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94bamf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/15/08
Posts: 986
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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This thread certainly makes one sad truth obvious. People who go out and enjoy the night sky are a miniscule minority of the population..
Ken
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Telescopes:
Celestron C6 SCT
Celestron 8 inch Starhopper Dob
Celestron Oynx 80ED
Binoculars:
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 8x42
Zen Ray Summit 10x42
Celestron 10x42 Noble
Celestron 10x42 Regal
Celestron 10x50 Noble
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II
Celestron 15x70 Skymaster
Zhumell 20x80
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Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 504
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
This thread certainly makes one sad truth obvious. People who go out and enjoy the night sky are a miniscule minority of the population..
Ken
Hi again Ken! I am getting the exact opposite from this thread.  There are actually more people observing alone than I realized...I thought I may have been the only one!
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Celestron CPC 1100 
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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Tim L
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 919
Loc: Austin, TX
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If you have a binoviewer and don't mind getting REALLY close, you could even try observing through the same scope at the same time!
...or not. 
Seriously, it helps if the observing buddy also has a scope--more time at the eyepiece for all!
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Tim
Zhumell Z10 dob
Meade 60mm refractor
Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit
Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters
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GUNER
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/19/04
Posts: 1684
Loc: Bedminster,NJ USA
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Quote:
... So until I find the "Astronomer Match.com" website , I guess it's coffee & cigs . 
Oh ! Chocolate too ! 
All you lonely astronomers just sign up here:
http://www.scopebuddies.com/
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Thomas
17mm ETHOS NEAF Door Prize
THANK-YOU TELEVUE!!!!
12" SuperCharged LX-200 GPS
TAK SKY 90 on a Vixen Skypod
Stacked GOLD!PST/EXT-70AT/DSX-125
Infinity 2-1 CCD Camera with Lucam Recorder
Custom Scientific 1.25" LRGB filters
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Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 504
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
All you lonely astronomers just sign up here:
[http://www.scopebuddies.com
Lonely? I prefer to observe alone!
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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Nebulocity
super member
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 112
Loc: Northwest Florida, USA
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I would observe alone, but I've always been paranoid about things I can't see...I hate it, but It's just this "twitch" that's there. I guess I'm afraid of the dark, or the creepy crawlies, or whatever ;p
Being new to the northwestern area of Florida, I don't know of any dark sites near my place. My wife seems to be interested, however we have a 3 year old and a 1 year old, and I don't think the 18 year old babysitter is going to want to drive an hour to my place, just to sleep over, when i know she can be hanging out there with her friends...just so some nerd can look at the stars!
Maybe i should buy a really long rope, find a dark site, and bring my dog...
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- Celestron NexStar 8 SE 8” go-to SCT
- NexImage Solar System Imager
- Celestron 5x 1.25" Plössl EP set, 2x Barlow, 7x 1.25" filter set
- Celestron AC Adapter
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Nebulocity
super member
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 112
Loc: Northwest Florida, USA
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Quote:
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 !
That sparked my interest (as i'm a web designer by hobby). They have Scope Buddies, but if anyone here wanted to make one dedicated to finding a partner (which is what i thought scopebuddies was for), i wouldn't mind putting in the time to get everything set up with a system to do things with...it's what i do during the day ;p
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- Celestron NexStar 8 SE 8” go-to SCT
- NexImage Solar System Imager
- Celestron 5x 1.25" Plössl EP set, 2x Barlow, 7x 1.25" filter set
- Celestron AC Adapter
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Nebulocity
super member
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 112
Loc: Northwest Florida, USA
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Quote:
Incredible thread.
I observe alone almost always, both in the backyard and in a couple of dark sites. Pretty scary at the dark sites, as I am not too aware of my surroundings while looking through the EP. But it's the only way to see deep-sky targets and have a little quiet solitude.
Statistically speaking however, I am reasonably certain that the drive to and from the dark-site poses a much greater risk to my health/life than just being alone at the dark site. Still kind of scary, and it does take away from the tranquility a touch. A quiet, yet alert dog sounds like the best of all worlds. Wish I had one!
Thanks everyone, for putting words to some of my feelings. Great replies from everybody. I think I will go reread it again right now.
I think what i'm going to do, until i find a partner (there's lots of "gangs" near the dark places that i know of...might just wrap some black cord/cable around the perimeter about shin-height and keep Kira (my dog) near. If we hear a thump, off goes the throwing knife into the night!
@Guner:
Ooops, looks like i didn't have the "show all" defaulted on this page and didn't see the post where you mentioned SB. The only thing about Scope Buddies, is that not everyone who's registered is interested. The guy who lives within 30-45 minutes from me hasn't responded yet and it's been a few days. Oh well, i'm about to go outside and catch some Jupiter ;p
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- Celestron NexStar 8 SE 8” go-to SCT
- NexImage Solar System Imager
- Celestron 5x 1.25" Plössl EP set, 2x Barlow, 7x 1.25" filter set
- Celestron AC Adapter
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 44023
Loc: montana
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All my observing is done alone, in my observatory. I don't want music, as I do so enjoy the night sounds, coyotes, loons, owls. Also I want to keep it quiet, in case a larger animal is around, so I'm aware.
There's nothing like it to view the endless sky; and not to hear a human sound of any kind; that's my type of observing!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
Garrett 20x80 TWP setup
DreamCatcher Dobservatory
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7331Peg
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 969
Loc: North coast of Oregon
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Quote:
All my observing is done alone, in my observatory. I don't want music, as I do so enjoy the night sounds, coyotes, loons, owls. Also I want to keep it quiet, in case a larger animal is around, so I'm aware.
There's nothing like it to view the endless sky; and not to hear a human sound of any kind; that's my type of observing!
There just is nothing better ...............
John
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2702
Loc: Arctic
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I observe alone and I enjoy it. 
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
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panhard
Mongo
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5378
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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Quote:
I observe alone and I enjoy it.
Don't your Ptarmigan buddies sit nearby & listen to your oohs & awws.
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FirstSight
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 4455
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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Quote:
All my observing is done alone, in my observatory. I don't want music, as I do so enjoy the night sounds, coyotes, loons, owls. Also I want to keep it quiet, in case a larger animal is around, so I'm aware.
There's nothing like it to view the endless sky; and not to hear a human sound of any kind; that's my type of observing!
YES INDEED! As someone who enjoys listening to a great variety of music in other contexts, astronomy is decisively NOT among those contexts. The natural "music of the night" is the best, and indeed only background music that's compatibly enjoyable with observing to me and quite a substantial number of other folks, whether observing solo or else at some sort of gathering with fellow observers. If you're the type of person who does enjoy listening to "Pink Floyd" or whatever while observing, it would be good to keep this fact in mind, and take advantage of iPods equipped with earphones. Else, your enjoyment comes at the expense of a quite detracting imposition on many others for whom the appropriate context for appreciating the stars and universe is crickets, coyotes, wind, and sometimes...silence.
EVEN IN a suburban rather than isolated rural setting, this is true. Last night I took advantage of the fact that skies abruptly cleared around 1am (dog had awakened me needing to go out)...to enjoy an impromptieu observing session. Despite the upper-40s chill, the crickets were making some enjoyable music, albeit weaker that had the temp been mid-60-ish. Nevertheless, the most notable night-sound I would have missed had I been wrapped up listening to music on iPod headphones was the two deer, an immense buck and a doe, who went crashing through the shrubbery of the yard immediately across the street from me, alerting me in time to get a nice, albeit brief sight of both of them before they retreated back to wherever it is deer go to in order to keep themselves discreetly sheltered from humans and our pets. Great night music indeed.
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
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mich_al
super member
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 190
Loc: Wamplers lake Michigan
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Lonely ? Alone does not equal lonely ! Everyone doesn't need constant accompanyment. I much prefer to be alone when observing. If I'm not alone I don't observe.
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Old Rookie
member
Reged: 09/05/08
Posts: 65
Loc: Mansfield, Ohio
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30 years ago I started bass fishing at night. I found that I enjoyed the solace, peace and quiet that night time brings. I find astronomy to be similar.
Probably 50% of the time I observe with a friend and I enjoy his company. He is more of a serious amateur than I. When we do observe together, neither of us seldom speaks unless an unusual object comes up and we share it with the other. Most discussion takes place during the breaks.
When I observe alone, it's just my thoughts, the stars and the overwhelming vastness of the universe. Alone? I think not. This is the time to enjoy God's handiwork and to contemplate the majesty of His work. This is my quiet time. No noise, cars, people, problem, etc. Alone? No, not at all!
John
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John
What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!
12" Skywatcher Collapsible
Manual Setting Circles & Encoders
Richland Astronomical Society
Club Telescope: 31" f/7
Club Telescope: 16" Lightbridge
MegaStar 5
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revans
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 1536
Loc: Fitchburg, MA
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Hmmm... I put some music on in the hope that it will keep unwanted animals away... but in truth it doesn't seem to. My nightly visitors are a family of skunks that have no fear of me or my music at all and pretend that I'm not even there. It is a little un-nerving to hear and see the lot of them rustling about all around me. So, I never feel quite alone... but wish I was It is a little hard to maximally contemplate Gods glory when surrounded by a family of four or more frisky skunks that think nothing of walking right under the tripod legs of my scope with me sitting only a couple of feet away... but they exhibit no hostile intent and I've never been sprayed. I just leave them alone... and they mostly leave me alone.
Not sure why they don't seem to mind my presence and come so very close at least one or twice each night lately. Some time ago we rescued one of them from the swimming pool with a net on a pole. Didn't get sprayed at the time and since then the family of them seems to have no fear of me at all. But I'd really prefer not to have them scampering around in the dark and digging in the lawn for grubs... at least when I'm out with the scope trying to image.
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Rick Evans
http://www.freewebs.com/revans_01420/
"The universe is there for us to see, but it cannot be understood without learning its language -- mathematics." Galileo Galilei
Edited by revans (10/18/09 03:17 PM)
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Bill Weir
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 1362
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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Quote:
Hmmm... I put some music on in the hope that it will keep unwanted animals away... but in truth it doesn't seem to. My nightly visitors are a family of skunks that have no fear of me or my music at all and pretend that I'm not even there. It is a little un-nerving to hear and see the lot of them rustling about all around me. So, I never feel quite alone... but wish I was It is a little hard to maximally contemplate Gods glory when surrounded by a family of four or more frisky skunks that think nothing of walking right under the tripod legs of my scope with me sitting only a couple of feet away... but they exhibit no hostile intent and I've never been sprayed. I just leave them alone... and they mostly leave me alone.
Not sure why they don't seem to mind my presence and come so very close at least one or twice each night lately. Some time ago we rescued one of them from the swimming pool with a net on a pole. Didn't get sprayed at the time and since then the family of them seems to have no fear of me at all. But I'd really prefer not to have them scampering around in the dark and digging in the lawn for grubs... at least when I'm out with the scope trying to image.
But why wouldn't you want another sentient being of another species co-mingling with you? Especially seeing as you both might be fearful of the other. Then add into the mix your story of having rescued one of them. If anything I see this as good an example of your so called " maximally contemplate Gods glory" as anything.
Once I had a bear the size of a large dog, climb over my fence, run across the yard not 10' from me then scale a tree not 50' from where I was observing. He stayed up that tree the whole time I was out.
Cougars at the observatory, Bears in my yard. Deer and racoons everywhere. Dude, you can keep your skunks, I'd rather have my critters.
Bill
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
12.5'' f/5 Custom Truss Dob
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar ED II
f/5 25" newtonian on a giant GEM, any time I want
Observing sessions grand total for 2009, 102.
So far in 2010, 16.
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revans
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 1536
Loc: Fitchburg, MA
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I'll take a skunk over a bear I think... or a cougar. I've got plenty of skunks and an oppossum or two and rarely a raccoon. The skunks have been long time residents of my yard for many years. Some time ago we had let the water out of the pool except for a couple of inches at the bottom. Found a young probably adolescent skunk had ripped a hole in the plastic liner to get away from the small amount of water at the bottom of the pool, which was cold.... but it wasn't able to scale the side of the pool to get out. We took a chance and rescued it and I think now it is one of the parents of the family that we see in the yard nearly every night. They go off to forage far away, but always return and we see them again at just before dawn, digging for grubs in the lawn. For wild animals, they can act almost as tame as cats and just aren't afraid of anything. If you corner or annoy them, they will stamp their feet... and then watch out for a spray...
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Rick Evans
http://www.freewebs.com/revans_01420/
"The universe is there for us to see, but it cannot be understood without learning its language -- mathematics." Galileo Galilei
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2702
Loc: Arctic
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Quote:
Don't your Ptarmigan buddies sit nearby & listen to your oohs & awws.
Yes, my ptarmigan buddies like to sit and listen to my oohs and awws. They also like my telescope as well.
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3934
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
Not sure why they don't seem to mind my presence ...
Animals with potent defensive armaments, including skunks and porcupines, tend not to be afraid of much of anything. In this case, it's just as well, because the fact that the skunks are used to you reduces the already miniscule chance of getting spraid to essentially zero.
The only real problem with skunks is if you also have dogs. Dogs and skunks is a very bad combination.
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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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