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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomer Comet Pan-STARRS Party

Wednesday - 13 March 2013

The Chicago Astronomers will set-up Telescopes Wednesday evening at 7:00pm to attempt to catch our first glimpse of Comet Pan-STARRS low in our western skies...just after sunset.

Despite the false media hype, this comet will not dazzle the heavens and really, be rather hard to locate naked eye. It should be a fine telescopic target and the full power of the C11 should bring it in nicely. (The above pic is from 11 March 2013 from under Texas skies. We should expect about the same.)

We will set-up at our usual Chicago Astronomer Observation spot - just west of the Adler Planetarium building. Of course, this session is pending on the weather, but forecast calls for clearing skies by set-up time. Monitor this thread and our social media feeds for updates and confirmations.

For those who plan in joining us, note that we will all have a small observation window - may 15 minutes if we are lucky. After that, the comet will have sunk too low to the horizon and lost for the session. Arriving at 8pm will only bring you Jupiter....which isn't all that bad. We will track this comet for the next couple of months, but now in the next 2 weeks is when it will be at it's brightest.

If free, join us for some comet watching...and I'll throw in Jupiter for kicks.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm hoping to be there, but will keep an eye on the forecast.

We need a good high pressure system to move in and sit for a few days. I can't remember a winter that's been this dismal and cloudy.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Okay...

We are still a go for tonight's Comet Catch Party...

But, it sure is windy and cold out there baby.

So....

I'm thinking of leaving the C11 home and setting up the C5 and the 102mm refractor...swapping them out for the session...

I'll grab some pics, share some views with our fans and then....we are out by 8:30 pm.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Not a cloud in the sky....bright blue skies.

it doesn't get any better in the City for some Comet spotting.

I will be on-site at 7pm with the C11.....sigh.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Comet Pan-STARRS in Chicago skies

13 March 2013

It was uncertain if Comet Pan-STARRS would be visible under Chicago skies, but Chicago Astronomers and fans are hardy - braving cold temps and eager to see a comet. I set-up the C11 Beast at the usual Chicago Astronomer Observation site and targeted the crescent Moon, entertaining the small group that assembled - while I scanned the western skies for any sign of the comet...

About 45 minutes after sunset, I spotted the comet in 15x80 binoculars - sporting a broad two tails spread. Unmistakable very comet-like. Slewing the C11 toward the comet, she made a nice object. Bright and fan-tail easily enjoyed by all present...

This was a quick observation - with about 10 minutes of time before it sank behind a building...

With people entralled at looking at their first comet, I hooked up the Canon Powershot S3 to the 90mm Refractor riding on top of the C11 for some all too quick shots...

After everyone took their look, I took mine and stayed there at the eyepiece till I lost it. I directed those who wanted another second peek to the 90mm Refractor. After the comet was lost, I targeted the Moon for our fans...

Later, I also slewed to Jupiter and the Orion nebula, but...this session was over. With the comet gone and the cold temps, I packed up the gear and was out by 8:30 pm.

We had about an even dozen in this small group, some who didn't dress for the weather and had to leave even before viewing the comet. I could not see the comet naked eye, but quite easily in any and all optical instruments. The coma was surprisingly bright and the dual tails fanning away nicely.

This site was of course not the best for comet catching, but even here - with buildings, no horizon, glaring street lights and a short window of viewing - even so...a successful Comet Pan-STARRS 1st catch for the Chicago Astronomer and friends...!

We will be following this Oort Cloud visitor for a while...with better pics...and warmer weather.

[Paulie pchris00]

Nice job!

[flip89]

Cool, and thanks! I didn't find any in my photos :-(.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Ken...!

Oh man.......next time!

Glad you joined the party.

[magic612]

Nice write up Joe, and good pictures. Your experience sounds very similar to mine timing-wise - though I had no visitors where I was. Here's some photos:

img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/magic612/Wide%20field%20astrophotos/CometPANSTARRSwideviewbyDavidFullerMarch132013.jpg

Above: Wide view, with Moon. Comet is faint, just below dead center. Taken around 7:45 pm.

img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/magic612/Wide%20field%20astrophotos/CometPANSTARRSmediumviewbyDavidFullerMarch132013.jpg

Above: Medium view shot. Taken around 7:50 pm.

img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/magic612/Wide%20field%20astrophotos/CometPANSTARRSbyDavidFullerMarch132013.jpg

Above: Probably my best, and one of the latest shots. Taken at 7:55 pm with a 200mm lens, I couldn't see the cloud, comet, or tree when I took this. Very dark, but the exposure time picked everything up nicely.

EDIT: Hmmm, for some reason Proboards is not letting me post images. I'll post direct links instead.

(Dave: I had been having problems with postings as well. It doesn't like certain file names or folder. Hyphens are a certain no go I found out - Joe.)

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave...

I dig your wide open horizon advantage and the pics of Pan-STARRS.

Very cool indeed.

[magic612]

Thanks Joe. Sweet that you took out the C11; better light grasp, I'm sure, even if the window to see the comet was short. I thought about heading up your way, but some family stuff going on required that I stay near to home last night.

My pictures of course don't reveal that there was a ridiculously bright 300 watts or so light bulb right behind me when I took the shots. But I had a good 30 minutes to snap photos. Out of 140 or so, I got about 6 good ones.

Thank goodness photography today isn't like the days of film....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Fellow Adler Telescope Facilitator Fred and I had binoculars and we were both scanning the skies. I thought it would be more south than where it was found - like over Soldier field. But it's closer to cardinal west.

I was the first to spot it, about 10 degrees above the building that will block it....and only gave us about 10 minutes to target and enjoy. I thought it more important to take pics and let our visitors peek.

(A side note: I waited while the majority of our guests took their turns and enjoyed the comet in the main eyepiece. with about only a couple of minutes until I would lose it, it was my turn. I went to adjust something and when I returned...some one new was at the scope - without asking to see. I let him look, but it was apparent he had no clue what he was looking at....then he put's his toddler boy to take a peek. A few precious seconds passed and I knew nothing was being viewed and just wasting time. I had to intervene and interrupt.

I then took my last few seconds of the comet solo.

Sorry man....but it got to be this way.)

[flip89]

Oh, turned out that I have five shots that did have the comet. Not as pretty as yours as I was shooting the moon - but far below was a faint object that when I blew the photo to 100% turned out to be the comet. I'm happy.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Post what you got Ken...or send them to me and I'll do it.

[mojocvh]

Good efforts guys

but BALTIC!! Any brass monkies about?

we have been clouded out in my part of bonny Scotland I'm afraid.

Mo.

[scottmason]

I set up my camera and tripod on the hill of Horner Park and eagerly awaited. A friendly couple carrying a tripod came up the hill around 7pm, just before sunset. I had already been out there over 30 mins and was starting to freeze. I made acquaintances with the strangers and we all stood there facing west, periodically checking the binoculars for pan-starrs.

One of them spotted it in the binoculars, and handed them over to me. Very exciting! I pointed my zoom lens over to where I had seen it and began shooting long (2-4 sec) exposures.



The moon above



Panstarrs again




Then used a wider, 50mm lens to get the moon, comet and tree line all in one.




This evening looks clear, anybody have ideas on a spot to try to catch it again? If not I might just go back to Horner.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Scott....

Excellent captures of the Comet!

Tonight, is the monthly "Adler After Dark" event at the museum. Pan-Starrs should be nicely placed for our visitors to enjoy till about 8pm.

I'll be working a scope, (I think I'll drag out the Adler's 10" fork mounted Meade), and bring along my 2" eyepieces.

I'll even try to snag some pics of the comet while at it.

Thanks for sharing your comet pics!

[magic612]

Joe / Scott - keep in mind that the comet is further north than due west now; that will place it more behind the taller buildings of the Loop. Might make it more challenging to spot/see now. Just something to remember.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dave...

I'm counting on it.

Hopefully I can snag a few decent shots.

[patrickm]

Nice Scott! May have to go check it out tomorrow. No luck at all in Costa Rica. Horrible transparency from humidity and clouds & comet was down in muck. Glad I still have a shot up here.

[magic612]

I got a better shot of it last night:

img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/magic612/Wide%20field%20astrophotos/CometC2011L4PANSTARRSand55Psc54PscMarch212013.jpg

[Paulie pchris00]

Nice shot, Dave. 8:15? Had to have been pretty low by then, huh?

[magic612]

Paulie, it was quite low then. About 6 degrees off the horizon. But my view that way is flat - actually, you've seen that view over the by the high school where I live. And the sky was ridiculously transparent, so I kept firing off shots until my fingers were nearly frozen.

[scottmason]

I had a second chance to image the comet last week from a rooftop in Ravenswood. It was much harder to find it this time, because it had lost brightness.





The comet is in the top center of this shot

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Scott...

I like your astro pics.

I wonder how long you can follow Pan-STARRS...?

[scottmason]

I have been wondering myself. I'm satisfied with pan-starrs, even if I don't get any more photos.
The more hype I hear about ISON, the more skeptical I get.