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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Kicking off the 2012
Chicago Astronomer - Chicago Park District

"Nature Oasis"

Urban Astronomy Star Party season

Wednesday - 02 May 2012

Starting off our 3rd year of collaboration, the Chicago Astronomer and the Chicago Park District has teamed up again to offer park visitors views of the cosmos through the largest public mobile and free telescope in the city.

www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/stargazing-daley-bicentennial-plaza/

Our first park event will be at Daley Bicentennial Plaza, in Grant Park...

We will set up the C11 scope by the Ice Skating rink by 6:30 pm and remain till 9:30 pm. (Rain date: Friday - 04 May 2012)

We will have great lunar, Saturn and Venusian views, as well as Mars, Binary stars and other celestial points of interest for our first Park Dist. event.

[magic612]

So... we'll go back in time if it's rainy? (You have it listed as 04 April 2012).

I'll see if I can make it. If I can, should I bring a scope?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

You know Dave....

No one questioned Kirk when he took the Enterprise around the Sun to go back in time and bring back two whales.

(Corrected....sigh... )

It would be cool if you joined in.

If you bring a scope, then we can hang a Chicago Astronomer placard.

[magic612]

Apr 30, 2012 14:47:46 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

You know Dave....

No one questioned Kirk when he took the Enterprise around the Sun to go back in time and bring back two whales.

(Corrected....sigh... )

Ah shoot - I wasn't trying to be hard on you. I just wanted to be sure everyone knew for sure - seriously, some people would look at that and perhaps not realize the rain date meant May, not April. My bad.

Apr 30, 2012 14:47:46 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

It would be cool if you joined in.

If you bring a scope, then we can hang a Chicago Astronomer placard.

I'll see how the schedule looks - and the clouds, of course! If I can make it, where's a good place to park near there? Looks like there's street parking, but I know how difficult that can be to secure near an area like that.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave...

It's all good.

Parking may be tough. I don't know the area well enough to say either way. The Park District will provide me a pass to park in the lot, but just for one vehicle.

Let's see what the next day develops. Maybe we can arrange something...

[magic612]

Sounds good! I've got a "new to me" 6 inch f/5 reflector that is pretty compact to transport and carry, if that helps.

[patrickm]

A pointer to nearest parking and a solid location for gear drop off would be helpful.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

For this first one, alls I know is what the map shows.

The two anchors in the posted map are the paths to the parking lot. I'm checking on if more than one vehicle is permitted and will post as soon as I know something about this.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ok...

I spoke with the Park Supervisor and was instructed on the actual access to the site.

I shall make a recon trip tonight to the area for confirmation and will post the findings here in a bit.

I got you covered...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Weather Update:

Ain't lookin' too good kids...

We will make a call on a go/no-go status by 3pm or so....I'm doubtful. But...you never know, eh?

Friday is looking better for our first Park Session of the year.

Decision posted here on and Twitter/Facebook feeds.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Bicentennial Plaza Observation site update:

Taking a jaunt to our designated site, I have established clear directions to get there and parking...

Entrance is located close to the intersection of Lake Shore Drive & Monroe street. There is a small construction area just outside of the entrance. Chicago Astronomers are to pull into the "Restricted Vehicle" pathway - putting on blinkers and proceeding slowly...

...making a single left and then right turn - and head directly straight toward the designated parking spot.

We may set-up where we think it's best, either in the Ice Rink proper or along the adjacent areas...

The rink itself this evening, was pretty water logged and may noy be suitable in time for a possible Wednesday session....but should be fine for a Friday event with our scopes.

The angles and vistas are good...

To the East, South and West, we have good open skies, although we may have some lighting interference to deal with, but no big. To our north,...

...we have solid building cover. For our go-to polar alignment scopes, it may be a issue.

The weather still looks poor for Wednesday's session....but holding off on a decision till the afternoon.

Updates to follow.....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

SCRUBBED....!

After some weighing and radar map analysis...I have cancelled tonight's Park Dist/C.A star party.

The whole region is turbulent with unsettled precipitation and the satellites show banks of clouds rolling in from the SW. There are brief pockets of sucker holes, but the chance of a decent evening of observation is limited and poor.

We will shoot for Friday, 04 May...and see what the day brings....

Sorry kids.

[Paulie pchris00]

You made the right call with the data available, but...

It's clear here in NWI right now. Not that it's likely to stay that way...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie...

I am so angry at the forecasters right now...so angry.

Clear skies and a bright Moon above.

It would have been a perfect night.

Damn it.

[magic612]

Yup. I stayed home, watched the skies clear up, and saw Saturn perfectly sharp at 300x.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

We are hoping for a clear Friday night - 04 May, with a cold front moving in from the NorthEast - forecasters are sayin' that it will push the crud away.

Let's see...but we got mis-informed before.

Updates/confirmation/cancellation by 3pm Friday afternoon.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

We are shooting for a May 08th 2012 Star Party session for our Chicago Park District/Chicago Astronomer Bicentennial Plaza session. If good, we will set-up by 7:15 pm.

I'll make the call by 3:00 pm Tuesday afternoon, but it's looking like a partly cloudy day/night. If overcast, the next opening will be Thursday/Friday.

Stay tuned for updates.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

We are a go for tonight's Bicentennial Plaza Star Party in Grant Park.

(See the above for details and locale...)

We will be on-site by 6:30 pm and remain till 9:30 pm.

The weather is uncertain.

No rain, but puffy clouds prevail in the area. I'm, hoping the evening will clear them or at least more sky than clouds.

But...

If unsuitable skies hang around tonight, I will return on Thursday or Friday for better skies and show our park visitors a good cosmic sky.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A solid success for our first Chicago Park District/Chicago Astronomer Star Party session...

The day was partly cloudy, with the heavy threat of evening cloud cover, but I saw a break between large masses and called this session a solid go. Loading up the van, I spied the heavy clouds to the west, still receiving recon from suburban friends and taking a risk.

It was well worth it.

Setting up near the Ice Skating rink in Bicentennial Plaza by 6:45 pm, we weren't tool far from Buckingham fountain and massive buildings around us...

Aligning the scopes on the C11 on the Antenna of the Prudential building, (once the tallest building in Chicago), the mast needs some maintenance it seems. Support Crew member Maria helped...

Support crew member Barbara was also on scene and did her thing, as she encouraged, conversed and counted our visitors...

Our new Nature Oasis Program and Event Facilitator, Sarah was on site and we all got along very well, sharing stories and laughs while attending to our guests...

As hoped , the break in the clouds arrived soon after set-up and brought clear skies. Venus was our first target of the evening, displaying a beautiful crescent...

Just using a simple hand-held shot, I was able to capture the crescent nicely.

Many were perplexed on why Venus was displaying a Lunar-like phase. A simple demonstration on the Tablet helped our visitors to understand orbital mechanics.

We shared Venusian views for as long as we could, before losing it to the Prudential building ...

I then slewed over to Saturn to the east and thrilled our visitors and of course, was the hit of the session...

As we often hear at our session when showing Saturn, comments of "There's a sticker at the other end!" and comments of wonder at the ringed planet. I did not motorize the C11 this session, electing to do all manual tracking and using a 26mm 2" eyepiece for the session, bringing in a decent sized view of the planet.

And we continue, with Mars now popping into view...

Mars, rarely ever an impressive site in the eyepiece, we were still able to discern a polar ice cap and some terrestrial markings. Our visitors still wanted to view Mars, even though small...just to say they saw it....

Bouncing back and forth between Saturn and Mars was enough to bring smiles for our guests for this session...

Many wanted to grab a cell phone pic of Saturn, but of course, not very successful. one eager visitor settled for a Saturn simulation on the tablet.

And we continue, still with great skies...

Factoid:

The building behind us is the Blue Cross-Blue Shield building...and it's the one that alters it's windows for messages and symbols on Chicago's great looking skyline. Most recently, for the St.Jude's Day Police memorial...




Sarah and Barbara were great at bringing in park goers and Maria taking the pics...

It was nearing 10:00 pm and with clouds now moving in from the west, our session was over. This was a great first 2012 kick-off for our joint Chicago Park District/Chicago Astronomer Star parties.



Our crew for the evening:

Myself, Maria, Barbara, Sarah and her husband, Travis.

Onward to our June event at Oz park!

[magic612]

Looks like a great session Joe! Were you still planning on one for Friday? If so, my schedule looks good for that evening.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave,

It looks a great possibility for this Friday evening for some scope time with friends and fans.

Thursday, I will confirm and send out the notices/feeds.

[magic612]

May 9, 2012 13:35:08 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Dave,

It looks a great possibility for this Friday evening for some scope time with friends and fans.

Thursday, I will confirm and send out the notices/feeds.

;D

[Paulie pchris00]

I wanted to come, but we're into that time of year where the later sunset makes it hard to justify coming all the way out on a work night. I'll try to request off for the initial park dates, but when they get postponed, it will be hard for be to attend in the summer months.

Good job kicking off the park season.

[barbarai]

Hey Joe! I think we were all confused at Daley Bicentennial Park. The next CA/CPD event is scheduled for Humboldt Park.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Barbara...

So it is...

Humbolt Park... prepare for the Chicago Astronomer invasion.

Done and done.

[Paulie pchris00]

I was going to say, isn't Humbolt Park the home territory of a CA Support Crew member?

If so, there was no way I was going to miss it.

But then I looked up the date.

ARE YOU NUTS?!?!?!?!?

You scheduled a public event the night before the Transit??? What if some freak accident leaves you with a cracked correct plate?

I might have to come out that night just to run security on the C11...

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm just sayin' that Fate loves a temptation like this.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie,

Heh....It will be an action packed couple of days for the Chicago Astronomers.

I do have a few mag lights for security personnel.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm not worried about you!

I'm worried about the C11!

[Paulie pchris00]

You know I'm only kidding, right?

Right???