THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3957
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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I kinda like the idea. Got to be care full though, that we don't turn it into one of "THOSE" chat rooms. Their are a few vulnerable people on CN. and it's not as if it's a private members club...... SORRY to be playing Devils advocate........  
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Geoff...
Nexstar 8SE -- 9X50 RACI Finder scope... 6.3 F/R.-- 13 & 17mm Hyperion EPs.. 25mm Celestron E- Lux EP.. 2X Celestron X-Cel Barlow----- Celestron solar filter + A few bits and pieces..
Never give up on any one..... MIRACLES happen every day....
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chanda7
super member
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 148
Loc: Southeast TN
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I guess I'm just cynical. When I have met people I didn't know from the Internet, it has been in a very public setting during daylight hours. In addition, only those people posting they were coming got the details (location, specific times) sent to them in a private way.
It seems a little dangerous to be meeting people I don't know in the dark, probably in a remote place, with hundreds (if not thousands, for some of you) of dollars of equipment...I think you know where I'm going with this.
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Chanda
Orion XT8 Classic, ultra-cheap 10x50 binoculars
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Kevin R
sage
Reged: 03/29/08
Posts: 306
Loc: Fl.
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I don't think I would meet anyone from anywhere for the first time in a dark out of the way place. However, we are moving into 'what if' territory here. The same common sense rules apply here as anywhere else. Things like don't give your address out over the web to anyone.
If you do not trust the format, then you do not have to use it. That's the beauty of the internet. You get to choose how you participate. It's been my experience though that most people are cool and want nothing more than what they say they are, in spite of what the papers and TV would like you to believe. It's all in how you look at it. What's the saying? Trust but verify? 
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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AstroRealtor
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/26/08
Posts: 538
Loc: Terra Firma
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Quote:
I guess I'm just cynical. When I have met people I didn't know from the Internet, it has been in a very public setting during daylight hours. In addition, only those people posting they were coming got the details (location, specific times) sent to them in a private way.
It seems a little dangerous to be meeting people I don't know in the dark, probably in a remote place, with hundreds (if not thousands, for some of you) of dollars of equipment...I think you know where I'm going with this.
Those are very good points and we all need to use common security tactics.....the logistics can be worked out in such a way so that anyone interested in meeting can feel comfortable about everyone they are meeting. It's a good idea if people even prove their club memberships or some other form of identification to assure another level of adherrance to a sort of code of ethics if you will. I think it is generally a good idea if the details can be worked out.
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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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Mister T
sage
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 201
Loc: Upstate NY
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I'm game!
I live in the Elmira/Corning NY area.
I am currently trying tohook up with the guy from our local Club but I would LOVE to be able to spend some quality startime with anyone even only slightly more experienced than I!!
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Tony
"After the Laws of Physics, everything else is opinion"
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
Oberwerk 11x70 Binoc
old camera tripod
mags and books
Meade 60mm refractor
Elmira-Corning Astronomical Society,
http://www.corning-cc.edu/visitors/observatory
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AstroRealtor
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/26/08
Posts: 538
Loc: Terra Firma
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Tony,
I think Arunah Hill is within your range. (google it) It's a Natural Science Center in the foothills of the Berkshires and skies have been so dark at times that the milky way has truly been mistaken for a cloud! This is unheard of in Massachusetts. Even though snow has been gone in these parts for weeks; Arunah still had two feet of snow as of last week so I won't be going there any time real soon. I will be going there over the next couple months though. We had a guy from an Albany Area Astronomy group join us there once so it is doable from where you are. More to follow. Clear skies!
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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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pops
sage
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 337
Loc: Cadiz, Kentucky
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Could it be listed as just another topic of this forum? Sounds like a great idea for me because I camp a lot during the summer and am always visiting different areas. Sometimes, campgrounds - due to the nature - don't have great viewing sites. It's disappointing to leave and then see a place you might have used. As on eBay, a ***** idea! 
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Golden Pond Kentucky
10" Zhumell
Sky Commander
Celestron 114EQ
Telrad
Stratus 21mm
Stratus 13mm
Stratus 5mm
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28629
Loc: montana
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Quote:
Quote:
I guess I'm just cynical. When I have met people I didn't know from the Internet, it has been in a very public setting during daylight hours. In addition, only those people posting they were coming got the details (location, specific times) sent to them in a private way.
It seems a little dangerous to be meeting people I don't know in the dark, probably in a remote place, with hundreds (if not thousands, for some of you) of dollars of equipment...I think you know where I'm going with this.
Those are very good points and we all need to use common security tactics.....the logistics can be worked out in such a way so that anyone interested in meeting can feel comfortable about everyone they are meeting. It's a good idea if people even prove their club memberships or some other form of identification to assure another level of adherrance to a sort of code of ethics if you will. I think it is generally a good idea if the details can be worked out.
Very good points indeed; remember, you do not have to be a CN member to read the forums; anyone with access to the internet may view these forums.
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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rocco13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 1549
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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I like the idea presented by the original poster.
My main observing buddy is a single guy who's about 20 years younger than me, so he obviously has better things to do than hang out in the middle of the desert with me! And during the new (or even 3/4) moon weekend, our schedules aren't always in synch. I don't really know any others locally, and would love to know that my 2+ hour drive to the dark sky site would not be in vain. If I could know in advance that several people are going to be at a particular site for some informal observing, that would be great. I definitely would head out with the scope out more often.
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Rocco
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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alienux
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/17/08
Posts: 673
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I like the original idea, too, but I agree that there should be some form of security involved in anything like this.
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Brian
Orion SkyView Pro 127mm EQ Mak
Meade 60mm Push-To TeleStar
Phillips SPC900NC
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Yeah, definitely.
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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I just put this out in front of the other mods, and admins. We'll have to wait and see.
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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Chris T
super member
Reged: 01/05/05
Posts: 150
Loc: Florida
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I am interested. I live in Lakeland, Florida.
I feel that these niche forums such as cloudy nights are pretty safe. It is always possible that you could hook up with a wierdo, but unlikely. Our equipment is pretty specialized and tough to sell without calling attention to the seller. Not as big a market for it as jewelry, metals, electronics, etc. Our forums are not as lucrative for sexual predators as other venues.
The media tries tocatch our interest with scary stories to catch viewers and sell advertising. They make things look out of proportion. I have sent rare coins to people I chatted with on the internet for them to review and see if they wanted to purchase and never been ripped off. They were people whose names I was familiar with from participating in the forums over a long period of time, but had never laid eyes on them. You gotta trust that most humans are good. Even in the most dangerous places on the earth, people live their entire lives and get old and die of natural causes. If you feel uncomfortable, don't go. If you are nervous and want to go anyway, take a pepper spray or taser or pistol.
I am a middle aged, overweight and balding male. I am probably not a target for a rapist. If my equipment gets stolen I will live through it. Its not like losing a limb or sight. My chances of being killed and cut up into little pieces are astromomically small. If I don't go and use my equipment, then I have lost the value of it anyway.
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rocco13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 1549
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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Quote:
I am a middle aged, overweight and balding male. I am probably not a target for a rapist.
That's what Ned Beatty was probably thinking in 'Deliverance'.
Sorry...I couldn't resist. 
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Rocco
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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stefanj
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 1350
Loc: Western New York State
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I met my neighbor (Bseward) from this forum- We get together when we can (we only live a couple miles apart) and have great viewing sessions. I've talked to other people in the Western New York area that I've met on the Board- So ya I think it's a good idea
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Life is a circus- and I'm stuck in the FREAK TENT
If these are blue- it means the moon is full!
Meade ETX 90RA w/ tripod
Meade AZ 70
Meade DS 2130 AT
Zhumell 10" Dob
Zhumell Plossel EP and Filter set
Simmons 10x50 Binoculars
GLPx6
LPI
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 13903
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Quote:
Very good points indeed; remember, you do not have to be a CN member to read the forums; anyone with access to the internet may view these forums.
Aren't some of them accessible only upon logging in? OTO for one, so I'd assume such a "Seeking Observing Partners" forum could be made "login access only".
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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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Kevin R
sage
Reged: 03/29/08
Posts: 306
Loc: Fl.
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Quote:
I am interested. I live in Lakeland, Florida.
I feel that these niche forums such as cloudy nights are pretty safe. It is always possible that you could hook up with a wierdo, but unlikely. Our equipment is pretty specialized and tough to sell without calling attention to the seller. Not as big a market for it as jewelry, metals, electronics, etc. Our forums are not as lucrative for sexual predators as other venues.
The media tries tocatch our interest with scary stories to catch viewers and sell advertising. They make things look out of proportion. I have sent rare coins to people I chatted with on the internet for them to review and see if they wanted to purchase and never been ripped off. They were people whose names I was familiar with from participating in the forums over a long period of time, but had never laid eyes on them. You gotta trust that most humans are good. Even in the most dangerous places on the earth, people live their entire lives and get old and die of natural causes. If you feel uncomfortable, don't go. If you are nervous and want to go anyway, take a pepper spray or taser or pistol.
I am a middle aged, overweight and balding male. I am probably not a target for a rapist. If my equipment gets stolen I will live through it. Its not like losing a limb or sight. My chances of being killed and cut up into little pieces are astromomically small. If I don't go and use my equipment, then I have lost the value of it anyway.
There's exactly what I was talking about. Someone from my home town is also a member here...  It's working already!
Chris, would you like to get together some time?
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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 11:54 AM)
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Mister T
sage
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 201
Loc: Upstate NY
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I have been thinking of going to Mt. Pisgah: http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/MPsghSPPAkey.html?1
or High Knob: http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/WrldEdSpPAkey.html?1
as they are both pretty close.
I was gonna say something about Arunah Hill being an overnighter ...
but then I realized pretty much any good stargazing is an overnighter 
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Tony
"After the Laws of Physics, everything else is opinion"
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
Oberwerk 11x70 Binoc
old camera tripod
mags and books
Meade 60mm refractor
Elmira-Corning Astronomical Society,
http://www.corning-cc.edu/visitors/observatory
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jhors
Riddle me this
Reged: 07/16/07
Posts: 737
Loc: Tempe, AZ
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Quote:
Quote:
Very good points indeed; remember, you do not have to be a CN member to read the forums; anyone with access to the internet may view these forums.
Aren't some of them accessible only upon logging in? OTO for one, so I'd assume such a "Seeking Observing Partners" forum could be made "login access only".
Very good idea. My astronomy club uses an unmoderated email forum for people to plan observing sessions. However, you don't have to be a member of the club to join the email group. It has occurred to me in the past that someone with malicious intent could definitely take advantage of someone in the middle of nowhere, at night, with thousands of dollars of equipment. I have had nothing but good experiences with this method, but meeting someone new in a remote place that I have never been before always gives me a little pause (and I know it drives my girlfriend nuts).
Compared to that, I would be far more willing to trust a CN member that had to login and participate in these forums in order to use this feature.
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-Josh
Florence Junction:
Antenna:
10" Dob
10 x 50 Bino's
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars -Walt Whitman
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28629
Loc: montana
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Quote:
Aren't some of them accessible only upon logging in? OTO for one, so I'd assume such a "Seeking Observing Partners" forum could be made "login access only".
David; my bad  You are correct.
Carol 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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