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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Museum of Contemporary Photography and the Chicago Astronomer

08 September 2011

www.mocp.org/events/2011/09/

This has been in the planning stages since early summer and we are ready for showtime.

On Thursday, September 8th, Chicago Astronomer Paulie and I will set up telescopes for the art festivities and the reception for this new exhibition focusing on the origins of man...including a space angle. The organizers felt that the gallery visitors would appreciate first hand experiences observing through telescopes and discussing astronomy. The lead organizer attended one of our Chicago Astronomer sessions and had a great time. (We always put on a great show!)

We will set up telescopes across the street from Columbia College...

Scouting the site weeks ago, we will have a good south and eastern view for the Moon and Deep Space Objects. The event is a public one and open to all.

We will arrive on-site at 7:00pm to set up and remain till about 10:00pm or so.

Unsure yet on a rain date, but will post updates if the skies become inclement.

If free or in the area, stop by, enjoy the art and share the skies with the Chicago Astronomers.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm looking forward to this. Are we free to tour the exhibits? And are there any topics that will likely be covered, so I can brush up on my responses?

And what is the parking situation? The Grant Park underground is right there, but I'd hate to have to haul everything through the garage and up the stairs.

[patrickm]

Cool

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie,

There is a parking lot behind Columbia College.

This is the plan.....meet me at my garage at 6;30 pm and we will park your cruiser where my Van is parked. Then...load all the equipment - including yours and off we go.

There, we will unload and you can stay with the stuff while I park. Columbia will also have assistants on hand to help out.

I don't know how the time will flow, but perhaps we each can take a turn and see the exhibit just across the street.

Details updated soon.

[tomlee]

Aug 31, 2011 11:15:01 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Paulie,

There is a parking lot behind Columbia College.



Details updated soon.

Joe, there is $6 parking after 3:00pm at State and Harrison.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Tom,

Excellent info on the parking...thx!

But alas....

It looks like we will have to scrub the telescopes for the event.

The trailing edge of former depression Lee will most likely shut us out, for a re-schedule on October 4th.

We will make a decision by 4pm Thursday...but I'm not hopeful.

Sorry kids.

[Paulie pchris00]

Right now, the satellite is showing Chicago at the very edge of the Lee system. It's not moving fast, but looks as if the best case scenario will be scattered clouds and sucker hole viewing. AS of 15 minutes ago (the most recent images), radar shows rain approaching the outskirts of Valparaiso, but I haven't seen any rain yet. This entire weekend looks like it will be a bust for observing.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

SCRUBBED....

It is raining presently in Chicago.

We have just conferred and decided to cancel the Chicago Astronomer Telescope set-up for this Art reception opening event.


We have re-scheduled our involvement for the 4th of October.

Sorry kids.

[Paulie pchris00]

Can't say I'm surprised about the scrub. Better luck next time then.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

UPDATE:

As of Friday, the 30th of September, we are a go for the Columbia College/Chicago Astronomer joint art exhibit star party on Tuesday - October the 4th.

We should be set up by 7:00 pm and remain until...the crowd thins out - our call.

Be there.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A great Columbia College/Museum of Contemporary Photography /Chicago Astronomer success...

Chicago Astronomer Paulie left his car by me and loaded the van with our gear, heading out to the designated observation area, across the street from the Museum of Contemporary Photography /Columbia College.

Meeting us was Chicago Astronomer Barbara, our Liaison/Organizer Corrine and two Columbia students. Double parking briefly, we unloaded our gear in a pile, checked our angles for the Moon and I went to park while Paulie set up...

Almost immediately, we had our guests arrive en masse from the lecture and many other passer-byers to our site...

We both targeted the Moon, bringing awe and grins to our guest, many who had never peered through a telescope before. The lunar terminator was bringing great sharp defined views of light and dark. I kept the magnification low at the start, with the entire orb in the F.O.V, but many wanted to dive into the craters, so we pumped it up...to the delight of our new fans.

The area was bathed in an amber glow, from astro-unfriendly blazing street lighting, literally blotting out familiar constellations- I could barely make out Cassiopeia, but it was fine for lunar and Jovian observations...

I had forgotten to bring the tripod, so I drafted Barbara as our photographer for the evening...

Many took their turn and fascinated with the views, returned to the back of the line for some more time with the Moon...

Our Organizer, Corrine from the Museum of Contemporary Photography/Columbia, shares a pic with me...

And C.A. Tom arrived to take some pics...

And we continue....

Chicago Police always stop by Chicago Astronomer public observation events and share views...

A steady stream of young Columbia students kept arriving at our site, entering into discussions about astronomy, lunar features and the C11 beast...and - how much it cost...

In this last pic above, was a student, (right), that was an intern with master mirror maker, Roger Angel, an astronomer and mirror designer at the University of Arizona. She shared some of her experiences and was interesting to learn the process of spinning mirrors.

Paulie, on the look out for Jupiter, spotted it and changed location angle...

I had to drag the bulky C11 a couple of times, but also got it for a time, as now the Moon slipped behind building across the street and losing it for this session...

I had a small "Stonehenge-like" slit to target Jupiter...

I had noticed that Paulie has on his scope, our various logos from Chicago Astronomer member websites...

Very Cool....and I get two logos...well, because I'm Joe.

At about 9:00 pm, the visitors thinned out and we broke down the site. The evening was very comfortable and I remained in shirt throughout, but near the end, I observed that dew was starting to form on our equipment.

Our crew for the night...

Myself, Paulie and Barbara.

Also...

To decompress and celebrate a successful joint session - with 78 visitors - I treated Paulie to his first ever Maxwell Street Hot dog...

Well fed and van unloaded, we take a break and chat a bit...

Showing my off-garage observation site, where I set up the C11, capturing the M101 supernova and eastern vistas pics of ecliptic objects, we end a very fun session.

A big thanks to Columbia College/Museum of Contemporary Photography for the opportunity to share Chicago skies!

[hillimolly]

Great job Joe And Paulie,

[RobbW]

Awesome work by the CA crew, as always! Paulie, I didn't think it was possible to dress up a baseball cap, but you prove me wrong. Makes me wonder if we'll ever see what you really look like?! Also, thanks for the free advertising on your scope. That is sweet and too cool!!!!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Here is the very nice note from Corrine, our Coordinator from the Museum:

Hi Joe,


What a wonderful night last night! Thank you so much for your work. It was so lovely to end our discussion on the cosmos at the museum with actual star gazing. I can see why you love what you do. It’s clear that everyone shares a sense of wonder at the opportunity to view the night sky in this way. Such fun.

Thank you again and please thank your partners for me.

When you have a chance please do send me a file of the group picture and we can post it too.


Best,
Corinne

It was indeed a fun night with young students and urban skies...

[Paulie pchris00]

Oct 5, 2011 12:21:45 GMT -6 RobbW said:

Awesome work by the CA crew, as always! Paulie, I didn't think it was possible to dress up a baseball cap, but you prove me wrong. Makes me wonder if we'll ever see what you really look like?! Also, thanks for the free advertising on your scope. That is sweet and too cool!!!!

I hadn't intended on wearing my dirty old Sox hat, but it's so much a part of me that I forgot.

I found magnetic printer paper (5 sheets for like $10), and thought it would be cool. I don't have my own blog represented though. I want to design an actual logo, instead of just my picture for the header. Once I get a logo, then I can print that and add it to the collection. I figure it was an easy way to help promote our little group(s) and websites.

[tomlee]

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Tom,

I dig the wide mm lens you used....

It give a better perspective on the area we worked and energy.

You too cool man.

[tomlee]

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

OMG....!

Video!.......

Righteous!

Tom is too cool...

[Paulie pchris00]

Hey, hey! We're movie stars after all!

Nice shots, Tom.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Columbia/Museum of Contemporary Photography posts the Star Party event pics

www.mocp.org/blog/2011/10/chicago_astronomer_joe_guzman.php

This was a fun activity with the museum.

My fellow Chicago Astronomers who worked the event with me, (Barbara & Pauile), felt good positive vibes and energy from the location and from our visitors.

We would enjoy working with Columbia/MoCP again soon!

Joe

[Paulie pchris00]

Finally getting around to getting things posted that should have been done a long time ago. Better late than never, I guess...

When Joe asked me to participate in this, I was honored and excited. Originally scheduled for September 8 to coincide with the opening of the exhibit "Our Origins," it was pushed back to October 4 due to weather. The October session was tied into a talk by Kathryn Schaffer, PhD, entitled, "Beyond Visibility: Photography and our Connection to the Cosmos." After the lecture, guests would be invited to cross Michigan Avenue to Grant Park, where Joe and I would be showcasing the 8 day old Moon, and later Jupiter.

The plan was for me to meet Joe at his house, load my equipment into his van, and carpool to the downtown college. I arrived in the city way too early, so I drove downtown to try to get a glimpse of the observation site. When I finally turned onto Michigan Ave., it was from Harrison St. I didn't know it, but we later set up right across the street. As I was sitting at the light waiting to turn, I saw Chicago Astronomer Steve come around the corner. I honked and waved, but he didn't see me. What are the odds?

I showed up at Joe's house just in time to transfer my equipment and get to the college. Chicago Astronomer Support Crew Barbara and our Columbia College liaison Corrine were waiting for us on the southeast corner of Michigan & Harrison. Joe double parked on the street long enough for us to unload the gear, then left to park his van at the school parking lot. When he returned, he hurried to set up his scope, as my Dobsonian was ready to go in just the few minutes Joe was gone.

Right away there was a small crowd eager to see the Moon. We always get good crowds when we set up near Adler Planetarium, but this was different. The college students were full of energy, and were especially eager to soak up any insight we could provide, and gather plenty of lunar photons to their eyes. The enthusiasm was contagious, as passersby on Michigan Ave. stopped to get in on the action. Even they were more attentive than the more relaxed and casual visitors we encounter near Adler.




We had this gorgeous backdrop of the city skyline.











The night before, I noticed that libration had rotated the visual western limb towards us, allowing a small peak onto the "far side" of the Moon. I pointed this out at every chance, and used my 3' laminated lunar map to show what to look for.




The Moon's western limb was rotated towards us more then usual. I tried to point this out.






Just before we lost the Moon to the skyscrapers across Michigan Avenue.


Since early in the observing season, Barbara has been at many Chicago Astronomer sessions, making first contact with many visitors, allowing those of us with telecopes to attend directly to those looking through our scopes at the moment. I know she's done a great job facilitating viewing, but I finally had a chance to really notice it. Despite the almost non-stop viewing at my telescope, I was able to see Barbara pulling in the crowd, engaging them, and directing people to our telescopes. She allowed Joe and I to stay focused on the individual observing experience, instead of being pulled in many different directions at one time. Big thanks to Barbara for her effort.




Barbara makes busy sessions go more smoothly.


Since most of our early visitors were aware that Jupiter would rise to visibility around 8:15, many waited around to see it. When it finally cleared a distant tree, I re-positioned my Dob a few feet south to get a clear view. We would be lost the Moon to the skyscrapers across the street soon after Jupiter rose, but for a few minutes I was able to go back and forth between them with ease. Joe wasn't so lucky. He had an obstructed view to the east, and we had to drag the C11 Beast a few feet so that he could capture the Jovian system.






Targeting Jupiter.


Jupiter has always been my favorite planet to observe. Saturn and it's glorious rings are the obvious crowd pleasers, but with our especially attentive audience, the Jovian system was a joy to show off. It's low position in the sky didn't allow for good high magnification viewing, but at low power Jupiter was looking darn impressive. And those four little dots accompanying the gas giant got plenty of attention too, especially when I stated that their sizes roughly compare to our own Moon.





By 9 PM, Corrine had told us that our obligation to the college was met, and that we could stay as long as we wished, or until the park closed. By that time, foot traffic was thinning out, and we decided to break down the site not long after 9:00. Joe and I parted ways with Barbara when her bus came, then we left too. To celebrate a successful observation with 78 visitors, Joe treated me to my first Maxwell St. hot dog. (If you have a Chicago style hot dog, chances are it's copying the famous Maxwell St. dogs). We sat there discussing how we got involved in public astronomy, and the future of the Chicago Astronomer organization. We both see big things ahead, but it will take a lot of work. The payoff, though, could be well worth it.

As Joe drove back to his house, he took me past a few locations that might be promising observation sites someday. After loading my equipment into my car, we hung around in the alley for a few minutes. Joe showed me the marks on the ground where he set up the C11 (to aid in polar aligning), and the view through the trees and power lines where he saw the M101 supernova last month. I also saw the Chevelle in his garage for the first time since it's involvement in a hit-and-run crash in June 2010. Running on little sleep though, I soon had to head home and get to bed. It was a high energy session, and one of the most fun times I've had sharing the sky with the public.

"Success!"

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Heh...

I enjoyed reading about our adventure all over again with Paulie's detailed narrative.

I hope we do this again with Columbia...the energy at the site was indeed different, but not C.A. Barbara...she is always on the ball and vital.