208 replies to this topic

[UnityLover]

20200409_173118 (1).jpg

Found this after a star party March of 2020.

"Only believe what you can prove"
Its almost as if you ARE proving something...

[MaverickUSC]

"Only believe what you can prove"
Its almost as if you ARE proving something...

I literally spent 5 minutes of my talk that evening on how the Greeks and Egyptians proved it was round and got really close to measuring it.  

It blows my mind how many folk are insistent on being wrong.  The fundamental flaws of the flat earth paradigm are perspective and distrust in the government.  I don't know of a better way around those biases than introducing two thousand year old techniques.  If I'm wrong about something, I'd like to know it.  

[Kefka1138]

I literally spent 5 minutes of my talk that evening on how the Greeks and Egyptians proved it was round and got really close to measuring it.  

It blows my mind how many folk are insistent on being wrong.  The fundamental flaws of the flat earth paradigm are perspective and distrust in the government.  I don't know of a better way around those biases than introducing two thousand year old techniques.  If I'm wrong about something, I'd like to know it.  

Sadly, Popper's words ring very true - the unchecked tolerance of intolerance inevitably leads to a society that undermines rational discourse and critical thinking. I.e., stupid populace. Wild to see first hand but not surprising given the downward trajectory we humans seem to be following nowadays.

[KI5CAW]

I looked at the first page and not a single "proof" was actually true. I hope nobody sticks a saying like that on my telescope.

[Brain&Force]

20200409_173118 (1).jpg

Found this after a star party March of 2020.

I've thought about letting people who look through my scope sign it or sticker it (inspired by a sidewalk astronomer who has viewers sign their Dob and then donates it to a school once it's filled with signatures). This is one of the reasons I hesitate.

[scotsman328i]

I've thought about letting people who look through my scope sign it or sticker it (inspired by a sidewalk astronomer who has viewers sign their Dob and then donates it to a school once it's filled with signatures). This is one of the reasons I hesitate.

Haha, yeah..don’t let them do that. Next thing you know you’ll have political candidate stickers slapped on your scope and silliness like that.

[Jim4321]

I don't have anything written on the OTA itself, but for club sun-gazing, my 6" SCT has an home-made eyepiece shade made of poster board with some pro-science & education stickers that a second-hand bookstore used to carry.  I suppose that's a case of the owner (me) doing something a little strange to his own rig. 

 

 

 

Jim H.

[hyiger]

I looked at the first page and not a single "proof" was actually true. I hope nobody sticks a saying like that on my telescope.

When a flat earther once asked me how I could prove why airplanes don't descend if the Earth is curved. When I tried to explain that the atmosphere is also curved and that air pressure that maintains buoyancy follows that curvature he got angry and called my a liar... Anyway, those "proofs" are laughable and all of them are demonstrably wrong.    

Edited by hyiger, 29 March 2025 - 03:38 PM.

[Freezout]

I just had an outreach session three days ago at a scouts night camp. All the kids (between 6 and 8 years old) came to the telescope one by one in perfect order but among the last ones, a little girl stayed blocked in front of the eyepiece and could not go farther. She was like terrified and didn't dare to look. I and the scout leader explained her that nothing was dangerous, and we tried to make it very relax without putting pressure, but despite our psychological support (!) she ended up crying completely blocked. Later also she refused again to look. The target was Jupiter and all the previous kids had been managing to observe and were quite happy.

Apparently she was missing her mother and it was her first night camp!

[Brain&Force]

Not something that was done to my telescope, but I had a strange encounter recently while doing sidewalk astronomy.

 

I notice this older guy on an electric scooter was doing circles around my telescope. Considering that he must have seen me ask others if they wanted to see Jupiter through my telescope, I thought he would stop if he was actually interested in having a look. Eventually he ended up riding somewhere else.

 

When I was taking my telescope down, the guy came back and kept circling me again, then stopped and pointed his headlight directly at me. If I was actively observing or getting people to have a look, I would have told him it was bothersome, but I honestly could have used some extra light at the time. He stopped to ask what that bright light over one of the buildings was (Jupiter) and I let him know that he would be welcome to have a look if he saw me around again. He responded with: "Or you could tell me to get the [REDACTED] out of here. I know when I'm not wanted." He stood there for another minute and went on his way.

[Don25]

   99% of people are fine, but for some reason, some strange people get triggered by seeing a telescope..... I don't know if it's some type of primal thing, where they might feel that they're being watched, or it's a jealousy thing, but I've seen some weird behavior on occasion, when a scope is brought out. Always good to have a buddy along.  

 

    I wonder if the guy was a little "touched", or looking for a fight?...who knows. I also wonder if He routinely rides where you had your scope, and he didn't like the fact that you were on HIS perceived territory, thus He said "I know when I'm not wanted".

Edited by Don25, 08 April 2025 - 02:18 PM.

[scotsman328i]

Not something that was done to my telescope, but I had a strange encounter recently while doing sidewalk astronomy.

 

I notice this older guy on an electric scooter was doing circles around my telescope. Considering that he must have seen me ask others if they wanted to see Jupiter through my telescope, I thought he would stop if he was actually interested in having a look. Eventually he ended up riding somewhere else.

 

When I was taking my telescope down, the guy came back and kept circling me again, then stopped and pointed his headlight directly at me. If I was actively observing or getting people to have a look, I would have told him it was bothersome, but I honestly could have used some extra light at the time. He stopped to ask what that bright light over one of the buildings was (Jupiter) and I let him know that he would be welcome to have a look if he saw me around again. He responded with: "Or you could tell me to get the [REDACTED] out of here. I know when I'm not wanted." He stood there for another minute and went on his way.

Haha “umm…alrighty then!” 

 

It’s true, we do meet a lot of pretty weird people coming to these events.

 

The worst are the ‘Astrology’ folks.

 

They see a city paper ad, a Facebook message or some other means of media and they come down in black clothes, black hair, black lipstick, black fingernails and a black fishnet looking sweater that goes down to their ankles. I have seen them arrive and sit near the entrance of the park and set up a table and do Tarot readings and start burning Sage, incense and other white clouded crazy crap. Everyone coming into the event has to pass by these weirdos who are telling them “welcome to a special Astrology event where the Moon is in Aquarius! The Zodiac will predict your future tonight!” I swear! These fruitcakes are at the gate MAKING MONEY on an event that WE sponsored, not them. It’s insane! We can’t get them to clear off because the park is still open to the public and they sit right on the other side of the gate on public property so the park can’t tell them to leave. I guess park staff could call the cops on them basically panhandling, but they never do. Then we have the public come down to us wanting to see the ‘Moon in Aquarius’ and they start telling us how ‘Morticia’ at the front gate said that when they see the Moon in our telescopes, their ‘prophecy’ will come true! Then I have to tell them that tonight is ‘ASTRONOMY in the park’, not ‘ASTROLOGY in the Park’.

      Seriously, nights like those I really want to pack up and get the heck out of there. 

[Bob Campbell]

 they sit right on the other side of the gate on public property so the park can’t tell them to leave. I guess park staff could call the cops on them basically panhandling, but they never do. Then we have the public come down to us wanting to see the ‘Moon in Aquarius’ and they start telling us how ‘Morticia’ at the front gate said that when they see the Moon in our telescopes, their ‘prophecy’ will come true! Then I have to tell them that tonight is ‘ASTRONOMY in the park’, not ‘ASTROLOGY in the Park’.

      Seriously, nights like those I really want to pack up and get the heck out of there. 

do they have a permit to sell stuff or charge for readings? maybe that could disperse them?

 

Bob

[scotsman328i]

do they have a permit to sell stuff or charge for readings? maybe that could disperse them?

 

Bob

Bob, I had no idea what they had or not. I just know when I discussed it with the park staff at the beginning of the event, they said as long as they were not physically on park property, they couldn’t do anything about it. I did suggest calling the cops to move them along. Park staff said they would ‘look into it’, but they were still outside the gate well into the darkness. I’ve seen this nonsense a few times, but then moved anyway to another State, so I honestly have no idea if ‘Morticia and her Tarot Cards’ are still plaguing those events. 

Edited by scotsman328i, 08 April 2025 - 09:16 PM.

[Brain&Force]

   99% of people are fine, but for some reason, some strange people get triggered by seeing a telescope..... I don't know if it's some type of primal thing, where they might feel that they're being watched, or it's a jealousy thing, but I've seen some weird behavior on occasion, when a scope is brought out. Always good to have a buddy along.  

 

    I wonder if the guy was a little "touched", or looking for a fight?...who knows. I also wonder if He routinely rides where you had your scope, and he didn't like the fact that you were on HIS perceived territory, thus He said "I know when I'm not wanted".

That's an interesting possibility. I haven't seen this guy before, but I set up at slightly different places every night I go out (and I got out pretty often), so I doubt I'm encroaching on any perceived territory. But I will keep an eye out if I see the guy again. Considering how he interacted with me, I'm a little tempted to write it off as social awkwardness, though that's also a stretch on my behalf.

 

UW-Madison's campus is directly connected to its main street (State St) so I'm always a little worried about homeless, very drunk, or disturbed people giving me a hard time, but in practice my preferred area to set up is pretty calm.

 

It’s true, we do meet a lot of pretty weird people coming to these events.

 

The worst are the ‘Astrology’ folks.

 

They see a city paper ad, a Facebook message or some other means of media and they come down in black clothes, black hair, black lipstick, black fingernails and a black fishnet looking sweater that goes down to their ankles. I have seen them arrive and sit near the entrance of the park and set up a table and do Tarot readings and start burning Sage, incense and other white clouded crazy crap. Everyone coming into the event has to pass by these weirdos who are telling them “welcome to a special Astrology event where the Moon is in Aquarius! The Zodiac will predict your future tonight!” I swear! These fruitcakes are at the gate MAKING MONEY on an event that WE sponsored, not them. It’s insane! We can’t get them to clear off because the park is still open to the public and they sit right on the other side of the gate on public property so the park can’t tell them to leave. I guess park staff could call the cops on them basically panhandling, but they never do. Then we have the public come down to us wanting to see the ‘Moon in Aquarius’ and they start telling us how ‘Morticia’ at the front gate said that when they see the Moon in our telescopes, their ‘prophecy’ will come true! Then I have to tell them that tonight is ‘ASTRONOMY in the park’, not ‘ASTROLOGY in the Park’.

      Seriously, nights like those I really want to pack up and get the heck out of there. 

Now this one's just absurd. Have you ever interacted with them directly? It sounds like they have some weird vendetta against you...

[scotsman328i]

 

Now this one's just absurd. Have you ever interacted with them directly? It sounds like they have some weird vendetta against you...

Oh no, I steered clear away from them. All of us in the club back then did. We didn’t want the public to think we were associated with them in any way, shape or form. They never came into the park and hassled us to what I remember. At least never came up to me.

Edited by scotsman328i, 09 April 2025 - 05:24 AM.

[lurking_grue]

I have had the astrology ask, and the key is just be ready to answer with a genuine smile. When I answer I talk about science vs explaining the world without science, filling in gaps in understanding with cultural references.

I have had the “do you think the world is round” ask and find “I am satisfied that it is” works well as an answer.

I had a 4 year old try mountaineering up the side of my dob. Have had cords used as climbing aids. DIAGONALS are just like ladder rungs.

[scotsman328i]

I have had the astrology ask, and the key is just be ready to answer with a genuine smile. When I answer I talk about science vs explaining the world without science, filling in gaps in understanding with cultural references.

I have had the “do you think the world is round” ask and find “I am satisfied that it is” works well as an answer.

I had a 4 year old try mountaineering up the side of my dob. Have had cords used as climbing aids. DIAGONALS are just like ladder rungs.

Haha yup, turn your back for 2 minutes to discuss Saturn with an event guest, and the next thing you know two kids are swinging on your Dob like a jungle gym. 

[Astroman007]

Haha “umm…alrighty then!” 

 

It’s true, we do meet a lot of pretty weird people coming to these events.

 

The worst are the ‘Astrology’ folks.

 

They see a city paper ad, a Facebook message or some other means of media and they come down in black clothes, black hair, black lipstick, black fingernails and a black fishnet looking sweater that goes down to their ankles. I have seen them arrive and sit near the entrance of the park and set up a table and do Tarot readings and start burning Sage, incense and other white clouded crazy crap. Everyone coming into the event has to pass by these weirdos who are telling them “welcome to a special Astrology event where the Moon is in Aquarius! The Zodiac will predict your future tonight!” I swear! These fruitcakes are at the gate MAKING MONEY on an event that WE sponsored, not them. It’s insane! We can’t get them to clear off because the park is still open to the public and they sit right on the other side of the gate on public property so the park can’t tell them to leave. I guess park staff could call the cops on them basically panhandling, but they never do. Then we have the public come down to us wanting to see the ‘Moon in Aquarius’ and they start telling us how ‘Morticia’ at the front gate said that when they see the Moon in our telescopes, their ‘prophecy’ will come true! Then I have to tell them that tonight is ‘ASTRONOMY in the park’, not ‘ASTROLOGY in the Park’.

      Seriously, nights like those I really want to pack up and get the heck out of there. 

What the actual...

 

Never heard the like.

[Astroman007]

   99% of people are fine, but for some reason, some strange people get triggered by seeing a telescope..... I don't know if it's some type of primal thing, where they might feel that they're being watched, or it's a jealousy thing, but I've seen some weird behavior on occasion, when a scope is brought out. Always good to have a buddy along.  

 

    I wonder if the guy was a little "touched", or looking for a fight?...who knows. I also wonder if He routinely rides where you had your scope, and he didn't like the fact that you were on HIS perceived territory, thus He said "I know when I'm not wanted".

Possibly it has something to do with the rise of modern science (symbolized and aided by such instruments as the telescope) doing away with those ideas...stemming from mythical literalism...that are taken seriously still by the anti-science nutter community. A community that is making a comeback as quality education and the ability to reason seem to be falling out of favor. They see science and personal observation and study as their ideological enemy and almost glory in ignorance. Remember, in one stripe of popular mythology the catalyst for early man's intelligence originated from the personification of all Evil. Won't be long before trigger warnings regarding cultural / religious beliefs will be mandatory before films and on the cover page of such textbooks as remain.
 

[scotsman328i]

What the actual...

 

Never heard the like.

Dude…people are CRAAAAAZY today! 

[lurking_grue]

Maybe I missed it.  But the 'comet discussion'.  You know the one.  "Giant Meteor", ELE, when NEO loses the N...  

 

Answer?  IDK.  I try to talk about the actual current launch capabilities at mankind's disposal - and it isn't much.  We've sent stuff to rocks and nudged them, but with how much spin-up time and how much energy transfer?

 

Meh.

[Scope_hogger]

I wasn't there for it, but at the observatory I do work at, two things happended to our 2 scopes, both involving kids and their bad parents.

1. Our C14 once hit the floor, hard, after a kid took his time to loosen all three screws of the EQ8 it rode atop. A fellow volunteer was explaining something to a visitor when she heard the crash, and, obviously, got mad at the child for it. The parents never apologized. Instead, they got mad at said volunteer and gave her the usual "that's what kids do." I think they were told to never come back.

The C14 is fine, somehow, although I haven't taken my time to check it's collimation

2. Some kid desided that our 16" meade LX200 mount was a jungle-gym, and climbed onto the base of the fork arm assembly. He was quickly removed. the boy's parrents didn't apologize either.

[Raymondhow]

While setting up for public observing night at Chabot Observatory:

I set down the base of the club's 10 inch Orion, and went to fetch the OTA. When I returned carrying the tube, I found a boy of maybe eight years sitting inside the base. He looked up at me as if to say, this is MY chair! Mom noticed and yelled at him, and he climbed out. Don't recall whether they looked through the scope later...

[Bob Campbell]

While setting up for public observing night at Chabot Observatory:

I set down the base of the club's 10 inch Orion, and went to fetch the OTA. When I returned carrying the tube, I found a boy of maybe eight years sitting inside the base. He looked up at me as if to say, this is MY chair! Mom noticed and yelled at him, and he climbed out. Don't recall whether they looked through the scope later...

ah....free range parenting...got to love it (NOT)

 

Bob