Most common question you get... - Page 2

LewisM · #21 15-02-2013, 09:23 AM

I like it when I show someone something and they ask how far away it is. I tell them in light years, and then they ask how far that is. So, I will usually do a fast calculation into KM's, and then tell them how many years it will take them to get there driving their car at 100km/h.

It usually helps them put it all into perspective.

ZeroID (Brent) · #22 15-02-2013, 12:20 PM

The 'Uranus' answer is as old as the hills and always gets a 'groan' but as was said most people are looking for an opening comment because they really don't understand the physics and scales astronomy works on. I always try to give understandable answers and in most cases get some sort of ''Oh!" back which means I have enlightened them slightly.

I got a bit of a reputation when the eclipse and Transit happened last year so colleagues tolerate my idiocyncracies and progressively improving astro pix on the office wall. Also a pic of the big scope up there tends to make them go 'wow' especially when you tell them you built it largely from chucked out aluminium tube and plywood from work...

But you still get some weird questions ....

mental4astro (Alexander) · #23 15-02-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroID

I got a bit of a reputation when the eclipse and Transit happened last year so colleagues tolerate my idiocyncracies and progressively improving astro pix on the office wall. Also a pic of the big scope up there tends to make them go 'wow' especially when you tell them you built it largely from chucked out aluminium tube and plywood from work...

You realise now that when you finally get the sack you'll be required to surrender the scope to your former employers as the material you used was theirs in the first place,

.

Tell you what, ship the scope over to me and they'll never find it! I'll keep it safe and sound for you.

leon · #24 15-02-2013, 04:32 PM

Have you found any new stars yet is one that I got.

Leon

toc (Tim) · #25 16-02-2013, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Have you found any new stars yet is one that I got.

Leon

i often get people asking me if I have discovered any comets. I have a hard enough time finding comets thats other people have discovered

leon · #26 16-02-2013, 01:20 PM

Very true Tim, but its all good, if one is not into Astronomy it can be a challenge for some to understand it all, we have to be kind !!

Leon

multiweb (Marc) · #27 16-02-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Very true Tim, but its all good, if one is not into Astronomy it can be a challenge for some to understand it all, we have to be kind !!

Leon

So true. We're right into it and a minority too so we assume a lot. 99% of the populace I'd say doesn't have a clue but ask genuine questions that might sound stupid to us. Patience is key. Of vourse you get the occasional crackpot asking about niburu but they are a hand ful only.

orestis · #28 16-02-2013, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mental4astro

"How far can you see with it?"

I'm still to figure out how to answer that one without going into a lecture...

Hmm, it just occurred to me to say "about 300 million light years on a good night.". What do you think?

Oh Alex,

You do not know how much this frustrates me, especially when I try to explain that the purpose of a telescope is to see fainter rather than further though fainter usually means further.

Next time I'll just tell the furtherst thing I have seen through my telescope is ic 1296 a galaxy only 220 million light years away.

.

Anyways
We can only try to educate

Cheers Orestis

Matt Wastell (Matt) · #29 17-02-2013, 08:22 PM

I get a few -
When people find out I do soalr - do you do it at night?
Can you see Uranus? - to this I always say "only with a mirror!"

RB (Andrew) · #30 17-02-2013, 09:59 PM

I always get:

"Your camera takes really great astro photos!"

To which I reply "It's like you inviting me over for dinner and I say to you your pots cook a lovely meal."

Octane (Humayun) · #31 18-02-2013, 12:23 AM

The whole thing about people not knowing that our Sun is a star, is actually quite common. They were either not taught in school, or it is not something that they relate to.

H

toc (Tim) · #32 18-02-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt wastell

i get a few -
when people find out i do soalr - do you do it at night?
Can you see uranus? - to this i always say "only with a mirror!"

lol

toc (Tim) · #33 18-02-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

So true. We're right into it and a minority too so we assume a lot. 99% of the populace I'd say doesn't have a clue but ask genuine questions that might sound stupid to us. Patience is key. Of vourse you get the occasional crackpot asking about niburu but they are a hand ful only.

Ive never lost my patience, but sometimes I groan inside

I must admit, I get pissed off when I talk to people that claim the moon landing was faked. (and I have met a few, although I think one was yanking my chain)

toc (Tim) · #34 18-02-2013, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Very true Tim, but its all good, if one is not into Astronomy it can be a challenge for some to understand it all, we have to be kind !!

Leon

Absolutely. Most people are really fun to talk to about astronomy, and its great when you show them something you have imaged, and they are amazed by it. (but inside you know your image is crap compared to what others have done

)

Scorpius51 (John) · #35 18-02-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

"Can you see Martians with that thing?"

... and your response is "I don't need to - I can see one now without it!"

mental4astro (Alexander) · #36 18-02-2013, 07:10 PM

I've been asked to take a scope to an all teacher preschool open night next month. I'm curious to find out what questions lie instal for me

swannies1983 (Dan) · #37 18-02-2013, 07:30 PM

"Why are you a nerd?"

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #38 18-02-2013, 08:15 PM

Amother common one is when someone see's Saturn for the first time ,,
,,, " Is there a photo in your scope ? " .

Nice praise .

Brian.

Matt Wastell (Matt) · #39 18-02-2013, 08:35 PM

Hi Brian
I remember when I had my LX90 out in a park and a fellow came over for a look - I showed him Saturn and he kept moving to the front of the scope looking for the 'sticker' - he walked away still not believing he had seen Saturn!

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Amother common one is when someone see's Saturn for the first time ,,
,,, " Is there a photo in your scope ? " .

Nice praise .

Brian.

ZeroID (Brent) · #40 19-02-2013, 06:34 AM

I got an unusual one yesterday (Monday). At work over lunch about last Thursday we'd been discussing the fly past of the asteroid and as usual I was enlightening the misinformed about distances and visibilty etc etc.

On Monday I got accused, accused I tell you, of not telling them about the Russian meteor and why didn't I warn them it was coming !!

It was all in a bit of fun really but most of them had the idea that astronomers and NASA etc etc all knew where everything was and why wasn't it spotted coming ......

I managed to escape the lynch mob and am now holed in the observatory till the furore dies down ...