman whisper to me that in all of his advanced years, he never saw anything like this. Another who has a 14" scope back home in Arkansas and never saw a C11 SCT painted and accessorized like mine before. I did have to shout out at a kid who was about to yank down on the diagonal . We had quite a number of Chicago Astronomer fans who are on the email notification list, come out and share the evening with us. Old friends and new, this was a well deserved session...after a month of a cloudy and rainy June.

Chicago Astronomer member Tomlee arrived and took some shots of the session...

I anticipate what he captured and appreciated the different perspectives from others, as sometimes, I'm too busy to take the pics.

Our crew for the evening: Myself, Mike C.A Steve, Tony, Nick, C.A Linda, Alfred and C.A John.

Thanks to all of my fellow astronomers working this session on a great and beautiful night.... ;D

[patrickm]

Looks like a blast! Thanks for pics and a great report, as usual!

Sorry I missed, but duty called and I didn't get to bed until 1am just getting stuff done as it was. Sleep, who needs it?

Glad y'all had fun without me (sniff), but indeed much deserved!

Louisville Ho!
p

[-=CROMAN=-]

Wish I could have been there! Looks like another stellar night. Were the attack helicopters out last night? =)

[atomant]

Sorry I missed checking out Steve's rare 8in Cat.
Also again I miss checking out Linda's 4in Vixen.

Glad CA was able to close out June 2011 with a double bam.

Do I hear, Indy Dunes beach star party in July??...................

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

There is an opportunity for the Chicago Astronomers to work an event at Indy, but if so...I would desire the courtesy of an all night session. This is part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore activities.

But, we always have our friends that we made last year to do a all night observation session - just like last year.

And....

I'm thinking about a Sunday night Session by the lakefront. Looks like a clear night, just after the heat wave and just before the 4th of July madness.

[tomlee]

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Tom,

These are great action shots..!

It shows the vibrant activity of the Chicago Astronomer star party, even late in the session when these pics were taken.

In one shot and just for a moment, I hold the attention of esteemed Energy Scientists from around the world.

And, those speed rails installed on the C11 really do come in handy. Every SCT should have 'em. The pic of C.A. Linda displays the fun we all have as guides to the stars.

Thanks Tom, I dig the pics a lot! And I hope you continue to document our crew's activities.

I need to make an I.D. for you.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Awesome pics!