Introduction
If you overhear someone saying that they observed Messier 45 last night, do you think of the Pleiades? From the craters on the Moon, to the rings of Saturn, or even the wispy dust clouds and nebulae amongst the Milky Way, there are many ways to enjoy, learn, and partake in astronomy in our local area! Enjoyment that, for the most part, is free! There may be light pollution and hazy skies within the Bloomington-Normal city limits, but all it takes is a short drive to find clear, dark skies! With a star chart from a nationally published astronomy magazine, and a pair of binoculars, one can find many constellations, clusters and nebula. To use more advanced equipment, the Twin City Amateur Astronomers own an observatory 5 miles outside of the city limits and have monthly public observing sessions to highlight the current night sky and showcase the best of what is visible now! Illinois State University has a planetarium, and offers shows on different subjects on a rotating basis. Free family entertainment fills our night sky every night of the year! All you have to do is look up!
The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us—there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, or falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries. (Carl Sagan)
Messier 45 (the Pleiades)
Image Credit NASA, ESA, AURA/Caltech, Palomar Observatory
Places to Observe by Yourself
Comlara Park
Comlara Park is a public park and is maintained by Mclean County. It is located 7 miles North of Normal, IL and has a 900 acre lake that is called Lake Evergreen. Camping is available with both improved and non-improved sites. Comlara Park has been a favorite of stargazers for many years due the relatively dark skies that can be enjoyed there. http://www.mcleancountyil.gov/index.aspx?nid=358
Moraine View State Park
Moraine View State Park is located 12 miles East of Bloomington. Moraine View is a 1,687 acre state park with a 158 acre lake called Dawson Lake. Camping is available at Moraine View with both improved and non-improved sites. There is a concession stand at the boat launch/dock area on Dawson Lake that not only serves food, but also offers boat rentals. Moraine View is also a favorite of stargazers because of the dark skies that can be enjoyed there. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r3/moraine.htm
Various City Parks
There are various parks in and around Bloomington-Normal in which a person can find reasonably dark skies, considering there will be some light pollution due to being within the city limits. Ewing Park is located on Jersey Avenue and offers reasonably dark skies to the budding Astronomer. Fairview park also offers access to the skies with more haze due to its location. Care must be taken as some of these city owned parks close at dusk.
Bloomington Parks Regulations Link - http://4.17.232.139/parks/Parks-Facilities/park-regulations.htm
Normal Parks and Recreation home page - http://www.normal.org/index.aspx?nid=550
Places to Observe With Others
Do you feel like observing with other people? Most astronomers are more than willing to share their passion and knowledge of their love of astronomy. Below are just a few examples of where you can have fun and learn something new about the night sky!
ISU Planetarium
Illinois State University operates the ISU Planetarium located at the South-West corner of School St. and West College Ave. in Normal, Illinois. The ISU Planetarium is an older design of planetarium that is mostly visited by grade school and middle school students. While the ISU planetarium is not up to the level of entertainment as the larger, more expensive venues such as the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, the cost is not prohibitive either. It can still be an exciting experience for the famly when the lights dim and the stars come out while sitting inside the dome. Programs vary according to the season and what celestial events might be happening at that time. It is best to check the schedule to see what is being offered on any given evening.
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~trw/planet.html
Twin City Amateur Astronomers
The Twin City Amateur Astronomers Club was founded in 1960 by John and Bertha Kieviet. According to A Brief History of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers, "the membership started a tradition at that time that continues to this day, education of it's own members and the general public" (Wenning 1). The club was sponsored by the Normal Recreation Department and the goals of the club were to observe and to share observations with each other and the general public. The TCAA has utilized many sites over the years, but found a home at the Sugar Grove Nature Center with construction of an observatory in 2000. Many types and sizes of telescopes have called the observatory home over the years, but the biggest change came with the advent of the digital age. New digital cameras and computers, along with the go-to capability of telescope mounts mean that "the members have had, and continue to have, incredible access to the sky that a couple of decades ago professional astronomers could only dream about" (Wenning 4). The updated mission statement for the TCAA is "The purposes for which the TCAA is formed are: to promote in every way among its members and the general public an interest in, and knowledge of, astronomy and its allied sciences; to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques; to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields; and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis" (TCAA.US). This continues to this day with a few members observing at the Sugar Grove Nature Center Observatory on clear nights and offering Public Observation Sessions year round that are enjoyed by the public.
Various telescopes set up by TCAA members for the June 5, 2012 transit of Venus at the Sugar Grove Nature Center
Image Credit Carl Wenning 2012
When a person joins the Twin City Amateur Astronomers they are also enrolled into the Astronomical League. The Astronomical League stated goal is to "promote the science of Astronomy". The Major benefit of membership in the Astronomical League " is receiving the quarterly newsletter, The Reflector, which keeps you in touch with amateur activities all over the country" ("www.astroleague.org/al/general/aboutal.html"). A member can also recieve awards and recognition for completing observing programs through the Astronomical League. There are many to choose from and a person does not need an expensive telescope to start on an observing program!
Image Credit Troy Berg 2012
The Twin City Amateur Astronomers Observatory is located at the Sugar Grove Nature Center 8 miles South-West of Bloomington just off of Route 66.
The Twin City Amateur Astronomers educate members of the community through no-cost public observation sessions. These sessions are held at the TCAA's observatory at Sugar Grove Nature Center at Funk's Grove. Generally speaking, the format is a 20-30 minute lecture on the current subject which usually includes a slide show or a PowerPoint presentation on the topic. The group then moves outside to get a tour of the night sky with a laser pointer, being shown the more easily visible objects with a laser pointer. Finally the group moves to an area where 5 to 10 (or more if needed) telescopes have been set up by TCAA members. These telescopes are pointing toward the objects that were the topic of the session.
Current Public Observing Sessions can be found at - http://tcaa.us/PublicObservingSessions.aspx
Website for the Twin City Amateur Astronomers - http://tcaa.us/Home.aspx
References
Sagan, Carl. Cosmos. New York: Random House. 1980. Print.
Wenning, Carl. “TCAA Brief History.” 18 Feb 2012. PDF file.
www.tcaa.us. N.P. Web. July 4, 2012
www.astroleague.org. Astronomical League, 2012. Web. 4 July 2012
