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[Paulie pchris00]

I have nearly an entire summer of unpublished data that I'm going to try to catch up on. I still have some writing to do on this one, but here's a teaser of my night of astronomy during the Gary Railcats American Association baseball game on July 25.




CAS member Jim, me, and Hillary await the game and the night sky.






My first fair ball.











It was a small crowd at the ballpark, but a fun night. And how many astronomers would target Saturn less than a degree above the massive ballpark lights?

[Paulie pchris00]

With the minor league baseball season ending over a month ago, and now the Major League regular season over, this post is way overdue. As the days cool off and the nighttime observing becomes downright cold, this is a fun look back at a 100 degree day, and a hot, humid night at the ballpark.


Like the first time I tried this in 2010, I was willing to do it alone, with Hillary, or with the help of any willing Calumet Astronomical Society members. The extreme heat kept at least one member away, but our treasurer Jim B. came to help.


I was set up and ready not long after the gates opened at 6 PM. With a late July sunset, I was ready to show the Sun as well as the Moon.




Jim, me, Hillary.






Looking across the outfield.






Luna over the Diamond Center club.




Hillary on the berm. She should have stayed there.


I was there for astronomy, but of course I kept an eye on the game, too. Hillary went walking around the ballpark, most likely looking for shade. When Mike Massaro came to bat for the Railcats in the bottom of the first, he put the 'Cats on the board with a blast to the berm in right field, not far from where Hillary had been sitting. I heard the crack of the bat, and found the ball heading vaguely in my direction. I jumped the rail onto the berm, and ran to try to catch the ball. I didn't make it in time, but with nobody around I was able to grab it while it was still rolling. I've got quite a few fouls balls at the Steelyard over the years, and mostly given them away, but this was my first fair ball. It's sitting in my baseball glove.






My first fair ball.




The blazing Sun called for some solar observing, mostly by me. I had a few people check out sunspots, though.















Once the Sun went down, it was all Luna, for awhile.


















Got the "Lunar X." Didn't know that until just now.









A muggy night at the ball park requires beverages.




Here comes Hillary with my second Mountain Dew.








Hillary and Jim watch the game for awhile.


Of course, I couldn't resist Saturn, even though it was just above the right field light bank, not far west of the Moon.






Jim handed out CAS flyers, and took email addresses of those wanting more information.






Seeing Saturn through the ballpark lighting.















If I remember right, the Railcats lost by a final score of 5-2.


A night of astronomy under ballpark lights doesn't phase me in the least, but it's been tougher to convince my fellow astronomers that it's a fun night out than to convince the Railcats that it's fun, educational, and free entertainment for their loyal fans. I still think this could be a premier attraction for Railcats fans in the future, but I need more of a commitment from CAS astronomers. In one night we could potentially reach more people than at a season's worth of open houses at Conway Observatory. Moreover, I think we could get people wondering, if this can be seen in a fully lit ballpark, what can be seen with the lights turned off? It's a perfect segue to educating about light pollution, which benefits us all. I'll try again next year, and every year after that the Railcats agree to my crazy idea.