Too Geeky?

[jjjnettie]

I'm heading over to Fiji next week with my sister and I'm really looking forward to getting a peek at parts of the Northern sky that I can't see from home.:)
I'll be taking along my camera, tripod and lappy, (as you do}, so I can take some wide fields.
But now I'm thinking, should I take my little blue Cube and 80mm scope along too? It only weighs a few kilos, and it would fit into my suitcase. It runs on AA batteries so I won't have to worry about power.
I've already been called a geek for taking the lappy.:P :whistle:
Is bringing along the mount and scope going just that little bit too far?:shrug:

[starlooker]

Take along whatever will make your trip more enjoyable. :)

What you do is nobody else's business.

EDIT: Er, that could be taken the wrong way. I mean take whatever makes you happy, and if other people have a problem with it, then it's their problem. :D

[PCH]

Hi JJJ,

when I went to Norfolk Island a year or so ago, I thought it would be terrific to look starwards from a dark sky location. Can you imagine, this tiny pinprick of land right in the middle of the ocean. Not a city light for over 1000k's in any direction. I even bought a new pair of binocs to take and was pondering on getting a portable scope too.

Boy, am I glad I didn't, There was one half hour timeslot of cloudless skies in the whole fortnight. The rest of it was the same as you east coasters seem to be getting atm... clouds clouds and more clouds.

But, on the bright side, I saw more in the half hour than i'd ever see from my lp'd surburban skies here in Perth.

But I wouldn't go overboard is all I'm saying I guess.

Have a great holiday hey

[TrevorW]

Take it if it's what you want to do, you never know your luck

Cheers

[h0ughy]

exactly what i would do JJJ

[sheeny]

If it was me, JJJ, I'd check the weather forcasts / climate data for fiji and this time of year. My recollection is this is still during the wet, when you'll get little opportunity for clear skies... but I could be wrong:whistle:.

If there's a good chance of clear skies I'd say take it! Take it all!:lol: But, if the chances of clear skies are slim, just take a minimalist kit (and hope;)) and otherwise just kick back and enjoy.

:)

Al.

[lacad01]

Question though is whether you can trust the kit in general stowage. No offence to any luggage handlers but if you've actually seen how luggage is loaded/off-loaded you'll know what I mean :(

[DJDD]

will you be worried about the gear in transit? insurance is a hassle.
will you be staying near the beach? salty sea spray!

will it be much darker than at home?
will you see much that you would not see from home?

perhaps just take binoculars and a tripod adapter?

[mental4astro]

Hi JJJ,

Moon might be a tricky thing next week.

I like the idea of binoculars and tripod better. Sure it's a holiday, for how long are you there? Lighten the load and you'll stress A LOT less. Luggage gorrilas are not always known for reading lables: 'fragile, handle like eggs'.

Binoculars are sooo underestimated when apeture fever hits.

Enjoy your holiday. Swimming's great, the people are beautiful, and the sun's warm.

[AstralTraveller]

If you do take the astro gear try, try not to get arrested as a spy! ;) The legal proceedures over there are somewhat irregular at the moment. :rolleyes:

[Liz]

Definitely take camera/tripod and lappy - everyone takes the lappy these days - who calls us geeky!!!!! I have bought a baby lappy to take to Italy in October :)
Dont know about the little scope - may be more hassle than its worth :shrug:
But, wow, have a wonderful time .... stay away from trouble over there, looks a bit scary of late :scared2:

[jjjnettie]

Thanks for the answers everyone.
Guess i should stick to just the bare basics.
Didn't think of the baggage handlers.

[KenGee]

Jeanette, For me that stuff would be carry on! Maybe a 2nd set of jocks and socks, who cares about the rest of the stuff. Happy imaging
PS. Your problem is you didn't time your trip so you could see M31. LOL
Have a nice time whatever you do.

[BerrieK]

jjj there's no such thing as too geeky!!

Although, as wisely pointed out already, beware: things can get broken in you luggage especially lappy screens.

Hope you really enjoy your holiday; be safe and only be as good as you have to!

Kerrie

[jjjnettie]

I'm already taking the puter and camera gear as carry on.
So I'd be having to put the scope through as luggage.
My last 2 trips OS I managed quite well with just the barest minimum which all fitted into one of my kids backpacks they use for school. Makes traveling so much easier not having to drag "luggage" around with you.;)

[GrahamL]

What Al said .. Friends who returned not long back Did say it often came into rain late in the afternoon/evening ... but that was a few weeks back now .. I'd hope and take the scope.. have a great time :thumbsup:

The only downer they mentioned were some of the activities the resort pointed them to were a little dodgey and expensive .
$150 a head fishing trip and the only tackle they had was a couple of handlines a bundle of tangled hooks and lures and a blunt bread knife.
Local guy they met on the beach ended up taking all 4 of them out for $50 and they caught some fish .

[Octane]

I'm off to New Zealand on Friday morning.

Along with me, is coming the notebook, external hard drive, ST80, tripod, 5D Mark II, 40D, and a variety of lenses.

[jjjnettie]

Yeah, it's a bit sparky over there at the moment.:(
I've registered with foreign affairs just in case things heat up.
Though I think so long as one stays away from Suva, it should be cool.

[AstralTraveller]

If anything does happen we'll send one of Jen's emoticon armies to rescue you! :fight: Just say :help:

[jjjnettie]

Emoticons to the rescue. :P :rofl:

[PCH]

Bloody hell Humayun, is there any room left for clothes :eyepop:

[Jen]

:) take it JJJ you will regret it otherwise :lol: you will be sitting over there one night and saying gee i wish i bought my gear along :thumbsup:
Or good excuse to buy some new gear while ya there :lol::lol:
Hope you have a lovely trip :D

[Octane]

Paul,

Pack light is my motto. :rofl:

I will have access to washing facilities in the campervan parks, so it should be fine.

Cheers!

Regards,
Humayun

[jjjnettie]

I'm with you on that one Humayan.
The less you have with you, the less you have to pack up each time you move on.

[Octane]

Jeanette,

Agreed on that. I can't stand packing and unpacking!

I'm all packed now. 9 hours to flight. I better sleep. :)

Regards,
Humayun

[Kevnool]

Geeky jjj no .
Astronomer yes.
Go for it.
Cheers Kev.

[Baddad]

Hey jjj,:)

Have a good trip, enjoy your holiday.

R. and I had an incident with Luggage Gorillas once. A few bottles of wine in a suitcase. Cushioned all round with cardboard and clothes.
They managed to break a bottle. It must have been a lot of force.:mad2:

BUT I know that there is a way to get fragile items on and off the plane. They will hand carry the gear on and off if you specifically request. It was done for me.;)

Phone the airline and see if it is possible. Then you will know your options.

I took two fishing rods to Vanuatu and later to Arizona. You pay a little more $12, $17, or in USA US$50 to go on South West Airlines LA to Tucson. After it being $12 from Aust to LA California. A fraction of the distance.:mad2::confuse2:

They will look after it as special luggage.:thumbsup:

I had the rods checked for explosives, Xrayed and queried and whatever else to the USA. To Vanuatu was nothing.:screwy::rolleyes:
Watch the taxi fares. They do try to exploit tourists.:whistle::eek:

Have a good time jjj. I was there in Feb09. Overcast. Hope it turns it on for you.:sunny:

AND IT AIN'T GEEKY. ITS A SCIENCE HOBBY
Cheers Marty