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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Star Party

Sunday - 28 Monday 29 August 2011

August has certainly been a very active month for Chicago Astronomers. Attending to hundreds of of visitors to our scopes throughout this summer, Sunday will be a great last weekend of August to display our telescopes, meet friends and share the skies with new fans.

I will set up the C11 SCT west of the Adler building at 7:00pm - while it is still light out - and grab Saturn as soon as I can. We will also try and catch Venus, but the skyline might interfere.

And, as usual in the awkward time before Jupiter rises, we will pick out familiar brighter Deep Space Objects for our guests. The area will be clear of any events at nearby venues and parking should be plentiful.

It will be a great crisp evening under urban stars as August comes to an end.

Be there.....you know you want to.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

SCRUBBED...

Sorry kids.

I waited until the last moment, but the approaching cloud system from the NW id heavy and will make for no viewing this evening.

We will try for tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ok Kids...

Monday's weather forecast calls for a high pressure system over our region and very clear skies.

Ergo....I will set up a Telescope tonight, 29 August, at 7:00 pm...promise...

[atomant]

We should try to catch Comet Garradd approaching the Coathanger.
Hercules glob is moving out of its neck breaking position too.
I'll try to be there lil after 8pm.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I'm game for comet chasing.

All looks good for tonight!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Nebulae, Galaxae and binarae...

This was an easy session. It was the re-scheduled star party from Sunday evening when the region got clouded over and disappointed our fans.

No big crowds, lines or rush, but instead long talks with visitors and making new Chicago Astronomer friends.

C.A. Steve joined early on with C.A. Bill during the second half. ..

Here - Steve had an out of body experience...

As soon as I set up the C11, I started shooting Saturn, while Steve attended to the early visitors...

These will be the last shots I get until she swings around the Sun. And even while in the atmospheric muck, one could still make out ring structure and planet banding, albeit turbulent.

Saturn, has been the marvel of this summer for all our visitors, with gasps, ooohs, and shouts of disbelief. Many have told me that they will never forget their first views of Saturn with the Chicago Astronomers. It's too bad that it will be quite awhile till we have her in our warm evening skies again. But, mighty Jupiter takes the stage soon for some pretty cool fall star parties and won't disappoint.

And...I think Saturn is pretty cool too...

Andrew, with an Astrophysics background, heard about our gathering and stopped by on roller blades...

...Andrew was a good Chicago Astronomer ambassador, guiding visitors to our scopes and answering questions.

We bounced around this evening from Saturn early on, to Alberio, Coathanger, E.T. Cluster, Andromeda, Vega, Arcturus and the Mizar/Alcor system. Objects interesting enough for laypeople...although M31 was borderline...save for one person...

At our last star party, I promised Yvonne, (who is becoming a regular now), a nebula at her next visit. Well, we gave her two...M31 and M57. Sometimes, when the C.A. crew shows an object that is faint like these two, we get a passing "Oh" or "Is that all?" Not with Yvonne. She studied the Andromeda galaxy with great intent and for long periods of time - and without prompting, spotted the satellite galaxy M110. The same study intent with the Ring Nebula.

I like that...

We had some very nice people stop by and share views, some returning Chicago Astronomer fans....

I learned from this nice family that the Big Dipper, in Indian lore, is referred to as "The Seven Saints". Very cool.

I brought the Astro-brella for some nice shading and set it up after the breezes settled - eclipsing Steve's scope's line of vision at first . ..

D'oh!

And we continue...

After Steve left and the visitors thinned out, Bill and I searched for Comet Garradd, but came up empty. I blame glare. Targeted was M13 and Jupiter, as we packed up the gear, well after park closing time.

I shot Jupiter with just the 12x optical zoom on the Canon Powershot S3...

Here I shoot Cassiopeia, while Bill works the C11...

I estimated we had about 30 or so visitors to our site this session. And there were two ISS passes and a bright Iridium flare. Heavens Above timing was off and late..and I have noticed that the directional headings are off too sometimes.

Great thanks to Steve and Bill for sharing the night with me.

[jeremy]

Great write-up Joe, looks like everyone had a great time. Sorry to hear Gerradd proved elusive. I wish I could have made it out last night, the skies looked so clear!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Jeremy,

Thanks man.

I received very nice notes, new Twitter/Facebook followers from this session.

If there are hundreds during a session or just me...either way I have fun. Sharing just makes it better.

Let's see when we do the next one.