Astronomer Nightmare

[supernova1965]

I got my first experience of a really dark site since I took up skywatching on Saturday night and ran into a small problem I was in the middle of a national park and it was dark really dark why a problem you may ask. Well I have discovered I am a wee bit SCARED OF THE DARK!!!:scared:. So to avoid costly treatment from a psychiatrist how can I get away from the feeling that some giant eat me animal is going to come running out of the rainforest its amazing how many noises you hear when you are in a clearing surrounded by untouched rainforest. I really have to get over this irrational fear. Because wow what a sky I used to live in this place and could have had this sight but wasn't into looking at the sky I know I totally wasted 8 years when I could just walk out of my door and be presented with what I saw on Saturday night. Without even trying I saw LMC, SMC and Andromeda galaxy the Great nebular in Orion. I was going to take my scope with me but on the morning we packed it was totally overcast so I left the scope at home and only took my Bino's and you guessed it there wasn't a cloud in the sky that night but I really enjoyed using the Bino's when I could take my mind off all the monsters I could hear in the Rainforest.:scared3::help2: I hope this does not mean that I will be banned from IIS as an embarrassment to astronomers.

[multiweb]

:lol: Nothing to be embarassed about. I was at Ilford once by myself mid-week and a roo scared the living c**p out of me once. He just jumped out in front of me in the dark stomping away. Just had the time to zip up and start running. I can't remember what I exactly said but it was a four letter word. :P

[Robh]

Take someone else with you. It's safer and you'll have more fun!

Regards, Rob.

[TrevorW]

Hey he's star gazing

take a red torch with you a radio and a big stick

a grown man scared of the dark didn't your mother tell you there are no real monsters :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[OzRob]

More time out in the dark by yourself will do the trick.... :D

[Liz]

:lol::lol: ... I get scared too, but then I'm a girl ;)
I head down to the beach at night to observe, not a soul in sight, but thats not including a maddened murderer lurking behind the tree ..... stop it!!! Heading out at 0200 for the meteor shower :jawdrop:
Rainforest animals are not so scary .... I dont think.:face:

[TrevorW]

It's walking into those big spider webs in the dark that gets you

[supernova1965]

Yeah I did that on Saturday only I forgot because I got scared by all the Giant Monsters I know that rainforests don't have killer Monsters but they sound sooooooooooooooo Scary.:lol:

[supernova1965]

It was so dark that I couldn't see trees let alone monsters:eyepop:

[GrahamL]

We are pretty tame in our country in regard to things that go bump in the night :D.. though somone who hasn't heard a male koala bellow on a dark , dark, night has a pretty good case to freak out a little .

There are probably some here who have observed from the northern
hemisphere who would comment a little more on personal experiance ,
but I have spoken to a few who made the comment that they do in these places where pristine skys are on offer have a few critters up that way who .. can really eat you . :)

be happy we live where we do mate :)

[Kevnool]

I Quite often go observing by myself.
You do hear lots of noises of animals but thats cool only because i,m used to it here.
Over there would be different for me.
Cheers Kev.

[seanliddelow]

Dont think about that smoky shadow thing off lost :lol:

[rogerg]

I suspect it's a problem more astronomers suffer from than dare to admit. In fact, probably goes for general adault population. I have always thought such things affect the creative people the most, they're the ones with the active minds thinking up wacky stuff. Being creative is good, it's just a little side effect of that.

- observe in an area that you're familiar with.
- arrive before dark, be familiar with the surrounding.
- have someone else with you, preferrably someone who isn't going to go to bed at 9pm leaving you with the rest of the night on your own.
- learn what's just your mind playing tricks on you vs a real noise.
- think like a scientist - analyse what is there, don't create what there isn't.
- learn what different noises are, get to know the wildlife in the area.

:shrug: just some practical ideas.

[supernova1965]

Some good tips there especially about getting there before dark I had to go to dinner for my wife's work Christmas party so I went to go after dark and walking from the light of the resort to the park across the road where there was no light really put the willies up me as I couldn't see where I was going and what obstacles there might be in my way.

[Ric]

I've always got something crashing through the bush at my place, mainly Roos. It used to make me jump but I've gotten used to it now.

I remember reading about an imager in America who goes of into the desert for the best images and carries a gun to scare of the coyotes and wolves.

Now that's dedication.

[erick]

Haven't they lost the occasional amateur to mountain lions in the US?!!

In Malaysia, I understand a routine hazard is the water buffalo that quietly walks up behind you when you are intently observing and then breathes down your neck - yikes!

[kinetic]

Some funny night time stories in this thread Warren:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=37146 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=37146&highlight=grate+dog)

How are those knees Leon, all healed now? :)

Steve

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: lol Warren your not alone on this one :lol::lol:
Im scared of bugs and insects (they creep me out)
If i set up before dark i am fine :thumbsup: After a few UDL's i get really brave :rofl:

But even in your own back yard it can be scary when the family cat comes up and rubs up beside your legs im not sure who was more scared with my reaction me or the cat :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[[1ponders]]

Try squatting down on your haunches to adjust a power cable while you're in short shorts, boxer type. Its mid twilight, plenty dark, out in the rurals. And a Rocket Frog (unknown at the time of the attack) launches itself at you from under a piece of timber. And all unexpected lands on the inside of your left thigh where the skin is tenderest. Yep. Interesting experience.

Jump???? You better believe it. And I invented a few new words at the same time.

Warren, watch out for the frogs.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Killer spiders, poisonous snakes, Kasawarries, Razorbacks, unspeakable evils from other dimensions that will eat your soul, American tourists (when theyr'e not the same thing), feral dogs, feral cats, feral bogans, cane toads. I could go on and on.
Don't be fooled. There's everything to be scared of in the dark. Stay close to home where you can cleanse the area or rug-up inside with a good book!

[Shep]

You can add me to that list. Im a total squib. I do think someone else made a great suggestion about getting to know the wildlife, at least then you can accurately guess that its probably a field mouse making all the noise of an elephant in that bush :P.

[supernova1965]

You forgot the Drop Bears:scared::jawdrop:

[Mick]

Gee mate give me a ring next time and we can keep the monsters at bay together. ;)

[Waxing_Gibbous]

See. See, its a jungle out there!
Also bear droppings.
Being alone in the dark scares us witless because it SHOULD. Its a survival mechanism.
Heed your genes!!!

[Baddad]

Hi Warren, :)
When I was in the Army on multi national exercises, we used to have the Yank soldiers watching the trees for drop bears. The ground for "Hoop Snakes" and especially "Kanga-rilla-pigs.

As a teenager I was scared of the dark. I overcame it in the Army. I was exposed to the darkness so much the only thing that worried me was stepping into holes or tripping over rocks.:scared:

So listen to good advice, from Rogerg, Ozrob and the others. It works. I used logic as Rogerg mentions. :einstein:

Cheers Marty

[Ric]

Solar astronomy is the answer. :thumbsup:

Bright sunshine in the safety of your backyard and you can see anything coming from miles around. :D

Cheers

[GrampianStars]

:lol: The Radios dulcid tones attracts the Big Brown Snakes
in the dilucid nite light.
Something to do with rythmic vibrations :shrug:
They're pretty blind but :thumbsup:

[Liz]

Out metero watching last night ... nothing too scary to report ..... a little echidna strolled past, few low flying bats and a flapping tarp next door had me concerned for about a minute ;)