Gonar and Son of Gonar view the ISS
I received the following MEDUSA-coded information from Stingray Regime Special Agent Gonar, operating out of the Aquaburg Metroplex. He was on an undercover mission to the Windy City after which he filed this report to Festung Europa:
I saw it. Thanks for the e-mail you sent, although the two clear nights we had in that timeframe were taken by Halloween festivities and generalized chaos, so we didn't get out. Then, last weekend, we took our trip to Chicago. Friday night, after a long day of the Sears Tower, Shedd Aquarium, and some general running around, we ended up in Adler Planetarium during their special once-a-month late-hours Fabulous Friday. We were there to see the "Skies of Ancient Egypt" star show. Right around 6:20, as if on cue and part of the evenings events, the loudspeaker announced "If you would like to see the International Space Station fly over, please meet on the north patio outside the Galileo Cafe in five minutes..." Naturally, John and I headed out. The patio was crowded, illustrating that in Chicago even access to the sky can be cramped. A guide explained what to look for, and everyone waited. And waited. Only five or six of the brightest stars were visible at this time of the evening. A few skeptics in the crowd began to voice their doubts, one person offering fifty bucks to the first one to spot it. About a minute later, a guy to the left of us points it out - a bright light in the sky, moving from west to east. It became visible over the Chicago skyline somewhere between the Sears Tower and the John Asscock building, and by the time if got over the lake it was very bright and clearly visible. From there, I don't know how to describe it. I mean, we were watching a manned, space-age Winnebago fly over at 25 times the speed of sound. It was so futuristic, and being at the Adler where you see incredibly realistic skies projected over your head, well, it almost took away from it in that the ISS seemed like part of a show. At the same time, it also very much underscored the reality of the things we saw in the planetarium. It was a fascinating crossover between the contrived and that which is real. I'll never forget it. Neither will John, I'm sure.
Gonar, Gatekeeper of the Outer Galaxy
I saw it. Thanks for the e-mail you sent, although the two clear nights we had in that timeframe were taken by Halloween festivities and generalized chaos, so we didn't get out. Then, last weekend, we took our trip to Chicago. Friday night, after a long day of the Sears Tower, Shedd Aquarium, and some general running around, we ended up in Adler Planetarium during their special once-a-month late-hours Fabulous Friday. We were there to see the "Skies of Ancient Egypt" star show. Right around 6:20, as if on cue and part of the evenings events, the loudspeaker announced "If you would like to see the International Space Station fly over, please meet on the north patio outside the Galileo Cafe in five minutes..." Naturally, John and I headed out. The patio was crowded, illustrating that in Chicago even access to the sky can be cramped. A guide explained what to look for, and everyone waited. And waited. Only five or six of the brightest stars were visible at this time of the evening. A few skeptics in the crowd began to voice their doubts, one person offering fifty bucks to the first one to spot it. About a minute later, a guy to the left of us points it out - a bright light in the sky, moving from west to east. It became visible over the Chicago skyline somewhere between the Sears Tower and the John Asscock building, and by the time if got over the lake it was very bright and clearly visible. From there, I don't know how to describe it. I mean, we were watching a manned, space-age Winnebago fly over at 25 times the speed of sound. It was so futuristic, and being at the Adler where you see incredibly realistic skies projected over your head, well, it almost took away from it in that the ISS seemed like part of a show. At the same time, it also very much underscored the reality of the things we saw in the planetarium. It was a fascinating crossover between the contrived and that which is real. I'll never forget it. Neither will John, I'm sure.
Gonar, Gatekeeper of the Outer Galaxy
Comments