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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Star Gazing in the Chicago White Sox Outfield with the Chicago Astronomer

29 June 2012

The Chicago Astronomer has been offered the opportunity to set-up telescopes and guide overnight participants in the White Sox Camp Out event on Friday, the 29th of June 2012.

Details here:

chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/community/campout.jsp

The Chicago Astronomer crew, (C.A.s John, Paulie and myself), will set-up telescopes in the outfield of the park and share the skies at 8:00 pm - conducting observations till 11:00 pm. After which, the option for the crew to spend the night is open.

As of the 14th of June, the White Sox reported that 300 participants have bought tickets for the camp out, with more expected. I will recon the field and meet with officials soon for more details, logistics and get our angles set.

A wonderful opportunity to share urban skies with baseball fans...

[Paulie pchris00]

It's a cool thing when my two loves come together.

As awesome as this is going to be, it won't be the first time I've done public astronomy at a professional ballpark.

pchris00pnc.blogspot.com/2012/08/astronomy-night-at-us-steel-yard.html


And a big thanks to everybody working to make this happen.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This has been in the works for at least a couple of months now and the Sox Organization is thrilled to have Astronomers on-site for this event.

We will do a great job showing the Moon, Saturn and Mars - and picking out fainter objects for those really into astronomy.

[magic612]

Joe, do you need more help? I can check my schedule and see how things can be re-arranged, if needed.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave...

Others have expressed interest and lending skills in working this very neat session as well.

Lemmie meet with the organizers of the event first, get a feel of the lay of the land and see where it puts us. Then I'll get a better idea on what the Sox Organization is to expect and cut off number of overnight participants...and the number of Astronomers they request.

Thank you for offering to lend your time for this activity...

Updates soon.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm also wondering if the ball park lights will be on? It would make sense to have them on, at least early in the night. I'm in either way, but it would be nice to know ahead of time if we'll have to battle the blazing lights or not.

[-=CROMAN=-]

too cool

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This is a point I will bring up.

Even with the blazing stadium lights, our two main objects of the evening, (The Moon and Saturn), will be easily observable and examined for our participants.

[Paulie pchris00]

Just a thought here. Campers are not allowed to bring chairs into the ballpark, nor are tent with stakes permitted. The White Sox are justifiably concerned about the condition of Sodfather Roger Bossard's immaculate outfield. I'm wondering if it would be best to set up our telescopes along the third base foul area, in the gravel. This would give us the best sight-line for the southern sky, but also make it impossible to polar align. We usually set up tables for eyepieces and such though, and I don't see that being in the foul territory gravel would do any harm to the field, since it's easily raked out.

The Sox are the boss, though, and I'll do whatever they think will give fans the best experience. I'm just honored to be invited as part of the crew.

P.S. I don't know yet if I'll be staying the night. It might be a last minute decision, if that's possible.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago White Sox/Chicago Astronomer Star Party Camp Out Details....

We are a solid go for Friday's Telescope session at Cellular Field. We took a walk around the field and logistics - here are the details for our three man crew:

The session for the telescope crew will star at 8:00 pm till 11:00 pm. It is recommended to arrive by 7:00 pm and get some eats before setting up. If not, then arrive at the field by 7:30 pm to set-up. The food court area in "The Patio", across from us, the main free meals will cease by 7:30 pm, but will provide free light snacks throughout the event.

We will park directly across from Gate 4, which is the main entrance for the White Sox staff - and move our equipment via that entrance directly to the field - a short jaunt. There will be a cart and a intern to assist us in unloading, transport and re-load our gear from the parking lot.

The crew will be provided event wrist bands.

We will set-up our scopes by the White Sox team dug-out...

There is about 30 feet of space to stretch out and attend to our visitors and still maintain a clear walk path. With our tables and accessories, there will be room for three scopes only and A/C power will be provided for us...

I don't need a/c power and will remain in the center. John and Paulie can utilize the a/c for scopes and laptop use. This section will be the Chicago Astronomer area. Sections along the outside track will be reserved for other organizations working the event.

The infield will be roped off and off-limits to all. So when walking to and fro throughout the night, please walk along the outside track. The overnighters will set-up their tents and bags on the outfield, playing catch and other activities.

At our telescope location, will have a perfect southern vista - catching a good ecliptic line. The field lights will remain on unfortunately, but with the Moon, Saturn and Mars to share, it will not be a problem. If you have your dew shields, it will help to darken your apertures. C.A. Support Crew member Maria will be on hand as our liaison for the event, as will the event organizer. This will be a great photo-op session and a rare opportunity. For the Chicago Astronomers who expressed interest in working this event, I apologize that only three were allowed by the White Sox organization. We will have more opportunities in the future and share the experience.

If cloudy....then we can pick out interesting areas of the ball park to show our visitors, such as the broadcaster booth, scoreboard etc...

It will be a very warm night, but dress sharply. T-shirt and jeans are fine - White Sox logos/apparel are good. Wear your Chicago Astronomer buttons and most of all....have a fun time.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Good Luck guys!

[John]

I am psyched for the US Cellular Camp Out With the Sox event! I like where you spotted my scope, since I'm closest to home plate ... not that I'm planning to steal home, but if the ball gets away ....

[magic612]

Have fun guys! Not that I need to say it, but take lots of pictures, Joe.

[Paulie pchris00]

Jun 27, 2012 21:09:41 GMT -6 magic612 said:

Have fun guys! Not that I need to say it, but take lots of pictures, Joe.

I'm going to try to fill my 8GB memory card tomorrow night. ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Chicago Astronomers had a blast working the Camp Out event Friday evening....

Full narrative and pic series in a bit, but the crew were treated like V.I.P.S. and the whole experience was a treat!

Righteous.... #Thumbsup#

[Paulie pchris00]

First of all, thanks to Joe and Maria for including me as part of this highly privileged crew, and thanks to the Chicago White Sox for attempting to bring the heavens within reach for their campout fans.


I arrived with Hillary shortly before 7 PM, the first of the CA crew. After waiting around the front lobby (and watching the Sox mount an early comeback effort against the hated Yankees), Sox security finally decided we had legitimate business, and escorted us to the field behind home plate. There we met Lucy (not in the sky, but near the baseball diamond). She led us to the outfield Patio, where food was being served, then turned us loose.




I love seeing the 2005 World Series Commissioner's trophy. One of the benefits of entering Gate 4.




Lucy leads us to the Patio to eat.









I hadn't brought my telescope in yet, so after a cold drink, I wandered through the outfield with Hillary, taking plenty of pictures of us on the field. Coming around the left field warning track, I saw John by the Sox dugout, and quickly headed over there. By the time we met with John, Joe and Maria had arrived on the field. The five of us then headed back to the Patio to eat.






Hillary answers the call to the 'pen.






Hillary on the visitor's bullpen mound.




A crafty righty warms up.








Straight-a-way center field.












Two Sox great Hall of Famers of my lifetime.






Not an exact re-enactment of Dewayne Wise's perfect game saving catch, but paying homage to both Wise and Buehrle.




astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ponderings&action=display&thread=2533








John always looks this excited when I see him at the ballpark.




Here come Joe and Maria.


Before sunset, cloud cover was scattered, and looked like we might enjoy some lunar observing, and possibly even Saturn. I wasn't overly optimistic because I'd seen the satellite and radar images of what was heading our way, but maybe the next storms would hold off until later in the night.










Evidence of the day's earlier storms.







With a little time to kill before setting up our telescopes, Hillary, John, and I went down into the visitors's clubhouse for a tour. I can now say that my home White Sox jersey (won quite a few years ago by correctly answering a Sox trivia question during a game radio broadcast) has hung in a big league locker.














Going into the visitor's dugout.






Me, in the visitor's dugout.




Looking out at the field from the clubhouse tunnel.




Going down the tunnel to the clubhouse.






Hillary and John in the clubhouse.








My Sox jersey hung proudly, if momentarily, in a big league locker.




Coed lockers.






Back to the dugout.










I gazed at the Moon from in front of the White Sox dugout.





I got my "fan experience" out of the way, and was ready to shift gears into astronomer mode. I brought in my telescope and gear, set up, and stared at clouds. Luna was gone. She peaked between the clouds just long enough to sight and focus, and then she disappeared again.










Joe and John got on the big screen, but I just missed getting a picture of it.






Seventh inning stretch time in New York.




Hillary has a short look at Luna. Check out the clip I use to hold my lunar map.










Joe is interviewed by a reporter.


John and I set our scopes on some targets in the outfield- John chose Paul Konerko's blue World Series grand slam seat, and I chose the Frank Thomas statue. We then walked out to the left field grass for some barehanded catch. When the Moon shined a little brighter through the clouds, we went back to our telescopes. It was for naught, though, as the clouds quickly brought in reinforcements to foil our observing session. Joe then told us that a storm was approaching, and that we should get our crew photos while we had the chance.










What an awesome place to set up telescopes!










John shows a kid Konerko's World Series grand slam seat.




The Frank Thomas statue, as seen through my Dob.




I guarantee John was telling Maria how awesome it was to be out there.






Trying to catch a baseball and take a picture at the same time leads to pictures like these...




My shoes on the third base foul territory warning track gravel. I meant to take the same picture in the left field grass.














John and I play catch in left field.



Pictures were taken in and around the White Sox dugout, telescopes and equipment packed away, and the Sox cheered to a 14-7 victory against the Bronx bombers in Yankee Stadium on the center field screen. I never like to be clouded out during an event, but if it's going to happen, it might as well happen when we're at a super cool location. I didn't feel that sense of let down I sometimes get when we set up telescopes, and then have nothing in the sky to show.






Sitting in the Sox dugout. I didn't spit in it this time.




Sox beat the Yankees in NYC.




Getting ready for a crew group shot.




Joe, Maria, me, John, Hillary.




Packed up before the storm comes in.


We put away all our gear, then took a walk through the club level concourse, where the overnight campers had set up tents. We talked Sox and Chicago history, Apollo missions, and more as we looked through the photo archives on the concourse walls. We enjoyed dessert and beverages, and even went out to the seating area to look over the empty ballpark, watching the lightning and rain move in. As the rain came in, it was time for us to head out.










Tents set up along the club level concourse.




Looking out at the empty ballpark.




Here comes the rain.













My "campout" comes to an end.


As we were leaving, we stopped to talk to some of the Sox staff. They seemed pleased and excited that we were there, even though the weather didn't cooperate. They seemed eager to have us back, especially after Joe promised to "show the cosmos." All I can say is, we need to convince the front office staff that late October is the absolute best time for showing the cosmos, and hope that the Sox make a Series run.


Except for the weather, what a fun night.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Chicago Astronomers set up shop in US Cellular Field

29 June 2012

I had planned to arrive at the park long before C.A.'s John, Hillary and Paulie...but as it worked out...Maria and I were the last to arrive! The crew explored the stadium for awhile before we headed for the eats...

We had time before we were scheduled to set-up our scopes at 8:00 pm or so. And we toured the area at our leisure. Look at john's expression...

Gail Tucker, Corporate Partnership Director for the White Sox Organization made the Chicago Astronomer crew most welcomed...

And Amy from the White Sox assisted us in transporting our gear - providing us with a much needed cart...

And so we set up our gear, just outside of the White Sox dug out...

The skies were starting to cloud as we were setting up, but I was hoping to get some lunar viewing in for our guests before the predicted storms would arrive later that evening...

As good optimistic astronomers that we are, we look around for alternate targets in the park to show in case we get clouded out...

The White Sox announced our presence in the park as the resident astronomers for the evening and come and see "Astro Joe"...

I managed to show the Moon to several of our visitors, who were astounded at what they observed of the lunar surface. I kept the views at low power, using the 40mm 2" eyepiece which fits the orb nicely in the FOV. But soon enough, the Moon ducked behind the approaching storm front - ceasing any celestial views...and for the rest of the stadium session...

But we slewed our scopes to other park delights such as the Homerun pin-wheels, Jumbotron and lighting...as well as reaching across the park and lovelies...

Our visitors were also amazed at how close we could get to any part of the park with our equipment. Especially interesting was zooming into the jumbotron, picking up only the red, blue green pixels of the screen. Really...I was amazed myself...

At about 9:30 pm, the White Sox organization was concerned about the weather warnings issued and notified us that perhaps we should start to consider packing up before it stormed. The skies were completely clouded out, but we were having a great time with our visitors and we kept the action going...


Comcast was recording this event for a later broadcast and they stopped over for a chat and interview...

(Thanks to Paulie for capturing the scene...

But, lest we tempt the weather gods...we started to break down our site, but first some fun shots...

Here, Paulie presents me with a very cool pair of Transit Sunglasses, used on June 5th at his observation site in Indiana. There was a great chance that I would not observe this great event, due to a medical situation with Mom, and he wanted me to have a memento of it.

Very cool and thank you....!

Some more last shots before we take our equipment back to our vehicles..

After packing our gear away, we re-entered the stadium and join the campers who were ushered inside to the 3rd level to set-up their tents and sleeping bags - as the threat of storms was too risky to set-up on the outfield as planned. While there, we explored the level and enjoyed even more snacks and fun...

The White Sox Organization has panels depicting the decades of the ball team. Here we enjoy the 70's and the 60's...with a nod to the golden age of space exploration...which we are highlighting...

I and the Chicago Astronomer crew had a great time at this wonderful opportunity to set-up telescopes and share astronomy with White Sox fans - and we hope to get invited back again soon for future night time events. Thanks to John, Hillary, Paulie, Maria and the entire White Sox organization for making this happen. ;D

[Paulie pchris00]

Outstanding.

[headdunce]

Cool.

(Go Cubs.)

[magic612]

Very sweet. Too bad the clouds didn't cooperate by making themselves scarce, but it's clear from the pictures that all of you had a great time in spite of that.

[Paulie pchris00]

Jun 14, 2012 17:40:47 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

It's a cool thing when my two loves come together.

As awesome as this is going to be, it won't be the first time I've done public astronomy at a professional ballpark.

pchris00pnc.blogspot.com/2012/08/astronomy-night-at-us-steel-yard.html

I just found out I'll be doing an observation again at U.S. Steelyard during the Railcats game on July 25. My plan is to work more ballparks than the Famous Chicken.

[Centaur]

Glad you folks had a good observation session at the ballpark. The only time I was at the Cell was to play in a softball game during our company picnic in 2002.

Congratulations on the White Sox currently doing so well. I wish I could offer the same to the Cubs. A recent thread on the Cubs message board inquired about who should be traded. In answer I altered the old wartime drinking song "Bless 'Em All".



Trade 'em all;
Trade 'em all,
The long and the short and the tall.

Trade all those pitchers to the Bucs and the Nats;
Trade all those hitters and their stinkin' bats.

'Cuz we're saying goodbye to 'em all,
And back to their dugout they crawl.

They'll get no champagne sprays for all their inane ways,
So cheer up my lads trade 'em all.