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How Often Do You Observe Alone?
Last post 07-03-2008 11:18 AM by mr Q. 27 replies.
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  • 06-30-2008 09:54 AM In reply to

    • Red1530
    • Joined on 09-28-2006
    • New York State
    • Posts 173

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

     I usally observe alone, however I usally observe in my backyard.

  • 06-30-2008 11:26 AM In reply to

    • chuck81
    • Joined on 02-09-2007
    • SE Oklahoma
    • Posts 500

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

    Same here.  Usually alone and in the backyard.  My 3 year old grandaughter did join me last Friday.  That was interesting. 

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  • 06-30-2008 12:01 PM In reply to

    • WannaB
    • Joined on 04-30-2008
    • Mindenmines, MO
    • Posts 505

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

    I'll start off the night with my daughter.  She's 10 and plays softball at this time of year.  So, most of the time I'm spending trying to locate stuff for us to look at, my daughter is practicing her pitching skills.  This is usually being done within a few inches of the scope.  Once the pitching practice starts, I'll "suggest" to her she does this away from the scope.  Then when she continues to do her thing and has came close to hitting the scope a few times, I'll tell her to stop.  As time goes on in the night, this "coaxing" becomes increasingly more frequent and with more volume.  She then gets mad at me and goes in.  Don't get me wrong, she'll look at things I find and she'll take control of the scope and find some of the more distinct objects.  But, the rest of her time is spent "pitching".

    So, I'd say I'm observing alone about 1/3 to 1/2 of the time.

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  • 06-30-2008 01:20 PM In reply to

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

    99% of the time I observe alone. Sometimes if I get something xtra special in the scope, I'll pull someone in from outside to look at it. But I really don't like to be with a bunch of people, just me, my scope, all the time in the world, a good chair, and I am fine.

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  • 06-30-2008 02:27 PM In reply to

    • J.Gordon
    • Joined on 06-06-2008
    • Massachusetts
    • Posts 28

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

     

     Greetings,

             being new to this sort of thing I'm just learning constellation names, location, stars, and basic

    navigation type things. My Daughter has been looking with me these summer nights. But, this sort of thing normally would not appeal to the younger set.  And our scope a second hand 120mm tube does not reveal all that much.  My dog Pugsly however appears to be interested in my observation about the cosmos! :)

     

    thanks

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  • 06-30-2008 03:52 PM In reply to

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

    I have felt that I never observe alone. There is always the other people in my head talking to me and keeping me company. I find I have discussions with myself. There is always at least 2 of us. Wait a minute, is this abnormal? Am I the only one? Oh well...Party in my on brain!

    JJ 

  • 07-01-2008 03:50 PM In reply to

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

    I'd have to say 99% of the time its alone, most of my friends think i am some sort of geek rocket scientist, my wife thinks im crazy, and cant tell the difference between the moon or the sun, so it rules out her, my son isnt very interested, but will come out for a peak of something once i have it in view, or if the course of study is astronomy for the week in grade school....

    my father is the kind of dad that says " why do you waste your money on that stuff" but he has said that with every hobby i ever had, but for some reason i say nothing when he buys a new corvette 2 days ago......

    my mom lives in another state, but i bet she would accompany me, she likes to just endulge me from time to time.

    the neighbors think i am a terrorist, and think my scope is some kind of terrorist RPG or a cannon, and im aiming it at the planes from the nearby airport.... ( i have a laser pointer attached to my OTA )

     

    so after that rant..............alone is good

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  • 07-03-2008 11:18 AM In reply to

    • mr Q
    • Joined on 02-01-2008
    • Edgewood, NM
    • Posts 556

    Re: How Often Do You Observe Alone?

     JJ - I too have those pesky voices to contend with; always telling me to move on to the next object when observing. They irritate me so much, I'm almost ready to call the cops to have them taken away but we all know the results of doing that. Besides, I don't like wearing tight, restrictive clothing, especially the ones with lots of buckles and straps.

         But it is hard to ignore them when on occasion I have people observing. Maybe that's why I favor observing alone whenever I can  Mr Q
     

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