Your experiences at night

[Granada]

I was recently lucky enough to have an entire dark sky site in the middle of nowhere to myself for some one-on-one time with clear skies. But at about 1am a loud and panicked scream in the nearby forest broke the silence and scared the living daylights out of me. I assumed/convinced myself it was a possum and carried on.


Made me remember a time about 15 years ago when I set up my cheapo telescope on Altona beach and was approached by a group of 10-15 young men interested in what I was doing. I explained to them I was observing the sky and even offered them a look through my telescope which they appreciated, but not before making very detailed enquiries about how much my telescope cost. I told them it was less than $100 which seemed to wane their interests and they left.



Wondering if anyone else has had some eerie nighttime experiences they'd like to share?

[LewisM]

I've had close approaches by:
1. foxes
2. long ear Hares
3. kids randomly
4. odd night birds that make weird sounds like whizzing

5. Police (more than once)
6. possums
7. neighbour who I didn't even hear come up behind me


Nothing nefarious

[Startrek (Martin)]

One night last Winter whilst I was focusing on an object I heard a big thump on the top of the bay unit , frightened the crap out of me. I poked my head out through the opening slot , shone my torch , looked to my left and a large brush tail possum just sat there looking at me, then a quick clap of the hands and it jumped onto the back fence and scampered away.
When your concentrating on a task, like focusing , any sudden occurrence or sound is far worse
I don’t mind possums , see them all the time but not when they jump on your Obs

[RyanJones]

A couple of years ago myself and the better half rented a cabin in Wartook on the other side of the grampians. During the day you couldn’t see evidence of another human being in any direction and at night you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. One night after midnight I heard a “ scream “. Scared the bejesus out of me. No idea where it came from but not the beat thing to hear in a location like that.

[Hoges (John)]

Female Koalas can make some pretty hair raising screams in the night. Quite different to the grunting the male Koalas do.... https://youtu.be/Dx5Uta4pNaY

[multiweb (Marc)]

The very first time I heard a possum in the dark by myself I thought I was going to be eaten by something bigger than me. Sounded like a wild cat.

[AdamJL]

Originally Posted by multiweb

The very first time I heard a possum in the dark by myself I thought I was going to be eaten by something bigger than me. Sounded like a wild cat.

So true. That's a scary sound.

Foxes (vixens) also make the most bloody curdling screams sometimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYYHrG6UC4U

The worst, though... mountain lions. They sound like a woman being attacked. Horrific.

[LewisM]

Drop Bears....nuff said

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Drop Bears....nuff said

This

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Drop Bears....nuff said

Only the siberian sabretooth type.

[drylander (Peter)]

and they're evolving as we speak.

[DarkArts]

Originally Posted by Granada

Made me remember a time about 15 years ago when I set up my cheapo telescope on Altona beach and was approached by a group of 10-15 young men interested in what I was doing. I explained to them I was observing the sky and even offered them a look through my telescope which they appreciated, but not before making very detailed enquiries about how much my telescope cost. I told them it was less than $100 which seemed to wane their interests and they left.

My neighbour (who has neck tattoos) saw my scope setup in the backyard for the first time a few days ago. His first question was "is that a telescope?" Then he said "that looks valuable, how much is it worth?". I should mention that the police have visited his home a few times ...

[AndyG (Andy)]

Originally Posted by DarkArts

My neighbour (who has neck tattoos) saw my scope setup in the backyard for the first time a few days ago. His first question was "is that a telescope?" Then he said "that looks valuable, how much is it worth?". I should mention that the police have visited his home a few times ...

Coat the tripod in Novichok.
Others in this thread may hook you up

[gregbradley]

I had a snake curled up behind my laptop that started moving as I turned on the laptop in semi darkness (the walls are also painted black).

I moved away fast as you can imagine. It turned out to be a green python that was tracking a rat (and was successful as the bulge in his belly showed. I had him relocated by a snake catcher.

Another time at my dark site property I went to a rear paddock I rarely go to and setup doing a nightscape.

I heard a persistent rustling so got a bit concerned. I looked with the torch and there was a large brown snake shed skin rustling in the wind. I left for a safer location!

I was standing outside my observatory whilst a 10 minute test image was in progress and heard something on the burnt ground. It was a funnel web spider heading in my direction. He was actually making slight crunching sounds as he walked over the burnt ground.

Greg.

[AdamJL]

Brown snakes and funnel webs. Yeah, no thanks to both!!

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by DarkArts

My neighbour (who has neck tattoos) saw my scope setup in the backyard for the first time a few days ago. His first question was "is that a telescope?" Then he said "that looks valuable, how much is it worth?". I should mention that the police have visited his home a few times ...

Gawd, I didn't know you lived in Charnwood


Or was it Kambah?


Gordon maybe

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by AndyG

Coat the tripod in Novichok.
Others in this thread may hook you up

У меня много Новичoк на продажу. Всего 100 долларов за флакон духов

[DarkArts]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Gawd, I didn't know you lived in Charnwood Or was it Kambah? Gordon maybe

None of the above; apparently crime does pay.

[AndyG (Andy)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

У меня много Новичoк на продажу. Всего 100 долларов за флакон духов

PM sent :p

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

У меня много Новичoк на продажу. Всего 100 долларов за флакон духов

Отправляю вам бутылку Kouros, чтобы остановить атаки падающего медведя