HELP!!! Need help, outreach night with Girl Guides, southern Sydney, April 9 - Page 2

mental4astro (Alexander) · #21 04-04-2016, 12:19 AM

Hi Norm,

Myself I haven't jerryrigged a scope to a wheelchair. But Wavy has! Wavy has a good mate for whom he made exactly such a rig,

I had an experience with kids with severe mobility difficulties that changed my whole outlook on outreach. I took my scope out to Bear Cottage one time, the childrens' hospice. The kids there were all in wheelchairs. As it turned out, none of those kids would have been able to look into the eyepiece of either one of the two scopes I took, even though one of the scope's EP would have been in an adequate position to look into if the person was seated in a wheel chair in the 'normal' way that most people would sit in a chair. But these kids had no such chance such was their movement limitations. But I took my little video camera along that night too on a hunch, and the entire time was spent looking at my computer which was connected to this little camera coupled to one of my scopes. This started my thing for video astronomy,

, and changed the way I consider astronomy for everyone.

I had asked the Guides organisers if there would be any people with mobility difficulties present as I don't take his for granted any more, and that I can take care of this situation. With the variety of scopes people will be taking, I may still take my astro video rig as it will allow for colour to be seen on many objects, and make spotting galaxies with some detail a lot easier from this urban sky.

Another person has put their hand up to help out too,

. We have 10 people now with scopes, and one other as a maybe if they are able to recover from a nasty cold in time. Any one else who can come and join us is most welcome!

AEAJR (Ed) · #22 04-04-2016, 01:47 AM

Wheel chair. Interesting challenge.

Do the right angle star angles on my refractors swing to the side? Could make them more accessible to wheel chair users.

Video to monitor or laptop would work for wheel chair users. I guess you could use a web cam for this.

Interesting point.

FI93 (Norm) · #23 04-04-2016, 10:51 AM

Me again Alexander, the two rigs that I saw were (A) a plank screwed to a table top with a 400mm scope attached to the end (at wheel chair height, this set up allowed wheel chair access in 3/4 of a circle. (b)the other was a pier with a scope attached to a parrallelogram (ie read binoculars) but with a platform for a small 80x400 scope.

dimithri86 (Dimithri) · #24 05-04-2016, 02:49 PM

Hi All,

Is there is a rain plan?

I tried showing jupiter to my family with the dob, but it moved so fast, and they kept nudging the eyepiece with their eyes, or placing their hands on the scope.

Looks like apo on g11 would be better for that.

Also any ideas of a quick mount I could make for my 25x100's? I can weld and have a bit of steel 2x4's but cant think of a simple portable design, that I could whip up in a night.

mental4astro (Alexander) · #25 05-04-2016, 03:32 PM

If rain is on the cards, bring that meteorite you have in the display cabinet, or that dino fossil to talk about how the dinos got wiped out. The gold in your rings or necklace, how it was created in a supernova. We can do a show'n'tell of our scopes. Whatever you've got really.

I have a talk i can do about the Moon, but it requires a projector that i can connect my computer to. Anyone have one?

big_dav_2001 (Davin) · #26 06-04-2016, 03:41 PM

Hi Alex...

I've got a 12-inch GSO dob , as well as couple of smaller scopes, and associated bits and bobs and would love to help out, however I'm currently without transport... I'll do a ring-around a few mates this arvo and see if I can get a lift there, if I'm successful, I'd be happy to lend a hand.

Davin

mental4astro (Alexander) · #27 07-04-2016, 10:33 AM

Davin,

It would be great if you can make it!

Thank you so much for offering.

I'll send you a PM with details in the hope that you are able to.

Alex.

Wavytone · #28 07-04-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AEAJR

Wheel chair. Interesting challenge.

Here's the luxury model, my post with pics halfway down.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ir#post1234786

Only things missing are parking lights, folding table, seat belt and reclining bucket seat with ottoman (you'll have to make do with the usual foot plates). The seat does have vertical height adjustment, however.

This particular setup still exists however hasn't been used for a few years. If you have a chair with a matching tubular steel frame at the back it can be adapted to fit.

killswitch (Edison) · #29 07-04-2016, 09:41 PM

Hey Alex

Do you know if Dr Karl is going to be attending the viewing?

FI93 (Norm) · #30 07-04-2016, 09:56 PM

Hi Alex, If there an alternate date ? My cloud app says 88% cloud at about 8 pm. Can we just rock up with 25x100 binoculars on a parallelogram and 11x70 binoculars on a parallelogram or do we need documentations/passes etc..... I should be able to make it but cannot be 100% sure.
Kindest Regards,
Norm.

mental4astro (Alexander) · #31 08-04-2016, 07:14 AM

Norm, to come to this Girl Guides evnet, you need to supply your ASIO clearance document, passport, medicare card, statement from your bank, and a note from mum saying you've got permission to attend.

Alas you can't just rock up. As there is no direct road access to the observing field, and the Garden is closed after 5pm, we need to meet up with one of the rangers to have access to the field all together. And for the safety of the girls, the organizers have insisted on getting the names of us who are taking scopes.

The observing field is some 150m from the road, and access to it is down one of the pedestrian walkways - so you can see it is not a simple operation. And understandably, the rangers are very cautious when it comes to having cars on the walkway. We need to drive off the walkway onto the field. Careful here boys - I've been told that the rangers will have snipers in place to take out any rogue astronomers who feel the urge to do doughnuts on the lawn! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! The rangers are VERY jealous of their lawns... You never see bags of blood and bone in their depot - they make their own...

Ed, sorry mate, I don't know.

dimithri86 (Dimithri) · #32 08-04-2016, 08:24 AM

Could someone please bring a spare diagonal (or extension tube) for me to use on the day. I will bring both my scopes, but one of them doesn't focus visually because the eyepiece cant move back far enough.

Regards Dimithri,

mental4astro (Alexander) · #33 08-04-2016, 08:25 AM

2" or 1.25"?

dimithri86 (Dimithri) · #34 08-04-2016, 08:59 AM

Sorry forgot to mention 2"

mental4astro (Alexander) · #35 08-04-2016, 09:32 AM

I've got a 2" diagonal you can borrow,

Alex.

mental4astro (Alexander) · #36 08-04-2016, 09:55 AM

Hi folks,

I've been given a deadline to nominate the astro viewing crew who will be coming by 1pm today.

If you are able to make it, please let me know before 1pm. So far we have 11 people all up. Can we make it an even dozen or baker's dozen?

Many thanks everyone for showing interest to read this thread. I certainly will post on Sunday a note on the outcome of the evening's event.

Alex.

Wavytone · #37 08-04-2016, 08:28 PM

I'm scratched - caught a lurgi