3 replies to this topic

[St@rryNights]

The M13 Hercules Globular cluster defeats me again. So I observe from my pool deck, don't worry the telescope and imaging equipment is fine. I often wear a small head light to free up my hands during setup so I don't have to carry a flashlight. Well my headlight fell off and the back cover of the headlight broke off when it hit the pool deck which caused one of the AAA batteries to fall into the pool. I knew I couldn't just leave the battery in the pool so I moved my equatorial platform off the deck and grabbed my pool skimmer. I tried for about 10 minutes to get the battery onto the mesh netting of the skimmer and I couldn't do it. I had to go in the pool to get it and realized that my imaging session was over before it began. I brought my equipment inside, got changed and took a quick swim to retrieve a AAA battery. The sky was too cloudy anyway, the clear weather forecast was wrong again.

Anyone else got any interesting telescope session fail stories.

[vtornado]

One night deer chased me inside.  They wanted my back yard that night and told me to bug off.  They were snorting at me.

[wolf man]

   Great story! Some nights you have to fight for your right to stargaze. One night I experienced a general mutiny. First the red dot finder died. New battery? No joy. Got out the double sided tape and attached a Rigel Quik Finder. OK now, let's get everything trued up. Inserted eyepiece and star diagonal and went to focus and got no motion and an ugly scraping sound. Then I remembered that small bump as I was taking the scope out through the backdoor. I guess it wasn't a small bump after all. Ten minutes fooling with adjustments. No joy. Inside to remove compatible focuser from other scope. Back out to do focuser transplant in dim red light. There now, working fine. Line up everything and star-hop to my first sight of the night and then just as I'm settling in to enjoy the view there comes a wall of concentrated skunk aroma that was strong enough to bring tears to my eyes. I freeze stock still and see the perpetrator ambling along about 20 feet away. After waiting a cautious few minutes I put everything into the garage (after checking for unwanted company) and called it a night. Sometimes enough is enough... 

[Borodog]

One night deer chased me inside.  They wanted my back yard that night and told me to bug off.  They were snorting at me.

They used to do this to me in Raleigh. If you stand your ground they won't bother you, especially if you talk to them. Although you may sound crazy to other humans. ;O)