Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Feb 17, 2012 3:57:54 GMT -6
Adler After Dark
16 February 2012
16 February 2012
Adler Telescope crew for the night: Michael, Fred, Steve, Scott, Tom, Puneet, Steve and myself
I missed the past two AADs due to illness and scheduling conflicts, but was glad to work this one on a good winter's night.
Arriving about 6pm, I logged in my start time at the Adler via touch screen and got my parking passes for the month. Grabbing the telescope storage key, I took out the 10" Meade and set up up high. (Telescopes are temples to the stars and should reach up to.) Already set up were dobs and refractors targeting Venus, Jupiter and the Orion Nebula.
Fellow Adler crew member Steve assisted me in hoisting up the OTA on to the tripod mount and we decided to take advantage of the aperture and targeted M42 as well. Showing good detail and gas lanes, we shared the gas cloud with our visitors - and using my Android tablet throughout the evening, helped describe our objects - including Sirius, Jupiter and eventually Mars. Mars, very deep red, was hugging the horizon early on, but near the end of our session, ice cap and terrestrial markings were readily observable - and with only a 25mm 1.25" eyepiece.
The weather was decent for a February and not bitterly cold. Skies were clear for the most part, but we got socked in near the end and I called it early - about 9:30 pm.
It was "Space Chocolate" night at the Adler, with chocolate making and great samples of Fannie May exotic chocolates. New Adler Crew member & Chicago Astronomer fan, Puneet brought us a bunch...
Onward to the March AAD.
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