[Tropo-Bob (Bob)]

I was again told a version of this story when doing Astronomy Outreach last night. Basically, the story goes that my father/uncle/family friend said that when he dug wells, it was so dark down there that you could look up and see the stars.


About 20 years ago, I went on a tour of the Mt Isa Mines and I was able to look up a shaft from deep underground to the sky and only saw a small circle of blue sky. There absolutely were no stars visible and the sky was not dark, so I assume that this is just a myth.


However, it is surprising how often this tall tale is told and how difficult it is to debunk. I assume others have heard the myth, but has anybody had an experience that could lend any substance to it? (Digging wells at twilight or at night does not count!)