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After having one of these sitting in my general equipment box for a couple of months, a break in Arizona's summer monsoon gave me an early morning opportunity to finally try it out. I was up a couple of hours before sunrise to do a bit of moon watching with Ralph the All Purpose Refractor. While I was learning how put things together and lit it up I must have been bitten half a dozen times, with countless thwarted attempts (and no doubt a few I just didn't notice). I fired that gadget up, set it about five feet away from where I want the scope set up, and went about the business of assembling my observing site. Over the course of about ten minutes I went from contantly waving my hands around and stomping my feet to shake of the whiny blood suckers, to having no such company at all.
From the other comments here on CN that followed my original inquiry (and a similar thread started in the Beginners forum) I suppose I should not have been at all surprised. But the quick and complete elimination of mosquitoes from my observing area was still a bit mind boggling. I started out with no wind at all, and when a faint and fitful morning breeze arrived, I moved the unit to a position upwind of me. It maintained it's effectiveness as far as I could tell. (The instructions do warn that this technique is not very helpful on a windy day.) All in all I managed to get in a couple of hours of eyepiece time without being buzzed, much less bitten.

As they say in the movie business...

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You think YOU have mosquito problems? Come to new jersey my man!

If my digital camera was not charging right now I couldve taken a picture of my foot.

For some reason the bugs keep biting me around my ankles. Perhaps its because this is the only area where i do not FEEL them biting me. I got like 6 red bumps on the left ankle and another 5 on the other leg!

Sometimes when Im viewing through a telescope, i just ignore the little pinches i feel on my leg...since im too distracted trying to see the image in the eyepiece.

Are mosquito bites really that bad for you health wise? Sure they itch the following day and they puff up into an unsightly red bump, but at least you are getting some of your blood regenerated. In the early 1900s they used leeches to suck blood from people to improve health issues. I know mosquitoes drink less blood, but what if you allow yourself to be bit like 100 times?

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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”

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Are mosquito bites really that bad for you health wise?

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They most certainly are if one that bites you is carrying the West Nile Virus! People have died from this; as well as animals, including horses. I won't take the chance, the Virus has been found in my area also.

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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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Are mosquito bites really that bad for you health wise?

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They most certainly are if one that bites you is carrying the West Nile Virus! People have died from this; as well as animals, including horses. I won't take the chance, the Virus has been found in my area also.

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Hmm thats true. In my backyard close to where I observe, we have a fish pond that also has 2 wild frogs in it. There are a *BLEEP* ton of insects that live in this pond, and im sure that this is where the mosquitos come from.

Heres something I saw when looking at west nile:

"Local residents are being reminded to take precautions against the threat of West Nile Virus.

“Typically, late summer is the period of highest risk for WNV infection,” said David Young, the region’s manager of environment health.

So far this year, four birds have tested positive for the disease.

To reduce the risks, the region recommends residents to wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when outdoors in the evening or early morning.

Also, use mosquito repellent and drain all areas of standing water such as bird baths and wheelbarrows."

Guess ill have to just start wearing long sleeves with pants instead of shorts for the last few months of summer. It will be hot in those clothes, but at least no west nile.

Oh by the way, I notice that almost ALL people who are getting sick from west nile are very elderly people in their 60s 70s 80s. Does this disease not affect younger people as it does older?

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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”

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Does this disease not affect younger people as it does older?

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I would guess that it affect anyone that contacts it, but the older people's immune systems may be weaker, therefore it hits them harder

When it can kill a horse, I pay attention.

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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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You think YOU have mosquito problems? Come to new jersey my man!

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I grew up in Illinois. I done payed my dues... probably by the pint!

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Tom W.

SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars


Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.

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Are mosquito bites really that bad for you health wise?

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They most certainly are if one that bites you is carrying the West Nile Virus! People have died from this; as well as animals, including horses. I won't take the chance, the Virus has been found in my area also.

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I'm not as concerned with West Nile as much as the Cellulitis I normally end up with.

All that disgusting bacteria in the mosquito saliva almost always seems to get me. I'll do anything to keep the blood suckers at bay.

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Z10 Dob w/ Telrad
Celestron 15x70 binoc
Meade ETX-60AT

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... Are mosquito bites really that bad for you health
wise? ...

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Of course, in addition to WNV, lets not forget Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Transfer to humans is rare, but the mortality rate is more than 30% when it does happen. Scary stuff for sure.

CDC EEE info

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Are mosquito bites really that bad for you health wise?

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They most certainly are if one that bites you is carrying the West Nile Virus! People have died from this; as well as animals, including horses. I won't take the chance, the Virus has been found in my area also.

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I'm not as concerned with West Nile as much as the Cellulitis I normally end up with.

All that disgusting bacteria in the mosquito saliva almost always seems to get me. I'll do anything to keep the blood suckers at bay.

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Wow that's really rough tek! Never knew that that can happen from mosquito bites. I don't think i have ever gotten a rash that bad even from 5 -10 consecutive mosquito bites.

The most that ever happens to me is a small pimple like red bump. I have pretty fair white skin, and the small redness of the bump does not transfer anywhere outside of it. The redness remains in the bump until it just simply goes away by itself.

The only hard part is not scratching these red bumps! Its sooo tempting and feels so good.

I agree with the consensus, lets drive the mosquitos away!

By the way this thermacell seems like a great invention, but only problem is it doesn't work when there is wind around. But heck, what alternative do telescope users have? Its not like we can just get one of those bug zapper lights...those things would destroy our dark adaptation.

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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”

Post Extras: