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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Northside Chicago Astronomer Star Party

Horner Park

06 June 2014

Hey kids...


This Friday evening is a solid go for the next Chicago Astronomer Star Party...but this time on Chicago's north side.
Due to a disruptive concert at Northerly Island, the whole museum campus gets locked down with prohibited parking and access to our primary observation site by the Adler is limited.

So....

We have enjoyed our visits to Horner Park at the corner of Montrose and California in the past - with good skies and a nice mound to set-up our telescopes.  We will arrive at 8:00 pm and remain till about 10:30...perhaps later.


Three planets will entertain us as well as a 1st quarter Moon to enjoy.  Thanks to Chicago Astronomer Patrick, we got a very nice observation site, as he arranged this session for us remotely and out of state - (too cool   ).  There is plenty of parking adjacent to the site and look for the scope with the red lights at the center of the mound...(See above).


We encourage our Chicago Astronomer fans and friends to join our public observation site at Horner Park.


Be there, you know you want to.....

[Centaur]

Horner Park. That's great Joe. I'll alert my brother Kent who lives a three blocks from there. I'll see if I can make it.

But egads, Joe, it will be little greater than Half Moon. The Moon's first quarter is the entire week between solar conjunction and 90° elongation. What's printed on calendars as first quarter is actually the end of the first quarter of a lunation and the beginning of the second quarter. It's not a Quarter Moon. Tonight it will actually be a little into its second quarter. The proper astronomical term for 90° elongation from the Sun is quadrature. Astrologers call it quartile. A Quarter Moon would actually be a crescent that appears 25% illuminated, but that application is never seen. If people were to call a Moon at 90° elongation a Quarter Moon, then they would have to call a Moon at 180° elongation a Half Moon instead of a Full Moon which they normally do. It's unfortunate that some time ago English language calendars began printing the word quarter. It confuses the public that expects to see a 25% illuminated crescent Moon rather than the Half Moon that actually appears in the sky. The term Half Moon is well understood by the public. At one time I lived not far from Half Moon Bay in California, which of course is shaped like a Half Moon. On German calendars it's called Halbmond which translates as Half Moon. It's what I print on the calendars on my website which you reproduce here. Sorry for the rant, Joe, but it's a pet peeve of mine.

[steveamos]

Very cool. I live just down the block on Montrose. I'll swing by when I am off of work.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Curt...

I understand, but sometimes the misnomer nomenclature is easier. I like that you are on top of it!

Steve..

Very cool that you are so close. Gonna be a great clear night

[Centaur]

Jun 6, 2014 17:15:52 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

Curt...

I understand, but sometimes the misnomer nomenclature is easier. I like that you are on top of it!

Thanks for understanding, Joe. Both Kent I inherited our concerns about language from our late mother. Sometimes we get rather fussy about it. Sorry. Once Kent was corrected by an amateur astronomer with half an understanding of word origins for using the term Half Moon. I later gave Kent the ammunition he needs to rebut, if it ever comes up again.

It turned out that Kent had already scheduled a meeting tonight at Turner Camp with elders to get permission for the Chicago Astronomers to camp out after a star party on July 5. I'll let you know how that turns out. I won't be able to make it tonight to Horner Park either. I wish you well on a beautiful star filled night. -- Curt

 

[patrickm]

Was great to be out under the Chicago sky with friends looking up at the sky. I am beat from a long day traveling back home, so I only took my camera and binoculars, and even then didn't remember to take pictures until almost the very end.

Rich was nice enough to give a young friend with her first telescope his 17mm eyepiece. What a guy.

Hope I can join again soon. Here's my pics and good night!

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 1 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 2 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 3 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 4 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 5 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 6 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

Horner Park with Chicago Astronomer 7 by pmonaghan, on Flickr

[lredfield]

A few pix from tonight

Attachments:

[-=CROMAN=-]

It was a very fun night! Who needs to align... not this guy

Attachments:

[-=CROMAN=-]

2 more pics

Attachments:

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

A solid night at Horner Park...




With our regular Chicago Astronomer site by the Adler Planetarium locked down and inaccessible due to a disruptive concert at nearby Northerly Island, I decided to move the clear sky session over to Chicago's northwest side and nudged Chicago Astronomer Patrick to work out the details with the park supervisor.  He was out of town, but still arranged it so we would have a good gathering.

Arriving at 8pm, we set-up on top on the Horner mound...and it's quite a haul to lug the gear, but it's well worth it, as the view provides clear unobstructed skies.  Joining us on this remote locale was Chicago Astronomers Patrick and Rich.  Also participating with his new 10" truss Dob was Larry, who has joined us before...

We had fans of the Chicago Astronomer and urban astronomy waiting for us and new visitors from the Meet-up group
"Chicagoland Astronomy Club".  We welcome them to all Chicago Astronomer events and activities and appreciate their enthusiasm...

Our visitors were using their cellphones, loaded with various astro apps and orientating to the darkening night sky...confirming with us on what they were matching up.   We were to have three planets to enjoy this evening and including the Moon as well, following the ecliptic, as I traced out the imaginary line with my laser pointer and describing various points of interests along the way...




Patrick was tutoring a new young Astronomer at this session with her new table top reflector...

A big appreciation to Rich, (off to the side),  for donating a 17mm 1.25" eyepiece to this little girl...offering her views of the cosmos not many get to experience first hand.

It was a cool night and I was quite comfortable in the late spring evening.   The skies were not optimal, as seeing was not clear and targets a bit soft, but we toured the solar system and explored the lunar surface - discussing astronomy, cosmology and related areas with our guests..

Jupiter and Saturn were putting on a good show, and Mars......well, being so small in diameter - I always prep my viewers before hand on what to expect...maybe even catch an ice cap and subtle terrestrial markings.  The evening was progressing much too fast, having a blast with my fellow Astronomers and sky loving guests.  We only had about an hour left in our session and had an ISS pass to enjoy...

Here, an aircraft almost dissects the ISS trail as it arced across the north sky.

There was also an Iridium flare scheduled, but it did not show.  Heavens-Above has been messing up recently, letting us down on the appearances.


We continue our session and share moments with friends...

And before we knew it, it was time to break down the site and conclude the successful session...

Support crew member Maria and a breather as we pack away our instruments of science.

A huge thanks to Patrick, Rich & Larry for another great time under the urban skies...!

Stay tuned for our next Chicago Astronomer event....I'm thinking about A Full Moon Rise party by the Lake on Friday the 13th....let's see how the weather cooperates....