Chicago Astronomer Updates

Documenting the Arrival of the Gemini XII Space Capsule at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago


Fellow Astronomers and Space enthusiasts,

I recently had the grand opportunity to document the arrival of the
Gemini XII space capsule at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. A
bright morning found the capsule gleeming in the sunshine on a truck
bed as I arrived...and here was an actual piece of American history
presented right before me.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Adler/Gemini%20XII/CapHoist3150x.jpg[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Adler/Gemini%20XII/ControlP2150x.jpg[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Adler/Gemini%20XII/Interior1150x.jpg

A full account of the event with detailed pictures can be found here
at the Chicago Astronomer:


http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=geminixii


It is broken into three chronological threads for easier viewing.

As individuals of science and space exploration, I'm sure you will
enjoy this report.

Respectfully,

Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
The Chicago Astronomer
http://astronomer.proboards23.com

30 most recent posts: http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi
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Fellow Chicago Astronomers,

Spring is always good for astronomy, although the temperature swings can play havoc on observational time. But the bite of winter is leaving and Vega is rising...always a good sign. We endured the winter to share another season of astronomcal enjoyment.

Here are the current topics in discussion on the Chicago Astronomer:

* - Computer Generated Moon Man

Here is a great CG effort that recreates Buzz Aldrin's famous Lunar pose, but it's all digital and not real. It's a remarkable piece of work.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Apollo&thread=1143204181&page=1

* - Taki's Star Atlas

Always on the prowl for free astronomy programs, I came across this neat little compilation star chart down to the 8.5 magnitude.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Software&thread=1087462304&page=1

* - Bulgarians in buying spree of space territory

Here is a mad rush to purchase parcels of land on the Moon, Mars, and the Moons of Jupiter. Only $24.00 a parcel, sounds like a deal

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=News&thread=1143181473&page=1

* - Earth and Juoiter viewed from Martian Orbit

Here is a cool image of the only conjuctions of Earth and another planet taken from Mars.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=solarsystem&thread=1143179389&page=1

And the Voyager spacecraft looks back home.
http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=voyager&thread=1143177763&page=1

* - Mars metorite might show bacterial activity

I still don't know how scientists can say that this rock originated from Mars, but if it did, it shows tunneling by some organism.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=MarsLife&thread=1138841091&page=1

* - Chicago Astronomer Joe's Lunar Eclipse photo in Spaceweather.com

This is a nice treat that made me smile.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Observations&action=display&thread=1142419933&page=1

* - New Browser

I have been using Internet Explorer for some time now, with all it's buggy behaviour, but I recently came across the great and slick Opera browser that now is free and works great!

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ponderings&thread=1143136202&page=1

* - Eqinoxes & Soltices - 2006 to 2020

For those who wish to mark the passing of the seasons, here is a nice listing of the events.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=NightSky&thread=1143030072&page=1

* - Light Pollution group activity

Here is a nice world wide group effort of monitoring how light polluted our skies are. There are two separate projects, but I encourange everybodies participation in this effort!

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Observations&thread=1143028851&page=1

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=News&thread=1142880606&page=1

* - The United States Airforce had a Gemini Program

While NASA was working on Gemini, the USAF was working on a similar project.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Manned&thread=1142879498&page=1

* - Our Moon to be very High and Low in 2006

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Lunar&thread=1142877422&page=1

* - Pickering's Harem

This is a great story of an formally uneducated woman who became a pioneer in astronomy.

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Ancient&thread=1142684561&page=1

These and more on the Chicago Astronomer.

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Thanks to all for your membership & Participation

Respectfully,

Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
http://astronomer.proboards23.com

The Chicago Astronomers Observe the Preumbral Lunar Eclipse

It's always an anxious day prior to an eclipse, making sure the day's activities are wrapped up, getting equipment ready and hoping for clear skies.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/scope2.jpg

Everything fell into place, and I was going to see an eclipse this day! I arrived at the lakefront behind the Adler Planetarium at around 5:15 pm, and considering the fierce winds blowing, I used the Doane Observatory as a wind break. It did help a bit, but the gusts were pretty bad at times. The darkening sky was pretty and clouds were painted deep colors. I sat down on my folding chair and just enjoyed the quiet moment by myself and preparation to the intense observation to come. Great being an astronomer, eh?

Earlier, I sent out a mass cell phone text messages to my local members about the event, and received confirmations of participation and it's always better in sharing a session with friends.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/SteveJoescope.jpg

Chicago Astronomer Steve met up with me bundled to defy the late winter winds, and so we began our vigil. I was first to spot the faint reddish orb peeking over the horizon and we focused our equipment to it. Squashed and deformed, the Moon clearly showed already evidence of eclipse activity...excellent!... :-[

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moon2.jpg

I use a simple Kodak digital camera, held by hand to the eyepiece, nothing fancy, but the results are quite cool. (Note: I adjusted the orientation on some images, and on others I did not...so please look in a mirror and stand on head on some... )

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moonrise1.jpg

It rose quickly from its hiding place and put space very fast between it and the horizon. I attempted to take pics as best I could, but the winds were fighting me and making it difficult.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moon6.jpg

Some are taken from my 4.5", but others are shot through my new the 60mm finder scope...(which is quite cool I must say.)

The view of the crimson Moon was great, playing among the distant clouds and shimmering in the telescope and binoculars, it was quite awe inspiring.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Stevescope.jpg

Steve takes a peek at the Moon while I fiddle around with camera, eyepieces and radio...gotta have tunes! Not many people this time around, too cold, not many knew of the event and beside...we were kinda hidden behind the observatory.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moon7.jpg

As it got higher, the darkened edge was not as noticeable now, but with a trained eye it was there to enjoy.

Steve kept announcing to me that here comes a jet across the face, and I kept missing it. The camera was recycling, I was not ready, not focused etc.... But, I did mange to get this one of a small twin prop aircraft in silhouette...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moon4Plane.jpg

[center] :-[[/center]

Chicago Astronomer Fred and his wife joined in on the session and always good to have their smiles to bounce off of...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/JoyceFred1.jpg

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/FredJoyceJoe.jpg
* I had attached a polarizer filter between the focuser and secondary...makes for good contrast.

On this next one, I increased the contrast and adjusted other factors and I think it came out nice...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moon3.jpg

Excellent shading and the semi-bite looks nice.

Now the Moon was getting brighter and brighter as it rose and the eclipse effect was hardly noticeable...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moon660mm.jpg

But, as Chicago Astronomer Tim pointed out in another thread here, the Moon was exhibiting bright light pillars shooting out from the top and the bottom. At first, I thought the winds gunked up my eyes and I was seeing things. I pointed the phenomenon to the others, and they too witnessed the pillars. I "eclipsed" the Moon with my thumb and the pillars were even more evident! This was quite cool!... ;D

Clouds were heavier now and the wisps passing in front made it quite errie and made a good shot...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/cloudmoon2.jpg[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/cloudmoon1.jpg

With my simple digital camera, I was not able to capture the pillars, but as the clouds from time to time totally covered the face of the Moon, the pillars stood out dramatically from behind the cloudcover.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/JoeLindaJoyce.jpg

Chicago Astronomer Linda stopped by on the way home for some observation and brought along her binoculars. But now, the cloud cover was getting thicker and the sucker holes were less frequent. And so, we called it a night...satisfied on a good preumbral lunar eclipse under our belts...and on the Chicago Astronomer.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Lunar/Moonlightscope.jpg

Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
http://astronomer.proboards23.com

Comet C/2006 A1 Pojmanski Observed from Under the Bright Lights of Chicago

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Star%20Parties/ScopeSilu1.jpg

I have been anxious for a comet hunting session for some time now with the news of Pojmanski entering our northern skies, but the weather has been anti-astronomy in the early mornings.

At about 3:45 am, Chicago Astronomer Bill called up and invited me to join him in a Pojmanski search off Chicago shores. I had planned this morning to see if I could spot it solo from my backyard in the Heart of Chicago anyway as the clear sky clock showed promise, but a lakeside eastern vantage point over the lake is always better and I jumped at the opportunity.

Got my equipment ready, donned on warm apparel and off we went. We arrived at a good "dark - :" location around 4:45am off of Lake Shore Dr. and set up our equipment. The skies were clear, stars were out and we tried to see the comet with our naked eyes, but to no avail... :-/

We used our binoculars to target it, and damn it...it always seems like Bill spots the objects first. He got it in his binoculars and with guidance, I soon followed with my own 10X50's. It was about 20 degrees (?) in elevation and below of Altair. (It's nice to see the summer constellations again!) I passed over it a number of times, but with concentrated observation it just popped out into view. The coma was plainly visible as a faint glowing smudge, but no tail was discernible. I then guided my 4.5" reflector on it using my trusty Rigel star finder and there it was in my 60mm finder...and it was quite apparent that what I was observing was indeed a comet... ;D

Using the main OTA I tried to kick up the magnification, but it was best seen in lower mags using a 25mm wide field eyepiece. Shading my eyes from the street lamps and using averted vision, I could swear I could see just the slightest hint of a pale greenish hue, but that could be just the excitement of the sighting. Bill decided on taking 35mm film exposures of the comet sans telescope and I anticipate his photographic results soon, and will post them here on the Chicago Astronomer.

When we arrived the weather was cold, but fine for observing. But as dawn approached, it got colder and the dew on the instruments turned to frost. First time I ever had frost on my telescope! The comet was still visible optically as the horizon glowed from the approaching sunrise - with just a hint in binoculars. As the sun rose higher, the clouds started to roll in and became quite overcast and foggy.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/Star%20Parties/Joe1z.jpg

We congratulated each other and I was quite surprised that Comet Pojmanski was plainly visible from under the bright lights of Chicago, but indeed it was. After a joint breakfast we went home for some well deserved sleep.

It's amazing what still can be seen seen from light polluted urban skies.

Please visit the Chicago Astronomer for the full account here: http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=Observations&action=display&thread=1141743764&page=1
and for more astronomical topics and news.

Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
http://astronomer.proboards23.com