Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Nov 9, 2015 21:08:34 GMT -6
The Chicago Astronomer @ IHSCA Astronomy Club on a Light Pollution Indiana Dunes Field Trip
14 November 2015
14 November 2015
The Chicago Astronomer Astronomy club at IHSCA will head out to the Indiana Dunes area to learn about the horrible effects of urban light pollution on the 14th of November 2015....
We will head out 45 miles from the inner city of Chicago for the relative darkness that the Indiana Dunes will provide, bringing our more stars and enabling the Astronomy Club members to appreciate a darker sky. The crew will measure ambient light with Quality Sky Meters (QSM) provided by the Adler Planetarium - both here in the city and at the observation site, comparing data and observing the glow over Chicago from across the lake...
The Astro club has been planning Light Pollution awareness and the origin of the LP Committee can be found here:
We will head out 45 miles from the inner city of Chicago for the relative darkness that the Indiana Dunes will provide, bringing our more stars and enabling the Astronomy Club members to appreciate a darker sky. The crew will measure ambient light with Quality Sky Meters (QSM) provided by the Adler Planetarium - both here in the city and at the observation site, comparing data and observing the glow over Chicago from across the lake...
The Astro club has been planning Light Pollution awareness and the origin of the LP Committee can be found here:
Link to the: Chicago Astronomer Light Pollution Committee
Our intro letter of intent to our school Administration and parents of the members:We will have more teachers and Chicago Astronomer crew members accompanying the Astro club via vehicles and on board the bus. We will meet Astronomers Larry Silvestri, who has been orchestrating a successful campaign against light pollution in his part of the world of Indiana.
Here is what Larry says....
"Joe,
It will be very good to see you and your students. Here is a short list of what we can expect to be visible.
The Milky Way crosses the evening sky from northeast to southwest and will be faintly visible. We'll see examples of ancient globular star clusters M13 and M15, and younger star clusters like the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, and M11. There will also be colored double stars, planetary nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy. Lately, there have been slow yellow fire ball meteors from the Taurid shower and that might be active. The constellations related to the Perseus-Andromeda myth will be overhead and make an interesting story from several perspectives.
www.bibliotecapleyades.net/universo/open_cluster.htm
astronomynow.com/2015/11/09/enhanced-taurid-meteor-shower-lights-up-november-skies/
Keep looking up,
Larry Silvestri"
Chicago Astronomer Paulie Christman, who is an officer and observatory facilitator of the Calumet Astronomical Society will be on-site as well and share his skills in astronomy. Both will greet our arrival at around 6:30 pm at the designated site with telescopes. I will bring the C11 Complex scope as well and we all will conduct an observation session for the Astronomy crew members, instructing on telescopes, guiding across the night sky and providing great views of early winter celestial targets. After three hours of observation and instruction, we will head back to the city and disembark at 10:30 pm.
The crew will also understand clearly the effects of poor lighting practices and bring back with them a better approach to the light pollution awareness project...
This will be a special opportunity for the Astronomy Club and a great thanks to the Adler Planetarium for providing the transportation and participation in a meaningful "Hack Day" activity.
Of course, we will document the entire adventure via photographs and narratives from the Astronomy club members.
Stay tuned......
(NOTE: Chicago Astronomer Crew members, contact me if interested in participating in this field trip event)
Here is what Larry says....
"Joe,
It will be very good to see you and your students. Here is a short list of what we can expect to be visible.
The Milky Way crosses the evening sky from northeast to southwest and will be faintly visible. We'll see examples of ancient globular star clusters M13 and M15, and younger star clusters like the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, and M11. There will also be colored double stars, planetary nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy. Lately, there have been slow yellow fire ball meteors from the Taurid shower and that might be active. The constellations related to the Perseus-Andromeda myth will be overhead and make an interesting story from several perspectives.
www.bibliotecapleyades.net/universo/open_cluster.htm
astronomynow.com/2015/11/09/enhanced-taurid-meteor-shower-lights-up-november-skies/
Keep looking up,
Larry Silvestri"
Chicago Astronomer Paulie Christman, who is an officer and observatory facilitator of the Calumet Astronomical Society will be on-site as well and share his skills in astronomy. Both will greet our arrival at around 6:30 pm at the designated site with telescopes. I will bring the C11 Complex scope as well and we all will conduct an observation session for the Astronomy crew members, instructing on telescopes, guiding across the night sky and providing great views of early winter celestial targets. After three hours of observation and instruction, we will head back to the city and disembark at 10:30 pm.
The crew will also understand clearly the effects of poor lighting practices and bring back with them a better approach to the light pollution awareness project...
This will be a special opportunity for the Astronomy Club and a great thanks to the Adler Planetarium for providing the transportation and participation in a meaningful "Hack Day" activity.
Of course, we will document the entire adventure via photographs and narratives from the Astronomy club members.
Stay tuned......
(NOTE: Chicago Astronomer Crew members, contact me if interested in participating in this field trip event)
