Kevin R
sage
Reged: 03/29/08
Posts: 297
Loc: Fl.
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I had made this suggestion in the Feedback forum and it was suggested I make it here to see what response the idea got, so here it is…
When I used to scuba dive it was not uncommon for a person to show up to a dive and have his partner cancel on him or her. This led to the environment where two people who are complete strangers might end up spending the day together. By doing this, many a days diving was saved and many more new friends were made. Today, I am still friends with some of the people I met off the cuff.
So the idea was to set up a forum for ‘Scope Buddies’ or whatever you want to call it. This would allow people to get together without the constraints of a club environment or waiting weeks or months for a star party to roll around. Someone looking to go out (especially us newbies) could find people to view with and become more educated. It also would give an outlet for people who are on vacation or just in town and need to get the skinny on good viewing sites and perhaps just someone to view with.
A forum that is not so visited would not be helpful for this, but this forum is extremely active, so it might be beneficial to the people involved here.
So what do you all think?
Kevin (2)
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If you want to see the most beautiful girl in the world, click here!
Lakeland, Fl
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saxmaneagle
super member
Reged: 08/21/07
Posts: 174
Loc: Saint Francis, MN
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....I second the motion
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AstroRealtor
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/26/08
Posts: 538
Loc: Terra Firma
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I'll be in Vero Beach during the full moon starting on the 20th until the 27th. I wonder how far I will be from Lakeland? I am going to bring my 3.5" refractor and a small tripod. I was hoping to at least see the Southern Cross and Omega Centauri.
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Clear Skies, Jim
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Discovering: Messier objects, Deep sky treasures, NGCs, Double stars, & Nebulae of all kinds.
Televue 85 "Polaris" Mount
Custom Crafted Newtonian Dob 8" f7 w/Feathertouch
Celestron Cometron Reflector 114mm f8
Zeiss Diafun 8 X 30 Binos
Zeiss 10 X 56 Binos
 Aldrich Astronomical Society
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rd56
sage
Reged: 12/17/06
Posts: 271
Loc: Central New Jersey
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Quote:
So what do you all think?
Actually, I think you have a very good idea there  . If I found that someone from my area was looking to get out, I'd certainly be game.
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-Orion SkyQuest Intelliscope XT8
-Meade ETX-105 Maksutov-Cassegrain
-Antares 8X50 RACI Finder
-Alt-Az/EQ mount with Autostar Go-To
-Meade Super Plossl Eyepieces: (9.7mm,15mm,26mm,40mm)
-SkyChart (Cartes du Ciel) software
Ron
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle
(And so we came forth and once again beheld the stars)
Dante's Inferno
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LLD
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/14/05
Posts: 1646
Loc: MASS.
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Sounds like a good idea to me! I've met a few local CN'ers Dave ( Bowmoreman) & Dave (Siriusly) and have had contact with a few other local CN'ers who hope to join us someday , We now have a group of 5 that meet at our local dark sky site's! We welcome any CN'ers who would like to get together for a night of observing to join us!
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LLD. Meade 16 inch dob. Meade 60mm Polaris refractor 76mm Bushnell reflector
Meade ETX60-BB,Meade 70MM / USB color camera
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AstroRealtor
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/26/08
Posts: 538
Loc: Terra Firma
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Hey LLD,
I'm new here. Having some fun! I live in Central Mass. Where in Mass do you guys meet? Jim
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Clear Skies, Jim
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Discovering: Messier objects, Deep sky treasures, NGCs, Double stars, & Nebulae of all kinds.
Televue 85 "Polaris" Mount
Custom Crafted Newtonian Dob 8" f7 w/Feathertouch
Celestron Cometron Reflector 114mm f8
Zeiss Diafun 8 X 30 Binos
Zeiss 10 X 56 Binos
Aldrich Astronomical Society
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RussL
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1369
Loc: Cayce, SC
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I like the idea. I'd love to actually get to meet some CNers. 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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panhard
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 2250
Loc: 43.88 n 79.17 w
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Sounds good. Although it would be another forun to monitor.
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Orion xt10i
8 & 17mm Hyperion eye pieces
koning 32mm 25mm skywatcher eyepieces
lumicon 0111 & antares variable polarizing filters
12x50 binos
A love for this hobby
"What goes around comes around."
"She who must be obeyed."
Herb c
cloudy nights my # 1 site
43.53°n 79.17°w
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Protheus
Vaguely offended
Reged: 09/01/07
Posts: 4456
Loc: Illinois, US
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I like it, though, I wonder how many people we have around my area. Still, good idea.
Chris
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"To tread the sharp edge of a sword;
to run on smooth-frozen ice,
one needs no footsteps to follow..."
"Well, people sometimes ask me 'how did you get involved in astronomy?' I said 'I got born, what's your problem?'" -- John Dobson
"In discussing the large-scale structure of the cosmos, astronomers sometimes say that space is curved, or that the universe is finite but unbounded. Whatever are they talking about?" -- Carl Sagan
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 13573
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Small world... my wife was born in Lakeland, Florida.
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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Johnny D
sage
Reged: 12/11/06
Posts: 229
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
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Quote:
So what do you all think?
I like it.
I'm thinking about the possible formats (in increasing order of complexity):
1. A simple forum where people post "Going to location X on date Y." People can post replies or PM the poster.
2. A forum with one thread for each "location" (city, region, etc) and a way to subscribe to a specific thread. A person could post to the "Western Mass" thread. People would see the post or be alerted via a subscription.
3. Ideally, the posts and subscriptions should also be available on a Google Earth map where people can post planned viewing sessions up to about a week in advance, and they are automatically removed after the date. This would allow people to search the map for events in their area.
Anybody got a little extra time on their hands?
-John
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Celestron C6 on a William Optics EZ Touch mount (with homemade slewing handle)
12" LightBridge
8" Meade LX90 classic
Celestron C5 on a Vixen Porta mount
Canon 15x50 IS binocs
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LLD
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/14/05
Posts: 1646
Loc: MASS.
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Jim Sent ya a PM ! We are in eastern Mass and observe in the Easton, Sharon area. And sometimes At least once a month in the Westford area! I'll bet that as more member's see this thread the more will like the idea!
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LLD. Meade 16 inch dob. Meade 60mm Polaris refractor 76mm Bushnell reflector
Meade ETX60-BB,Meade 70MM / USB color camera
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saxmaneagle
super member
Reged: 08/21/07
Posts: 174
Loc: Saint Francis, MN
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For what its worth....I live 45 mins drive north of Minneapolis, MN....and ANY clear night, thurs-saturday I'm game for viewing
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Meade 16" Lightbridge
TV Paracorr
Glatter BLUG
2" Infinity XL & TeleCAT XL
10x50 Meade binos
20x80 standard Oberwerk binos
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"Inside us all are such Wonders. Search yourself, find them...share them...and Dream, of a better tomorrow"
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cnstarz
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 525
Loc: Kentucky, USA
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I like this idea, I have a really inflexible work schedule which has me working on the weekends nearest the new moon, all this year. My club meets once a month, guess when... 
I'd like to get together with people in my area too. 
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Matt
Apogee 50mm BB scope
ETX-60 BB
Meade 70-az
5" DIY Newt (wip)
C6-N on CG-4 GEM
Gallery
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jhors
Riddle me this
Reged: 07/16/07
Posts: 722
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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I think it's a great idea!
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-Josh
Florence Junction:
Antenna:
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars -Walt Whitman
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varmint
I invite more abuse
Reged: 02/10/07
Posts: 722
Loc: Pacifica, CA, USA
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"Ditto" comes to mind for me... 
I have tried a few normal posts to see if folks were in the areas I was visiting while on Business or Vacation but unfortunately I didn't quite give enough time.
But I think a dedicated forum would be beneficial, at least to try it out.
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Clear Skies,
Jim
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"Do, or do not. There is no try."-Jedi Master Yoda
Scopes: CGE925, Orion 80ED (w/ADM MDS&Rings)
EPs: Naglers: 31, 22, 17, 9, 3.5 Pan’s: 15
Misc: Telrad, 2x&4x Powermate, Sol/OIII/UHC/Var Pol. Filters
Imaging Gear: Pentax K100D, SPC900NC
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saxmaneagle
super member
Reged: 08/21/07
Posts: 174
Loc: Saint Francis, MN
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A thought....
Down below, under the heading 'Specialty Forums', there is a topic.... "Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties"
Perhaps an option, is to make a post like "Scope buddy - date - place"....then in the body state where, when u looking for a partner ?
In a way, guess you could say 2 ppl is a Star party ?
.....just a thought.
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Meade 16" Lightbridge
TV Paracorr
Glatter BLUG
2" Infinity XL & TeleCAT XL
10x50 Meade binos
20x80 standard Oberwerk binos
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"Inside us all are such Wonders. Search yourself, find them...share them...and Dream, of a better tomorrow"
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Kevin R
sage
Reged: 03/29/08
Posts: 297
Loc: Fl.
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The Outreach forum seemed to me as more of a group thing. What I am suggesting here is a way to make astronomy more accessible by allowing just one or two people to get together on a personal basis. Star parties and clubs are great; don't get me wrong, but they are also few and far between.
To go back to my diving analogy from earlier, diving is has a few cardinal rules. Chief among them (after don't screw up the environment) is that you don't go out alone. The inherent dangers of diving require that someone be there to get your back should an emergency arise. This one precaution has had the benefit of bringing countless friends together because NO ONE wants to spend the time and effort and money (and it can be more expensive than astronomy) then have to cancel because someone didn't show or had a gear failure or some such nonsense. That is how the atmosphere has developed that people can hook up, even though they might be complete strangers. If you go to any of the major diving sites, or read Florida Scuba News (one of the diving periodicals), check the dive shops, or just show up at the boat, you will find people who are wanting to dive, but need a partner and want to find people who are in the same situation. This is not out of desperation, but out of love for the sport. Google the term 'Dive Buddies' and you'll see what I mean.
Here's a great example...
Dive Buddy Listings
I believe that kind of situation is also available here. There is no proscription against going out solo, but it sure is fun to go with another person. People just don't have a place to get the word out...
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If you want to see the most beautiful girl in the world, click here!
Lakeland, Fl
Edited by Kevin R (04/15/08 02:14 AM)
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saxmaneagle
super member
Reged: 08/21/07
Posts: 174
Loc: Saint Francis, MN
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Kevin, I totally understand.
I love your idea and the analogy is perfect.
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Meade 16" Lightbridge
TV Paracorr
Glatter BLUG
2" Infinity XL & TeleCAT XL
10x50 Meade binos
20x80 standard Oberwerk binos
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"Inside us all are such Wonders. Search yourself, find them...share them...and Dream, of a better tomorrow"
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MacRoberts
sage
Reged: 08/25/05
Posts: 322
Loc: Redlands, CA
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What a great idea! I'm in if CN wants to give this a try.
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Jim
"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also." Genesis 1:16
NP-127, TV-85
Naglers, Pentax XWs
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