Many years ago, I was giving a talk at the Auckland Observatory and had to show the group objects through the 50cm telescope. There was much cloud covering the sky and their departure time was coming up quickly. Anyway, the cloud cleared just enough to allow a peek at Jupiter so leaping to the eyepiece, I attempted to locate the said planet. No luck. The eyepiece field was devoid of anything!! I tried using the focus button backwards and forwards but still no luck. In between wiping my glasses which kept steaming up and apologising for not finding Jupiter and the encroaching departure time, I suddenly realised what the problem was.
Very nonchalantly, I strolled around to the front of the telescope stating in a loud and confident voice, don't worry I know what the problem is. I reached up and grabbed the hinged flaps covering the mirror and latched them back in place with a loud clang that reverberated around the dome. You see, we always covered the mirror when not in use and in my panic to try and get something to see for these people...well you get the picture.
Everybody had about 2 seconds at the eyepiece to see Jupiter and all saw it before the cloud once more rolled in.
Another almost embarrasing moment occured when a mate and I were travelling to a school some tens of kilometers north to show the community through my mate's 60cm dobsonian. We were expected there by a certain time and around 3/4 of the way, my mate turned to me and said, "I have forgotten something".
I went through the usual equipment list...ladder, eyepieces, etc but no, "I have forgotten the mirror". A quick turn around and back to his place where the mirror sat peacefully in its box. Made it back to the school only 5 minutes late...a close call.
Rich
