Most of my observing at remote sites with my old 12.5" and now my 25" has been
alone. I never set up beside a road likely to have any traffic during day or
night. Usually, I like to take a good dirt road for at least several miles in
and then find a track where I can pull completely out of sight. I am never
comfortable if passing traffic can see the set up. Remarkably, you can usually
hear the crunching of gravels long before you hear the engine or see the lights
of vehicles coming down the passing road. Should anyone turn off and head
toward me, I go away from the telescope into the darkness ready to skedaddle or
(lately) call for help on my satellite phone. If you are armed, you can load up
if it looks like trouble. This has only happened twice in 35 years of observing
in Arizona. Both were other astronomers who knew the site. One was Tom
Polakis at the obscure site west of the Vekol road back in the 90's. He started
setting up not knowing I was set up nearby. I must have startled him mightily
when I came walking up out of the darkness.
While alone at Hovatter Norte, a group with toy haulers set up beside the main
road about 1/2 mile away, built a bonfire after dark, and started shooting and
driving their ATV's around the area of the fire. The shooting really concerned
me so I had to make a decision whether to let them know someone else was out
there. Ready to crawl under my van, I set off a series of horn blasts. The
shooting and driving around stopped. The fire went on for a few hours but was
far enough away and behind bushes, so I just continued observing.
If alone, I recommend a FIndmeSpot or equivalent satellite communicator so you
can summon help. I keep mine on my arm and carry one punch helicopter rescue
insurance in case I have a stroke or heart attack. Satellite phones give you
another edge, but the annual charge is very expensive.
Paul Knauth
________________________________
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on
behalf of Tom Polakis <tpolakis@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 4, 2018 12:27:09 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Observing Sites
Do you guys worry about sitting out in the middle of no where with several
thousand dollars with of equipment? I cant decide if its better to be in a
public
area or off by myself where no one is likely to find me.
