Star Gazer's Greatest Hits

[edosaurus_rex]

All,

I observe on my own and take music along to keep the coyotes away. If I wanted to "take the IceInSpace guys along with me" what would I burn onto a CD? i.e what are your favorite star gazing songs. Please limit the list to song titles, not entire CD's, or albums for the "Classic Rock" crowd.

Ed

[Ric]

Hi Ed, I usually play a lot of Pink Floyd which is quite relaxing and appropriate.
I think that you would have to sort out which songs you like as they are so diversified.
The more mellow stuff will send the coyotes to sleep and you could also plat some MotorHead to really send them packing

Cheers

[Rodstar (Rod)]

I guess that Gustav Holst's, "The Planets" is not quite right for the occasion???

[ving (David)]

machinegun felatio's singing "i kissed a girl"

the grates; phenomena

[edosaurus_rex]

Two "Floyd's" come to mind

"Echoes"

and for cold nights

"Comfortably Numb"

Uriah Heep's "The Magician's Birthday" gets a little wild. Holy Cow! (sorry Astro Belle) I'm showing my age with that one.

[xelasnave]

Hi Ed,
I prefer just the sounds of nature ... not a cd but the real sounds of the bush at night... frogs croaking, dogs snoring and the little buzz of the cooling fan on the scope.
alex

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Pink Floyd seems to be popular. Same here. But I listen to Floyd whilst processing. I don't listen to anything but nature while I image or observe.

[Ric]

Uriah heep, now there's a band I haven't heard of in a while.
Good choice Ed

Cheers

[DobDobDob (Ron)]

I suppose the 'Big O' is out

[lost_in_space]

Mellow and melodious is the go for me. Instrumentals appeal more than vocals when I am out alone stargazing. The intro sound track to Carl Sagan's Cosmos is a favourite of mine, but then so is the whole album. anything by the sexy Bond girls, Fleetwood Mac's Albatros, Orinoco Dreaming... even the original rock and roll number, JS Bach's Brandenburg Concerto. That doesn't discount vocals though, in common with most so far there is heaps of Pink Floyd I would pick.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

If you want the IIS guys with you, the obvious choice would be
Pink Floyd's, "Wish You Were Here".

[DobDobDob (Ron)]

Who is this Pink Floyd bloke, when did he sing, did he ever have any hits??? Help me out here Alex, have you ever heard of him

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Are you 'aving a larf?

[Lert]

Lee Marvin..' I was born under a wandering star' . Did a lot of night k's during the early 70's and that sticks out in my mind.. Showing my age now but..

The best music to listen too has been Jean Michel Jarre.

This especially includes the CD albums such as Oxygen, Equinox, Magnetic Fields and Zoolook. Another is Brian Eno – particularly the wonderful CD Album, "Apollo: Atmospheres" Soundtrack, which is the soundtrack for all the Apollo moon missions movie footage. The best tracks being "Stars", "Under Stars" and the ethereal "An Ending/Ascent." Another Eno album is "Ambient 2"

I know several observing people are into Mike Oldfield, especially the album "The Songs of Distant Earth", which is based on the Arthur C. Clark book of the same name. [The story of the Sun going nova, and the surviving humans own journey to search for a new home among the stars. Pure Brilliance!]

Some do 'creep-out' on such music when they are in a dark observing field, but at least the music in the most case is peaceful as the stars arc through the night sky.

I have also started to experiment creating my own electronic music using Apple Mac's Garageband 3.0, which is not too difficult to create. The simplicity is to make the music flow with gentle breathing – the basis of the so-called "Ambient Music". This is at rate of 15 to 20 breaths per minute - useful for relaxation therapies or insomniacs.

A short sample of some of this music / muzak?? kindly appears at;

http://homepage.mac.com/andjames/ambient.htm

Sorry I misread this...

When you say "coyotes" I assume you mean those errie howling animals, and not those illegal immigrants into the US from south of the border or even inebriated patrons from some nearby nightclub?

IF you do really mean canis latrans (willy coyote), then perhaps another option is to play things like Celine Dion or Barbara Strieisand - as that would frighten not only the coyotes away by probably any young punks or dudes nearby wanting to disturbing you. (Though you might end up having nightmares yourself for the rest of your life - that is of course if this kind of music doesn't get to you first!) Anyway, I would have thought these coyotes would be ideal to have around - mainly as you could feed any low-life moron who was stoopidly shining some white light around to ruin your night vision!

Seriously, I don't think loud music might not help you at all, as mainly as canines can easily get use to it. Most recommend that most animals can be frightened by both visual and sound repellents, and recommend to increase your chance of success by mix things up a little - keeping it a little unpredictable. Ie. Move the sound devices around or change the light patterns of the noise or lights.

Probably more importantly of all = don't leave any food around

As bright lights are out, perhaps the best option is to take another dog with you. If one of the darn varmits approach you, at least your dog will bark if something comes close.

Note: I also thought coyotes only howl at the full Moon, and this would not be a problem as all sensible observers would then be inside in bed!

[edosaurus_rex]

Lots of good suggestions here guys, thanks.

I mean the real coyotes and I was just joking about scaring them away with music. The observing site borders on "middle of nowhere" west Texas so there is a regular compliment of natural sounds like hooting owls, howling coyotes, and the banter of crickets. I play the music very low, like background noise, but it doesn't drown out the natural sounds.

The most amazing thing I ever experienced out there were fireflies (lightning bugs) the sky was full of them like flashbulbs going off at a concert. A screech owl was almost the cause for a pair of clean underwear when I first started going out there.

[huckabuck]

vivaldi's "winter"
whether you like classical or not this one always leaves me wanting more

[edosaurus_rex]

Classical is always welcome. Wagner's "Entrance of the gods into Valhalla" and Sigried's Funeral March" are real power tunes.

Truth be known I'm a closet bagpipe music lover, mostly the ballady types and marches. "Highland Cathedral" and "The Dark Castle" are on the current astro gazing CD.

[Bobj]

"Beim Schlafengehen" by Richard Strauss, sung by Lucia Popp and Rachmanninov's "Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini"
Sorry, but classical music brings out the beauty of the starry nights.
Then again, "Love, Love Changes Everything" from Aspects Of Love, sung by Michael Ball.