I gotta admit these stories are absolutely hilarious! And Alex the only thing that could make this funnier is if you put a laser pointer on it, and yelled out "PREPARE TO FIRE ZE MISSILE!"
, or you got arrested.
But, why dont we take a look at what the average person perceives what a telescope is? When I started started this hobby about over a year ago now, I didnt think of even newtonians as a telescope. But a truss tube Dob? Thats a crazy looking thing. Which end do I look into?
I bet if you were setting up a refractor designed telescope, that dude would have instantly recognised your using a telescope.
I wouldnt worry too much about being a person of interest to ASIO. I'm sure they have better things to do then to grief a family man with a awesome hobby and a fold up yard cannon
. I think it policy now for them to take a little look into every possible suspected naught person anyway.