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Night Vision (NV) Astronomy Forum Rules
- This forum is for the discussion of observations, equipment, and effective use of Night Vision to maximize the visual experience. NV has become an important observing tool that assists urban astronomers in overcoming the adverse effects of light pollution and aids in sharing the experience with others at outreach events.
- Posts with astronomical images must include the name and/or catalog number of the object(s) of interest, preferably in the text that accompanies the image. Additional information to illustrate techniques and equipment used, to assist other members, is encouraged and appreciated.
- Please note that post-processing of Night Vision images is not allowed under any circumstances *. One can provide links to ones' post processed images in the imaging fora, your gallery on Cloudy Nights or from another website. Our view on post-processing is basically any enhancement process occurring after the capture software has saved the final image into a storage device. Post-processing is basically any enhancement process occurring after the image has been taken by a camera. The key word being enhancement; image manipulation like cropping, zooming, rotating, annotating, inverting, and file size compression is deemed acceptable.
* The sole exception to the rule is the Night Vision Image Gallery, where you can post post-processed images. It is a requirement to state what post processing, if any, has been done, in order to separate images that show a representative view from NV devices Vs images that are enhanced to show features viewed to the best possible degree. Any posts which do not comply with the requirement, will be removed without warning.
- ITAR restrictions
No ITAR related material may be posted on the forum - kindly note that specification sheets are ITAR controlled. Images and observing descriptions could also violate ITAR if they provide technical information that is otherwise restricted. Also no discussions on how to break laws, get around ITAR rules, export devices that are export controlled and such are permitted. Some guidance is noted below and for more details, please read International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), Title 22 Code of Federal Regulation, Parts 120-130.
Night Vision devices and technical information cannot be exported without valid U.S. State Department approval by the U.S. Department of State Office of Defense Trade Controls. Exportation of Night Vision Devices includes travel. This means you cannot take a night vision device with you if you leave the country. It is a violation of ITAR to allow anyone who is not a U.S. person (defined generally as US citizens and permanent residents) to look through U.S. Gen3 night vision equipment and and some Gen 2 night vision equipment (even on US soil). Non-U.S. persons are also not allowed to have access to any operator’s manuals or documentation, whatsoever, pertaining to US Gen 3 Night Vision Devices and some Gen 2 Night Vision Devices. Similar rules may apply in other countries.
Edit:
For those who may call into question Cloudy Nights' position on ITAR here is a link to a thread in the forum where two members asked people in the know.
So you wanna travel with your Gen 3 NVD?
ITAR Part 127 - Violations and Penalties
Pay particular attention to section (d) subsections (1), (2) and (3) which apply if one has a valid export license.
(d) A person who is ineligible pursuant to §120.1©(2) of this subchapter, or a person with knowledge that another person is ineligible pursuant to §120.1©(2) of this subchapter, may not, directly or indirectly, in any manner or capacity, without prior disclosure of the facts to and written authorization from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls:
(1) Apply for, obtain, or use any export control document as defined in §127.2(b) for such ineligible person; or
(2) Order, buy, receive, use, sell, deliver, store, dispose of, forward, transport, finance, or otherwise service or participate in any manner in any transaction subject to this subchapter that may involve any defense article, which includes technical data, defense services, or brokering activities, where such ineligible person may obtain any benefit therefrom or have any direct or indirect interest therein.
(e) No person may knowingly or willfully attempt, solicit, cause, or aid, abet, counsel, demand, induce, procure, or permit the commission of any act prohibited by, or the omission of any act required by 22 U.S.C. 2778, 22 U.S.C. 2779, or any regulation, license, approval, or order issued thereunder.
By registering for an account on Cloudy Nights you unconditionally agree to abide by the rules set forth in the Terms of Service. We bring to your kind attention Rule 1.2 on User Conduct and we would like you to note, that the below acknowledgement forms part of the rules of this forum, hence part of the Terms of Service. We urge you to exercise caution when posting in this forum, any other forum and the classifieds on anything which could be deemed to fall under ITAR related legislation:
- You understand and acknowledge that you are responsible for compliance with any and all U.S. Government export controls and regulations and that, if you violate them, it could result in severe criminal and civil penalties (including substantial fines, imprisonment, seizure of controlled products and technical data, and/or suspension/removal of export privileges).
- You understand and acknowledge that ANY diversion contrary to United States law is prohibited; it is the responsibility of the purchaser, and of any entity with which you are affiliated to comply with all applicable international, national, state, regional and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to any applicable import and use restrictions; that commodities or data may not be exported or re-exported or otherwise transferred to entities and persons that are ineligible under U.S. law to receive such product, technology, and/or software and Data / Specs.
- You understand and acknowledge that Cloudy Nights reserves the right to deny or restrict membership and its privileges to any member, whose posts are deemed to be infringing on any ITAR Requirement, at the sole discretion of the Cloudy Nights Administrators. While Cloudy Nights administrators and moderators will in good faith moderate any material deemed to be non ITAR compliant, the obligation to ensure compliance rests solely with members.
