[AZ-Observing] Dangers of observing in the City
- From: Peter Collingwood <pj67coll@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:55:15 -0700
I don't post much but I thought I'd share an unsettling experience I had to=
night. I live in an apartment complex and have lousy observing opportunitie=
s. This comet was creating such a buzz I thought I'd try and see it for mys=
elf. I took an Orion 90mm F11 on a German Equatorial which I had never used=
before up to Cactus Park on 39th Ave and Cactus to see if I'd have any luc=
k. It was both a test run of my scope handling abilities - I had never used=
a polar alignment scope before - and an attempt to see the comet. Both tur=
ned out successful and I'm delighted with the experience.
However as I was looking for a suitable observing sight amongst the trees a=
t about 20:30 I was approached by a scary looking individual in a black nin=
ja type outfit carrying two samurai swords. He asked me what I was doing an=
d then started blathering on about Arizona's anti stalking laws. It finally=
dawned on me that he was actually accusing me of stalking people in the pa=
rk. Said he'd taken down my license plate and would call homeland security.=
With which he walked off and sat on a swing observing me. At that point I =
realised I was probably dealing with a whackjob but I wasn't about to allow=
him chase me off and I went about my business. I had brought a bayonet fro=
m one of my Mauser rifles along which he noticed and commented on. I never =
really expected to actually confront a real live whackjob but I'm glad I ha=
d it with me in any event. I used my BlackBerry to try and surf the web for=
a number for the Cactus park police had no luck there. I eventually found =
the number for the Phoenix PD info desk and called it and reported the inci=
dent. I imagine most folks observe from their homes but I dont really have =
that option. If the weather is good I think I'll be out there again tomorro=
w but this time I'll be better prepared.
I observed from about 21:00 to 23:00 and was amazed by the detail. Almost a=
star like point of light with a kind of fan shape flowing away from it sur=
rounded by the diffuse halo of yellowish gas. Quite beautiful. I just wish =
I had the photographic capability that some such as Chris have on this foru=
m.
- Peter.
_________________________________________________________________
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