performance enhancing drugs for astronomers

[janoskiss]

I just finished watching the Catalyst program on performance enhancing drugs in sport.

It got me thinking. How about instant dark adaption and pupils larger than a 16-year-old's with Astronomer's eyedrops? A natural deadly nightshade or datura extract would probably do the job.

I reckon I'd give it a go. :D

[Greg Bryant]

Well, back when Steve O'Meara first visually sighted Halley's comet through a 60cm (24 inch) telescope back in 1985 (the first person to do so since its previous return), he did so at high altitude (on Mauna Kea in Hawaii) while breathing bottled oxygen. At the time, Halley was about 19th magnitude.

Moral of the story - fresh air is better for you!

[[1ponders]]

We'll send flowers Steve.

[avandonk]

Like all drugs you get back to where you started,Seems pointless to me.


In for the long haul.

Bert

[janoskiss]

The flowers are too potent, Paul. I need the leaves! :rofl:

[gaa_ian]

I watched that catlyst program too !
That suppliment sounds interesting, cerateen or something.
Helps the muscles recycle metabolic wastes.
Might help my squash game (then again i could just get fitter & practice more!)

[cometcatcher]

The optometrists have those drops don't they?

Don't we need something just to keep the eyelids open most of the time? Me thinks some of that high cocoa (caffeine) dark chocolate might do it. Tea or coffee. No, no I have it... Mars bars!

[janoskiss]

That's the spirit Kevin! Mars bars! :D ...and half a dozen matchsticks to see you through till sunrise. :scared2:

[cventer]

Jolt Cola is the go..... 1 can = 2 cups of coffee.....:tasdevil:
For that extra zing follow it up with a Redbull or 2

I am programming my software, watching Tv, and reading ice and space all at once as I type this....

Thats Proof it must work!!!!!!!:zzz:

Best Regards
Chris Venter

[janoskiss]

Not the way I make 'em! :D

Forget your colas, coloured bulls etc. Get a stove-top Italian espresso maker from your local deli (<$20). Three-to-six cupper will do nicely. (Remember "cup" means short black, i.e. shotglass.) Fill it with fine coffee like Vittoria espresso, fire up and 1-2 mins later you'll have superb strong black coffee. Add sugar, milk, whatever you like. :drink:

:D

[Whangdoodle]

"The ingredients in Rogisen have been shown to combat micronutrient deficiencies that may lead to night blindness, as well as provide overall better visual acuity and maintain ocular health."
Say NO! to drugs.....unless they're really good.

[janoskiss]

Well said doodle dude! And :welcome:

Do you have a scope? If so, what sort?

[Whangdoodle]

Hi Janoskiss,
I only just joined so I am not yet sure how to list my gear but yes I have some scopes.
Meade LX90, Parks 10" f/5 Dob, Galaxy 16" f/4.7 truss dob, Orion ED80 and Express80 plus a swag of things to go in, on and over them :whistle:

[GrampianStars]

G'day "Bluesman"
cc; others

Saw the express on the "Bintel" site whats it like to use
I'm thinking of getting 1 to ride on an 8" meade SCT
the ED80 seems to be too heavy for it

[RapidEye]

Good Beer is my "enhancing drug" of choice!:drink:

Toss back a few cold ones, and you'll be amazed how many things you'll see that no one else does: pink elephant nebula, little green men on the moon, etc ;)

[Lee]

Yes, optometrists carry drops to dilate your pupils.... but if you have ever had it done....
1. it stings - a lot, to begin with
2. you can't see crap while dilated!

It is done to give the optometrist/doctor a bigger hole to look into your eye, doesn't help the outwards view, the slightest bit of ambient light would also wreck your light adaptation, as you pupil couldn't constrict in response, so your poor retina gets bathed in light.....

Would be fun to try.... unless you are one of approx 1 in 30,000 or so who have a silent case of narrow angle glaucoma, which can be precipitated by mydriatic drops (dilators).... then you will rock up to an emergency department with an eyeball feeling like it about to explode..... and look like a fool.... the doctors would secretly chuckle as we got the remedy ready (and hoped it worked!).....
thought you'd like to know some facts!

[Lee]

How high is that peak? The retina tends to show effects of low oxygen before any other tissues, so vision is the first to drop off....
I have been in an altitude chamber at an altitude of just 15,000 feet breathing normal air.... we were being asked what we could see ahead..... it looked like a small red blur no matter how hard you strained.... when we took a couple of breaths of 100% oxygen you could immediately tell the red blur was 3 very large bright red illuminated instrument dials from an aircraft cockpit! No wonder pilots must breath supplemental oxygen over 10,000 feet! At 22,000 feet you can hardly think, let alone see!

[fringe_dweller]

"The eye in total darkness will progressively develop a light sensitive pigment called Rhodopsin (a derivative of Vitamin A) which enables greater peripheral vision at night. Persons lacking in Vitamin A will suffer from "night blindness"." This is quoted from Michael Mattiazzo's 'Southern Comets Homepage' website

so we need something that increases Rhodopsin production http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodopsin more vitiamin A? http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5551.html
Carrots!!!! - lots of them -
also something that increases bloodflow to/in the eyeball - thereby more oxygen transported to the eye? hhhmmmmmm a viagra for the eyeball so to speak - ....Ginkgo Biloba? http://www.kcweb.com/herb/Ginko.htm i think just being fit and healthy is good enuff maybe?
Alchohol is about the worst possible thing you can take for better vision - believe me i have tried the experiment myself :)
kearn

[ving]

hey mike... do you want me to bring carrots on the 1st? ;)
:scared:

[cometcatcher]

The experienced observer with only a 5mm pupil will still probably out see an inexperienced observer with 7mm. So make sure you get enough experience by the time you can only open to 5 mil lol. :P

[Sausageman]

Don't you people know that coffee is bad for you?
It doesn't actually keep you awake, in fact it has the opposite affect.
In high doses, like in Red Bull, for example, yeah, it gives you a temporary boost, but we all know that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. High caffiene doses can kill, and have done so.
Take care with the caffiene.

Mike

[cometcatcher]

Yep, all things in moderation as they say.

[ving]

and gummy bears!
dont forget copious amounts of gummy bears! :D

[janoskiss]

Gummy bears?? Aren't you a frog (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=3471) man, David?! :rofl:

[ving]

umm.. er... gummy frog bears?
:ashamed: