Texas Star Party

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Now I gotta tell ya'll it wasn't until about 5 minutes later that the reality and significance of what had just happened hit home. Had the snake been facing me when I took the photograph it must surely have got me, from such close range. Young rattlesnakes of this size, about 3 feet long, are the most venomous. Medical treatment is about 2 hours drive away.

I haven't stopped changing my undies since last night

Never ever ever again will I ever do anything so stupid, as what I did last night and I just think myself extremely lucky not to be in hospital, very very ill at this time.

I am going to post the 1st photograph in the photography section also. While it doesn't deserve any photography award it certainly deserves a stupidity award and a few may learn from my experience, in regard to photographing dangerous creatures at safe distances.

CS-John B

[erick (Eric)]

Cross off one life, John!!

I reckon that first shot shows a snake in a classic "ready to strike" position?

[RB (Andrew)]

Next time ask to borrow my Canon 1200mm lens John !
You'll be able to take photos from a couple of km's away.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

While not a snake "expert", I was going to ask you if you were sure it was a Bull Snake...

Scary stuff indeed!

[Ric]

It's always safest to err on the side of caution John.
I live with the worlds No. 2 & 5 of the most poisonous and the little beggars just pop up anywhere.

It's always worse when you sit back and think about it afterwards.

Glad you are alright though.

Cheers

[gary]

Hi John,

Great to hear you are playing with the local wildlife here.

How is your weather?

Yesterday near Monument Valley it reached 32F (0C) and Andrew,
Van, Anne and I drove through a snow storm. How many more days is it
to summer? Apart from the snow, we also experienced torrential rain
here in the desert. So the TSP weather has pretty much followed us.

Somewhat warmer and sunnier today here in Flagstaff where we are about
to set off to the Grand Canyon for the day. Then I come back to Flagstaff,
fly to Phoenix, change planes, fly to Ontario International in California
and then drive to Big Bear City. Expect to get there about 1am local
time. Then up early for RTMC.

Enjoy the rest of your stay and say hi to Fred for us all.

Best regards

Gary Kopff
Flagstaff Arizona

[GrahamL]

great shot of some of the local wildlife john.

If you get a chance could you grab us a shot of a bear and maybe a mountain lion .. I hear they are quite friendly
once you get up nice and close

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Offer the bear a snake first, I hear they like being fed and are even friendlier afterwards!

[gary]

Hi all,

Today was the opending day at the Riverside Telescope Makers
Conference (RTMC) held here near Big Bear City, California.

Sunny weather greeted attendees who came to see the
many vendors on display, include Wildcard Innovations.

This evening, despite the Moon and thin cloud, some observing
was done with Steve Kennedy on his 36" Starstructure Dob complete
with Argo Navis and ServoCAT. Once again on hand was Al Nagler
with the brilliant new 13mm Ethos eyepiece and it was a great opportunity
to test it on Steve's scope. Present all at one time was thus the man
that made the mirror, the man that made the eyepiece and the men
responsible for the positioning computer and slew and track system.
Long queues formed at the ladder.

Tomorrow is Saturday which will see meany LA enthusiasts flocking
to the event.

Best regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.

[hector (Andrew)]

hi all
It is sunday morning here in sunny Fredonia.
Over the last few days I have travelled with my friends to Page and Antelope canyon (sorry Gary). It is the most fantastice place I have been so far. and for Photos it is the GREATEST place on earth. the light play on the canyon walls is unreal. the country side here is MAD. Everywhere you go there is cliffs and buttes worthy of national park status but are left unnamed and forgotten due to the the names national parks in the area. I have begun to the area as the SMC (the forgotten gems).
The cabins just outside the North Rim of the Grand canyon were in a nice setting and after the mon set I found the sky to be as good as the TSP if not better. It was DARK.
Off the Las Vegas today and home tomorrow. When I get hoem I will process my 2500 odd photos and show everyone what Antelope is like.

Clear Skies
Andrew

[iceman (Mike)]

Soudns great! I'm really looking forward to the photos. It's a place I'd love to visit (and photograph) some day.

[gary]

Hi Andrew,

Great to hear Antelope Canyon proved a winner. Have had a quick look of some of
the photos I took at the Grand Canyon last Thursday and many turned out very
nicely. Looking forward to transferring a couple of thousand of my own photos
from your laptop you kindly stored for me (Don't drop that laptop!).

Al Nagler told me at RTMC that he was in Flagstaff last Wednesday and
he was with Brian Skiff at Lowell who was waiting for us. Pity we rolled
in their so late owing largely to the rain and snow. Not sure if you hooked
up with Brian on the Thursday night after you dropped me off at the airport
in Flagstaff.

John reported that owing to severe weather he missed his flight from Wichita
Falls and had to be trasferred to Dallas by bus and then to Love Field by taxi.
He missed the 22:30 QF12 at LAX but he managed to get on as a standby on the
23:30 flight.

When I asked, the QANTAS check-in women kindly gave me three seats so I
could lounge-out and sleep.

Driving down the 8500' from the highest point near RTMC without
ever touching the accelerator pedal was fun, even just in the tame
Chevy Malibu. Wished we had some high ground like that in Australia
to routinely observe from.

When I asked Lachlan Macdonald whether he had any advice on RTMC he
said, "bring plenty of money". He was right. With every possible eyepiece
and accessory rolled out in front of you at sometimes bargain prices, it is
hard to resist.

Often just as impressive as the telescopes people own were the RV's they use
to transport themselves around in. Sometimes the size of a full sized coach
plus those out-riggers they have there on the side plus towing something like
a Hummer as well. Imagine the fuel bill if you drove something like that here!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff