toastmaster425
member
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 63
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Who does it? What do you do when you do it?
Tomorrow looks like its gonna be my first observing session with my newer scope, and my old meteor-watching partner in crime is out of town so itll be me, myself, and i tomorrow night out in the backyard. im thinking ill bring a radio, my laptop, and some coffee!
what do you do when you observe alone?
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i'm new at this.
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 574
Loc: Northern Arizona
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We need to start a " Lonely Observers Club Band " . Sgt. Peppers . 
My once observing partner seems to not have the ambition to do dark site trips anymore . I want to go at least once a month , but he can't be talked into it anymore than about twice a year . (terrible) . I told him he just needs to sell his stuff . He thinks he's an amateur astronomer . Yeah right ! 
I end up going it alone half the time although I really don't like it . Safety issues can come into play , but mostly , not having the enthusiasm of another astronomer kind of stinks . So until I find the "Astronomer Match.com" website , I guess it's coffee & cigs . 
Oh ! Chocolate too !
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
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mblack
Throw me a bone here
Reged: 10/31/05
Posts: 3435
Loc: Naples, Florida
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Quote:
Who does it?
Myself, me and I find the serenity of being alone under the stars very good for the heart.
Quote:
What do you do when you do it?
Look up, and listen for critters.
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Dave B.
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." Groucho Marx
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mblack
Throw me a bone here
Reged: 10/31/05
Posts: 3435
Loc: Naples, Florida
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Quote:
So until I find the "Astronomer Match.com" website
You might be onto something 
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Dave B.
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." Groucho Marx
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star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 16166
Loc: Snow Plop, WNY
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For the first twelve years I observed alone, then occasionally with others for about five years, then alone for another sixteen years before I met a few Cloudy Nights members last year.
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Ted
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big george
journeyman
Reged: 03/10/09
Posts: 6
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A lot of my observing sessions are solo.Not as much fun as those with a like minded friend,but can be rewarding none the less. A good supply of hot coffee and clear skies will help make a good observing session. A good observing partner can make it more fun.
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Matthew Ota
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 1085
Loc: New England
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My last observing session was solo at Post Pond, New Hampshire. I went there for the first time to see how it is, since it is the closest blue zone place from where I live. It was a 17 mile drive.
Observing alone is not as much fun as with a club, but I was able to concentrate on astroimaging and got some great shots of the Wild Duck Cluster.
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Matthew Ota
Meade LX250GPS 10 inch SCT (Frankenscope)
Orion ED 80
ETX-90 OTA
Coronado Helios 1 H-alpha
TheSky 6 Pro
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panhard
Mongo
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5186
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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I observe alone quite frequently. It's just me and the coyotes. I pulled an allnighter a while ago. The restof the group left around 10.00 pm I stayed until about 400 am.
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bherv
sage
Reged: 03/10/06
Posts: 307
Loc: WMass
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I have observed alone at our club's site in rural western Massachusetts many times. I try to get out each month. Sometimes there are other members there but most don't stay the night. It does get a little spooky when strange sounds emanate from the woods. I have become more comfortable observing alone. My camper is parked there so I have a place to crash at the end of the night. I do prefer to observe with friends but I try to take advantage of any clear new moon weekend.
Barry
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7331Peg
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 718
Loc: North coast of Oregon
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Quote:
... what do you do when you observe alone?
Observe, what else.
Although, usually my dog is at my feet, and a cup of tea is within reach.
Got up at 3AM last Monday morning - the last clear night we had, and rain forecast for the next week at least - and spent quite a bit of time on Orion, the moon, and Mars.
There is nothing quite like walking out onto the deck at 3AM when there isn't a sound to be heard and being greeted by Orion hanging high up in the south!
John
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arellanon
member
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 25
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Safety is definitely the biggest concern while alone but I think that observing solo is very calming and relaxing. I just love being alone at Joshua Tree National Park under the summer milky way and hearing the coyotes, nocturnal birds, and even bugs make their rounds.
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brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2076
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
Safety is definitely the biggest concern while alone but I think that observing solo is very calming and relaxing.
In the dark, you're usually safer without other people bumping into you & your observing equipment....
I almost always observe alone. No shortage of ideas, mucho shortage of clear sky....
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 RonBurgundy
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 252
Loc: Philadelphia
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I'm one of those lucky few that actually has a partner interested in my persuits. Thus, I usually observe with her... However, when I observe alone, I don't do anything differently; at least physically, that is. My mindset is a little different, though. I enjoy the occasional night of solo observing, because it allows me to soley contemplate the amazing things I'm seeing. Yes, the distances are incomprehensibly amazing. But, the most amazing thing to me, is the fact that I am truly looking back in time, even for the nearest star observing! What an incredible feeling it is that I truly have a time machine!!! So, bottom line, It's more of a mindset than physical actions.... Great thread by the way.
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Kipp Ginsburg
8" LX200-ACF
Orion 120mm F/5.0 Piggybacked Refractor
Meade UWA Set [4.7mm-30mm]
DSI-II
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3449
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
what do you do when you observe alone?
Alone is the only kind of observing that I *really* enjoy. Doing it with a club is the worst -- I inevitably spend much of my time on frivolous chit-chat while all the time the sky and the stars are pulling at my heart. What a waste of a clear night!
Observing with one or two people more skilled than I can certainly be educational, but it still shatters the serenity.
Just make sure you leave that radio at home, or all the joys of solitude will be lost. Hearing the night sounds is almost as important as seeing the night sights.
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Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
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RonBurgundy
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 252
Loc: Philadelphia
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Agreed Tony. Not 100% agreement, but I must say that observing alone in the middle of nowhere is one of the most special opportunities a human being can possibly have. Truly an amazing experience, unparalleled by most everything.
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Kipp Ginsburg
8" LX200-ACF
Orion 120mm F/5.0 Piggybacked Refractor
Meade UWA Set [4.7mm-30mm]
DSI-II
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Ray4852
sage
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 396
Loc: Arcade, NY
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I do most of my observing with my black lab. he keeps an eye open for me if an animal should move in. I have friends and neighbors over once in a while but they don't stay long. my work schedule restricts me to week days only. don't have the time to go to star parties or club activities . I work on weekends.
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Home Built 18 dobsonian
Panoptic 27mm
Tele vue 16mm 9mm naglers
Tele vue big barlow
Telrad and DSC
deepsky and skytools software
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Rat
super member
Reged: 10/13/06
Posts: 144
Loc: USA
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I observe alone only at home. Elsewhere, I try to get others to observe with me.
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1925
Loc: Cayce, SC
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For fifty years 90% of my observing has been alone. Just no one who wants to look with me, usually. Well, except the cat and dog. That's ok, though, I have a great time at it anyway. Actually, I get more done alone, not having to talk to anyone. Something new for me recently, in the past year-and-a-half, is doing what I'm doing right now--talking online about it. That has proved to be a wonderful thing for me. And thanks for listening.
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--Dawg, the Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Orion 120ST 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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toastmaster425
member
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 63
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interesting, everyone, very interesting!maybe i wont be bringing my radio out after all, and see if i can still take in some of the sounds you speak of!
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i'm new at this.
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 574
Loc: Northern Arizona
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Well , ...a little "Pink Floyd " "Dark Side Of The Moon" at a very low volume isn't gonna kill ya .
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
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