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General Astronomy >> General Observing and Astronomy

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stevenp_86
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/30/11

Loc: Ontario Canada

going to black zone, worried about vandalism
#5152451 - 04/01/12 10:35 PM

im planning a black zone trip with some of the guys from work, i dont really trust them that much, they like to pull alot of pranks and to make matters worse they get drunk alot, insert an expensive telescope and expensive EPs into the mix and you can see how i am a little worried..

not sure if i should bring my 8" or 12" with my good EPs or just my 25 and 10 plossl..

my question is not about the guys im going with, my question is about what should i bring , will i regret not bringing the 12" at a black zone?

Post Extras:

TexasRed
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/17/11

Loc: East Texas

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: stevenp_86]
#5152482 - 04/01/12 11:00 PM

Quote:

...will i regret not bringing the 12" at a black zone?

Yes.

Don't go with people you don't trust.

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: stevenp_86]
#5152544 - 04/01/12 11:39 PM

Frankly, in a case like that; I'd settle on bringing just binoculars. Remember, you have to work with these guys, so that could prove to be a very uncomfortable situation if indeed, one of your scopes was damaged.

Listen to your gut feeling, you are worried; follow that feeling & protect your equipment by leaving it at home.

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genethethird
sage

Reged: 01/05/10

Loc: NC

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5152558 - 04/01/12 11:49 PM

I would just make it very clear that your gear is expensive, and that you will kill anyone who messes with it.

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derangedhermit
professor emeritus

Reged: 10/07/09

Loc: D/FW, TX

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: genethethird]
#5152722 - 04/02/12 03:09 AM

I'd just leave observing off the agenda. To me drinking and astronomy do not combine at all. Point out some naked eye stuff to them if you want to engage them in observing.

By the way, I think in your sig the first and last magnifications on each line are correct for your eyepieces and telescopes, but the middle three need updating.

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Ed D
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/30/10

Loc: Sunny South Florida

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: derangedhermit]
#5152869 - 04/02/12 08:31 AM

I think you'll regret seeing your nice equipment getting trashed more than not bringing the scopes. I agree with Carol about bringing decent, inexpensive binoculars (ie, $25 Tasco 10x50 from the big discount store). You're probably going to have your hands full with that bunch and you want to keep it as simple as possible.

To me it sounds like these guys don't really care about astronomy, just getting drunk and acting like idiots. I wouldn't do it, but that's up to you to decide.

Ed D

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Arctic_Eddie
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/30/07

Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Ed D]
#5152878 - 04/02/12 08:45 AM

Binoculars and a reclining lawn chair. I've used that technique in the Suwannee River area of north FL and the views are amazing. Take only what you're willing to lose.

PS
Are you headed to Algonquin Park near North Bay?

Edited by Arctic_Eddie (04/02/12 08:48 AM)

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Achernar
Postmaster

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: Mobile, Alabama, USA

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: derangedhermit]
#5152909 - 04/02/12 09:21 AM

Drinking kills your night vision, so I wouldn't mix alcohol and astronomy for that reason alone. Personally, I wouldn't go to a black zone with people I don't trust. That is a recipe for trouble. Some of those "practical jokes" are really a code word for criminal acts, some of which are a line best left uncrossed.

Taras

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desertstars

Reged: 11/05/03

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Achernar]
#5153002 - 04/02/12 10:36 AM

Agree with the general trend in the answers. When in doubt, don't. Use binoculars and promise yourself a trip back under those dark skies as soon as you can manage it.

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Bill Weir
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/01/04

Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: desertstars]
#5153021 - 04/02/12 10:46 AM

Out of curiosity, what is the point of this trip? I'm guessing fishing. I think take binos and use this as an opportunity to scout the place out for the future....alone.

Bill

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Achernar]
#5153034 - 04/02/12 10:53 AM

Quote:

Drinking kills your night vision, so I wouldn't mix alcohol and astronomy for that reason alone. Personally, I wouldn't go to a black zone with people I don't trust. That is a recipe for trouble...

Taras

My thinking as well. But is presuming you would rather stargaze than engage in practical jokes and partying. There was a time in my life when practical jokes and partying were a high priority but those days are long past.

Jon

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FLYcrash
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/29/09

Loc: Chicago, IL, USA

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5153049 - 04/02/12 11:05 AM

I feel your pain...a tradeoff between the opportunity for a trip to a good place and quality of the company.

Remember that a black zone isn't so black if you're there with much of a moon...and from the sounds of it, the trip isn't being planned around astronomical considerations.

Yeah, just naked eye and binoculars will keep you busy. The one time I made it out to a yellow/green zone on a new moon night, I barely used the scope at all. It was spectacular!

And I'll finally add that I'd be very uncomfortable in general going out to the boonies with people I don't completely trust. Far from a gas station, or general store, or hospital, potentially via iffy roads. In college, we were out in the middle of nowhere, dry desert lake bed, California, when a member of my party needed urgent medical treatment. Talk about stress...

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Al Miller
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/08

Loc: South, Texas

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: stevenp_86]
#5153053 - 04/02/12 11:07 AM

Quote:

they like to pull alot of pranks and to make matters worse they get drunk alot

Not a good idea IMO. They likely aren't really interested in your Astronomy anyway. If ya don't trust them, don't take anything you don't want to get broken... period.

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shawnhar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/25/10

Loc: Knoxville, TN

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Bill Weir]
#5153056 - 04/02/12 11:09 AM

I don't agree with the other posters, if I were going to a black sky (Not a Moon over 50%) I wouldn't care if the guys were escaped convicts, there is nothing you could say that would stop me from bringing all my gear. I would bring the 12" and the 14mm and 27mm EP's... Having said that, I live very far from a black, grey or blue sky and would not be able to just go back without the merry pranksters whenever I wanted. I also grew up with guys like that so I have no problem dealing with them, especially when I'm the only sober one. Just break out your gear around 2:00am, they will all be passed out anyway.

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bunyon
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/23/10

Loc: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Al Miller]
#5153063 - 04/02/12 11:11 AM

To echo Bill, what is the purpose of the trip? If it is astronomy, leave the friends home. If other, leave the scope home.

I've never found it easy to mix non-astro people and astro-trips. Either the astro people make it such that the non-astro folks are just tagging along and get left out or the non-astro folks insist on stuff that ruins that astro. YMMV

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stevenp_86
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/30/11

Loc: Ontario Canada

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: genethethird]
#5153084 - 04/02/12 11:31 AM

Quote:

I would just make it very clear that your gear is expensive, and that you will kill anyone who messes with it.

they used to be in the army.. so im not sure that would work on them lol

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stevenp_86
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/30/11

Loc: Ontario Canada

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: Bill Weir]
#5153088 - 04/02/12 11:32 AM

Quote:

Out of curiosity, what is the point of this trip?

they planned the trip, i am just going to tag along, so far i am thinking 8" with just my 25 and 10 plossl, if they threw those into the river, i would not be as upset

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: stevenp_86]
#5153110 - 04/02/12 11:49 AM

I hope the 8" floats.

I guess I value all my possessions, expensive and inexpensive; to take a chance on having them trashed.

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jfaust75
sage

Reged: 10/04/11

Loc: Central Florida

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: stevenp_86]
#5153116 - 04/02/12 11:56 AM

If they planned the trip and it is for non-astro reasons then there is NOTHING that states they NEED to be with you observing........just do that part by yourself if possible.

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uniondrone
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Streetlight Archipelago

Re: going to black zone, worried about vandalism new

[Re: jfaust75]
#5153278 - 04/02/12 01:52 PM

Personally, I would take an inexpensive pair of 10x50 binoculars and leave the scope at home. Would you be able to wander off to do stargazing on your own? Can you lock the scope inside a vehicle that only you can unlock? That would be the only way I would consider bringing a telescope in a situation like this.

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