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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Two Back to Back Chicago Astronomer Star Parties

August 10th and 11th 2011

It will be a wonderful Wednesday and Thursday evening for scope time and sharing the skies with our friends and fans. Already, I have been receiving calls and emails if we are going to be on-site.

I will set up the C11 Telescope by the Adler Planetarium area at 7:30 pm and remain till 11:00pm on both nights. Look for me, the scope and the crowd.

The last of Saturn will be viewed, as well as cool lunar observations. There will be an occultation of a star behind the Moon on Wednesday evening as well.

Details here: astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Conjunctions&thread=3347&page=1#13372

If we have two or more scopes on-site, then I will attempt to video this rare event while our visitors peer thru other scopes.

And....there will be a bright Iriduim Satellite flare and fireworks to enjoy.

If free or in the area, stop by on two great beautiful nights under the stars of the city.

Be there...you know you want to.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Tonight is a solid go.

Cool temps and puffy clouds will be our setting for the session.

See then.

[wobbles88]

sweet

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Two monster scopes and a gift....

I arrived on-scene at at 7:30 pm and decided to set up on the west side of the Adler this session, mainly because without assistance to carry the van load of equipment...it's just easier....

You never really know how a star party will develop..could be two astronomers on-site or over a hundred visitors, friends and guest. Starting out slow, by the end of the evening, we tallied 140 Chicago Astronomer visitors.

Very cool.

While setting up, Chicago Astronomer Rick arrives with this....

Daaaang!

I have been wanting Rick to bring out his massive 7" Meade refractor for the longest and with Rick's first active participatory session, brings the big guns.

Everything about the scope is big and sweet, providing bright and razor sharp images throughout the session. I understand how much an effort it is to lug heavy tools of science around and appreciate Rick for coming out and setting up...

We start the viewing with the Moon, playing hide and seek with early clouds, but all enjoyed examining the lunar features, most of whom had never peered through a telescope before. I met many nice people who were excited about joining us this evening...

Excitement, smiles and great discussions about astronomy and related topics through the session. The most often question again is the cost of our telescopes. Can you put a price on the cosmos?

Soon enough, Saturn popped out from behind western hugging clouds and always the highlight of the evening, but I slewed back and forth between the Moon and the planet...

Chicago Astronomer Support Crew member Barbara was on-site and diligently organized our visitors, answering questions, keeping an eye on equipment and promoting the Chicago Astronomer...

Here with myself and long time Chicago Astronomer fan Tom...who just so happens to be related to Barbara!

Brand new Chicago Astronomer fan and supporter Hector, stopped by with his 4.5" Meade Reflector and set-up, attending to our visitors and displaying the Moon. Here, you can see the firework display off of Navy Pier....


Hector recently upgraded to a more sophisticated telescope...and donated his 4.5 Meade to the Chicago0 Astronomer.

Sweet! ;D

It needs some attention, but once all tight, it will be a great scope for our young visitors and future students of the Chicago Astronomer to get hands-on experience with a telescope and learn how to use one properly.

Thank you Hector...you too cool!

There was also an occultaion of the Moon against the star Pi Sagittarii during this session. I wanted to video the event...

But....

With our high number of visitors, it was not possible for me to capture it, but I tried, missing the events by mere seconds....


And we continue with the session on a great crisp evening...



New Chicago Astronomer Forum member Brian (Wobbles), stopped by early to join us although I did not get the chance to talk with him much, I did learn of his great interest in astronomy and look forward to his participation in future events...

And Adler Telescope Facilitators Jude and Rob joined in for some chuckles and giggles, shown here with Rick and I.


And always time for pics...

After Saturn set in the muck, I slewed over to the E.T star cluster for the remainder of the evening...

Rick kept his massive beast of a scope toward the Moon for the remainder of the session....

As the crowds thinned out near the end of our session, 001 District officers stopped by, and we had a great time talking astronomy and showing telescopic views of the cosmos...

And, waaaay to the right, Chicago Astronomer Tom makes a late appearance to the session.

I was disappointed that I missed the occultaion, but this was a very successful Chicago Astronomer public star party. Visitors arrived who follow our feeds and notices, but a lot this evening have become Chicago Astronomer fans and will return. The constant smiles, laughs, shouts of excitements and fellow astronomers made this a very nice time out under the city sky.

A big shout out to Hector and Rick, who handled the crowd beautifully.

[patrickm]

Wow, gang! That's a lot of people, but it looks like you had the scopes to handle it! Super sorry I missed out, especially with that monster refractor there & new CA people dropping in. Dag!

Overdid it with the back on Tuesday and am still paying for it, so doubt I'll make tonight either. This su-ucks!

Sorry wasn't there to assist!

Also, Barbara rocks! Obviously.

[try2picturethis]

Hey Doll! Just wanted to take a quick minute to say I had a wonderful time last night checking out the E.T. Cluster and the Moon! It was an amazing experience! I look forward to joining you for future star parties and as a new member to your sight I will now get the updates of when you'll be out! Thank you again for an unforgettable experience! <3 Paige

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paige...!

How wonderful that you had a great time at our star party Wednesday evening.

I hope you can catch Saturn with us before we lose it in our evening skies as it dives behind the Sun and becomes a "Morning star". We only have maybe two weeks left of good viewing of the planet.

We will be setting up scopes again this evening, (11 August), at 7:30 pm. If you cannot make it then, there are always Chicago Astronomer events and star parties to share and enjoy. We have a few good months left during the warm observational season.

You are welcomed anytime.

And...your note is what's it's all about. It recharges all good astronomers... ;D

Thank you.

[tomlee]

w/o knowing, I made these shots with camera setting of a previous shoot which was indoor so it was not totally too dark but it would had reminded me if the shots came way too dark instead. My mind was just preoccupied.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Hey Tom...

Cool that you could join us at the tail end of the session.

I have missed shots because of wrong settings, so I usually leave the camera on automatic...there at least the exposures will be decent. But the two you have here are pretty cool too!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

And....

We are a solid go for tonight's star party at 7:30 pm.

Great day, cool temps and more great time with friends, fans and new visitors to the Chicago Astronomer experience.

Just be there, you know you want to.

[sfmoe]

Thanks for yesterday Joe, there were a ton of people there!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Part II...Just as great as Part I...

Two great beautiful nights of public astronomy is a good thing....and with large masses of visitors and friends visiting the Chicago Astronomer....even better.

I arrived on-site at 7:00pm to set up at my leisure to a quiet and tranquil early evening by the Adler. The setting Sun felt good, it was a bit breezy - and foot traffic was light, but not for long. As soon as the C11 gets hoisted on to the mount, people gather and ask what's going on in the sky.

Set-up a telescope....they will come....

For tonight's session we will have Chicago Astronomers: Linda, Mac, Jeremy & Heather and myself. Four scopes, little waiting...very cool.

Linda brought her sharp Vixen refractor....

Linda uses 1.25" eyepieces in her scope, but would like to upgrade to 2" ones. Her scope does have the ability for 2" accessories, but unsure if the focuser draw would accommodate a 2" right angle. After the crowds thinned out, we experimented with my own Celestron 2" right angle...and works great.

We had several visitors return for another peek two evenings in a row, taken with the Saturnian and Lunar views the crew shared, becoming fast fans of the Chicago Astronomer...

I initially used a variable polarizer for lunar viewing on a 40mm 2", but although it does provide great contrast views of the maria off the highlands, it also darkens the entire sphere some. Instead...I popped in a #80B Blue filter....with a much better pleasant view, keeping the overall brightness and still with contrasty relief.


Chicago Astronomer Support Crew member Barbara was on the job and all over the place...

...inviting passer-byers to come take a look and directing to open scopes, taking count of our attendance, explaining about the equipment, making sure parents were with their children and keeping eager hands off the scopes. She makes our star parties run smoother and keeps things tight and thankfully, allows me to attend to the scope and our visitors....

And....

Fellow Adler Planetarium Docent, Gary stopped by to share in the fun...but threw himself in the mix and welcomed and attended to our visitors, answering questions and monitoring my scope while I was interacting with guests. Excellent Gary and I encourage your participation often...

Lines were long this session and energy high...

Linda spotted Saturn first and slewed over to it, I kept my C11 focused on the Moon, but later also targeted the planet...looking especially sharp and detailed. I kept the #80B blue filter on the 26mm 2" eyepiece and made for a crisper view.

Chicago Astronomer Jeremy and Heather brought along his brand new 8" Dob for it's first C.A. public break in...and did very well...

...providing slick views for our visitors.

And...you can see the lunar map I put up. A last minute addition, I need to stiffen the map and Linda suggested that we could use some sorta terminator guide on the map. I shall work on this, but the map as is came in very well, allowing us to point out various lunar features in conjunction with instrument viewing. A lot of questions about the new theory of a object long ago that smashed into the Moon, to create what we have today.

Chicago Astronomer Mac brought along his ultra portable Dob and shared views with eager star gazers...

...borrowing a 1.25" barlow and eyepieces, he displayed Saturn nicely and his participation is very cool.

And we continue....

In the last pic, you can see the Astrobrella on the ground. I attempted to set it up and provide much needed shade from the glare, but it was just a bit too breezy and it toppled over. Leaving it there, it provided just the right light blockage for Jeremy's set-up.

We had an Iridium Flare near the end of the session as well...

Not a great one, at only 15 degrees high, but it still entertained our crowd!


And always time for a pic with friends and fans...

Our visitor total for this session was....175.

Everyone did a great job attending to our visitors, friends and guests...and with four telescopes - made the evening easy and stress free.

A big shout out to Chicago Astronomers: Linda, Mac, Jeremy & Heather!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Moe...!

Thanks for coming down and sharing the evening with us.

I dig your pics and the depth of field shots - thanks for posting them.

Sweet!

I hope you join us often...as we share some good laughs together... ;D

[jeremy]

We had a great time last night Joe! Thanks so much for letting my try out that narrow band filter and the tour of the 2" eyepieces. We really liked that 2" 32mm, then later adding the Barlow just made that eyepiece keep giving. Such a crisp view and a wide field of vision, fantastic. I think I might be on the lookout for one to start my collection!

[patrickm]

WOW WOW!! So jealous! Well done, all!!

Some day I will get to look through Linda's scope. :-\

Also good to see Jeremy and young Mac were there and of course, Barbara, the sanity giver.

Jeremy, cool you made it. Can't wait to check it out.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Jeremy,

It's always great to try before you buy.

If there is anything in my arsenal you want to try out on your Dob, just do it.

Patrick,
It was a solid two nights of astronomy and seems that we attended to over 320 visitors to our scopes.

Very cool.

I had played with idea of doing a third session this Friday evening, but conditions do not look promising.

Let see if you can make it for the next one - sometime soon.

[RobbW]

Awesome job as always, Joe and fellow CAs! I'll make it down again one of these days. Yep, too bad the weather is not going to cooperate for another session tonight, especially with it being the Perseids peak tonight. I'm really bummed about that!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Robb,

It's been too long since we last saw you, but I do sense a Dunes trip...very very soon!