Next time we complain about an observing night

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Read this article and remember that what we simply take for granted plenty of others can't and realise just how good we have it here in Oz

Amateur Astronomy can be Risky Business

Mike
Who never complains about the weather...or wind...or cloud...or...Police arriving to make sure my observatory isn't a missile launcher that might effect someones pregnancy

[gary]

Hi Mike,

A customer was a surgeon in a battalion aid station with the U.S. Army
101st Airborne Division at Bagram air force base in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Army was kind enough to ship his Argo Navis equipped 10"
Dob over and he and a couple of colleagues would observe from an
abandoned Russian howitzer emplacement in the airfield.

Given that there was a war going on, it would have been easy to mistake
them for enemy combatants with a mortar or rocker launcher.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=48290

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Well Mike,
I often think what I can do as a Doctor, - but it never registered I could do stuff as an Astronomer.
Maybe we should all take a long hard look at our sheds/ spare rooms/ nooks and crannies and see what stuff we are not using that might be put into service of people who would walk a few miles for a view of Jupiter or Saturn.
I reckon there is a bunch of stuff we can get together as a group and maybe organise with the NGO's.
Astronomers without Borders already exists. We could use them as a rallying call (sorry Rally mate!!!)
Upwards!!! Don't Panic!!
thanks for putting it all in context
Graz

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Thank's Mike, that was a great read. So sad and so hopeful at the same time.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Mike,

A customer was a surgeon in a battalion aid station with the U.S. Army
101st Airborne Division at Bagram air force base in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Army was kind enough to ship his Argo Navis equipped 10"
Dob over and he and a couple of colleagues would observe from an
abandoned Russian howitzer emplacement in the airfield.

Given that there was a war going on, it would have been easy to mistake
them for enemy combatants with a mortar or rocker launcher.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=48290

Wow yeah crazy stuff too Gary, probably very lucky they didn't see a human delivered supernova Luckily they were only visitors of course and could go home to the more traditional stress free environment, we all enjoy, to use their Argo, the poor astronomy enthusiasts of Afghanistan will have to deal with all the hurdles detailed in the piece for some time yet I'd imagine?

Mike

[ariefm71 (Arief)]

Excellent article. Thanks Mike!

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Read this article and remember that what we simply take for granted plenty of others can't and realise just how good we have it here in Oz

Amateur Astronomy can be Risky Business

Mike
Who never complains about the weather...or wind...or cloud...or...Police arriving to make sure my observatory isn't a missile launcher that might effect someones pregnancy

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Their " modest" scope looks like at least a 12" Meade....

[uwahl (Ulrich)]

Not quite in the same league but last year I was at a dark sky site called Bretti reserve in NSW when a young bull decided that my tarp covered EQ8 with its three black legs was some sought of rival and charged, flattening the mount. It continued to worry the tarp and mount until I managed to scare it away. Fortunately neither the scopes or any of the electronic bits were on the mount at the time and EQ8's are made of sturdy stuff so no real harm done.

Ulrich

[DarkArts]

That was a great read. Thanks for posting.

[rat156]

Interesting article Mike. I tried to take some pictures from Kandahar AF when I was there, but the light pollution was extreme. I did not even consider moving to a dark(er) corner of the place, not somewhere where i would like to be alone at night with some camera gear.

I admire these guys bravery.

Cheers
Stuart

[astronobob (Bob)]

Must have been 20 yrs ago, I ground my 1st 8" spherical mirror @ F9.7, mounted in 300mm poly pipe, mates from work & I took it out on the back of a stock holden ute which the scope poked up and out the back end about 2 feet -
I saw more heads turn in those 10 klms than in my whole life