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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Pre-Screening "Magnificent Desolation" with the Chicago Astronomers

The members of the Chicago Astronomer have been invited to participate in a special screening of the new Tom Hank's movie "Magnificent Desolation" on Tuesday, September 20th at 6:30 pm at the IMAX Theater at Navy Pier.

The coordinators of the event would like to know how many of us would like to be their guests in this quite cool event. If you are interested, please contact me and let me know if you are free to view this film with me and the Chicago Astronomers.

This should be fun!... ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Hey all,

Great responses on the pre-secreening opportunity on the MagDes show.

But...

In regards to bringing more than yourself and a guest....I don't know yet how many tickets I can distribute per individual. Yes, it would be a great family outing, but let's see how many I can play with and not sacrifice any of our membership.

If I have enough, certainly...bring Aunt Gladys as well...!

I will know on Monday, but keep sending in those mails!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Magnificent Desolation Update

I'm getting great responses from you all on your attendance for the special pre-view of this quite cool film.

This is the plan...

Meet me Tomorrow..Tuesday the 20th of September at 6:00 pm Outside of the IMAX theater at Navy Pier.

Look for me and/or familiar faces, we will assemble and I will whisk you in. For the attendees, I have movie posters to hand out as well.

For the Adler crew, we could probably use our parking passes to park, but I am not sure. But it doesn't hurt to try.

Great to see all again and meet up tomorrow...

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Special Pre-screening Event of Magnificent Desolation with the Chicago Astronomers

Running a bit late this day, I feared I would be late in arriving at the IMAX theater in time to meet my group...but all worked out well and I arrived in plenty of time. John N met up with me in the parking lot with his usual humor and we trekked to the theater together.

We found the check in area and waited for the group to assemble, as they did one by one. I then passed out the movie posters and finally met with Caroline Krajewski, who made it possible for the Chicago Astronomers to participate in this special viewing of this quite cool movie. Our tickets were waiting for us, our parking validated and we were ready to go.

We all greatly appricate Caroline's offer, accomodation and generosity in this special treat for the crack crew of Chicago Astronomers... ;D

Adler Telescope Operator Balu and I share a moment to smile for the camera. He's just too cool and fun.

Here we are just before entering the theater, of course, I just had to collect a group shot of the entire participating group before viewing...and what a group we had...

From left to right: Chris, Caroline, Patrick & Family, Steve, Balu, Kalvis, Liz, Joe, Rajasi, Linda, John, Alfred, Arvind and Jude.

We sat in our seats, ready to the show...when a nice surprise was in store for us. A NASA representative, Bryan Palaszewski, from the Propulsion Division gave a talk & slide presentation of the history of man's push toward the Moon and the crafts involved. Quite an interesting presentation with a question and answer session afterwards. And with the conclusion of the presentation...we all were ready and anticipating the start.

The film is about 40 minutes in length and in glorius 3D. The opening scenes are quite remarkable and set the tone on what was to come. It starts out with the camera focused on an astronauts suit, standing on the Moon...shown with incredible detail and depth. And the detail is quite minute in this film, from the sound to the rivets to the beads of sweat on the actors portraying astronauts. It jumps from Apollo mission to Apollo mission with different aspects of the landing and excursion activities. The L.E.M landing sequence is just too cool and realistic... as you are with the astronauts descending to the lunar surface...with lights flashing, alarms buzzing and thrusters firing. It lands with a thud and the camera zooms out wide...very wide...showning how small and frail this spacecraft is...against the wide expanse the the lunar terrain.

Interlaced in the film are the actual voices of the astronauts themselves giving their accounts of the experience and thoughts. Irwin's placing his family photo in the lunar dust was especially moving, as were a number of other personal movie moments. They go into detail on the individual method of lunar walking, experimentation equipment and the acted out scenario of a possible of a lunar disaster...what if the astronauts got lost and disoriented, coupled with a rover failure and the long trek back to the L.E.M. Like the narrator said, it never occurred, but what if.

The 3D technology is quite good, as the viewer is drawn into the scenes and the lunar dust is literally kicked onto your face. The research is good too, faithfully recreating the 1/6th gravity physics to match the scenes.

It was over much too soon for me and I stayed till the very end of the credits, as they too were in 3D and the tribute to the fallen astronauts, of all nations, was moving. Tom Hank's is just too cool in my book, as his "From the Earth to the Moon" extensive presentation of the Manned space program along with this film is the best documentary one can view about the reality of space flight.

On the way out, I met up with our speaker Bryan from NASA and took a pic with him...

Chicago Astronomer Brian and his squeeze Clair join me in a photo op...

Great young couple on their way in discovering life, with great enthusiasm and planing their way smartly. I live vicariously thru them in their nationwide travels, and enjoy their calls to me describing the deep and dark skies they encounter on their way.

We exited the theater and decided to collect for after viewing drinks and eats on the Pier. While we were enjoying our stories, Charles, my pal since 5th grade stopped by to say hello...

He's a Chicago Police Canine Officer, and along with his four legged partner Dan, made friends with the crack crew.

Listening to the crew in their different conversations was enlightening. Chris from 20/20 telescopes and his vast knowledge, Steve sharing astro experiences from his trips, Jude's enthusiasm in astronomy and so much from the others made me smile and glad they all were there.

I highly recommed this film experience to anyone with an interest in astronomy or space travel, and I really enjoyed viewing this movie, but having my friends and fellow Chicago Astronomers on hand to watch it with me enhanced the experience greatly and pleased I could share it with them.

[Al Degutis]

Sounds like a fun time. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it... wished I could.

Where's the next CA field trip to?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Al,

It was certainly a good experience, highly recommend it and would have reserved a seat for you.

The next gathering of the crack crew of astronomers will be the Biographical film on John Dobson at the Facets theater on October 8th. More details coming up...

[mahesh]

goooood morning joe

your visits to the preview.. sound like great fun....happy re-unions too joe!

came across reviews...must be an amazing experience to see the movie...
am definitely gonna take flynn (and mamma) to the science museum to see it.

best regards to you and yours

mahesh

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Mahesh,

How great to hear from you again. I enjoy your emails and appreciate your posts here at the Chicago Astronomer.

I do look forward to your review of MagDes there in London, and compare it with our experience here in our Chicago screening.

Let's hear from you more often...