Re: Observations about Astronomers

From: Stephen Sherrod (ssherrod_at_bresnan.net)
Date: 12/31/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 22:38:19 -0700

No, it is B-O-L-O-G-N-A, like Oscar Meyer(sp?). Besides, I have been to more
star parties than you have. The famous TSP (7 times there) is about 5%
"normal" people at most and 95% equipment freaks running around with
propellers on their beanies; I've seen it. Does a "newbie" ask their
advice??

The best star party experience is to shut up and watch. It soon becomes
obvious who is the one(s) to listen to. How does a person "find out about
the user's situation first"?

"Brian Tung" <brian@isi.edu> wrote in message
news:cr2nn3$aav$1@zot.isi.edu...
> Stephen Sherrod wrote:
>> The absolute W-O-R-S-E advice I have ever seen is "go to a star party".
>> Period. I have been to hundreds since 1957, and the absolute best scope
>> is
>> the one owned by the guy you are talking to; always.
>
> B-A-L-O-N-E-E.
>
> :)
>
> Anyway. I only agree if the advice stops at "Go to a star party."
> If you know nothing more than to listen to the owner say if it's a
> good scope or not, then you haven't been advised, really. But there
> is plenty you can learn at a star party that will help you decide on
> what scope is good for you.
>
> I've my own thoughts about that, which I posted earlier in this thread,
> so I won't repeat it here.
>
>> Also, how about the poor guy too remote to go to star parties? What if he
>> can't afford to travel to star parties? What if he goes and the attendees
>> are astro-ignorant? The answer is bad advice, but everyone will be happy
>> to
>> offer it anyway.
>
> I disagree with all my heart. It is not intrinsically bad advice at
> all. It just has to be accompanied by more help than "Go to a star
> party," that's all. If you can't get to a star party, the advice hasn't
> hurt at all. That's why in order to give useful advice, you often have
> to find out about the user's situation first.
>
> Brian Tung <brian@isi.edu>
> The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
> Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
> The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
> My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Do You Guys Use Green Laser Pointers?
    ... GLP's *will* be misused at Star ... and GLP ... beams aren't much brighter than bright DSOs. ... most star parties. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Sex on the grounds of a star party
    ... and insecticide on the grounds of a star party. ... adults" on the grounds of a stary party? ... Speaking as one who has attended only a few local star parties and who has ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Combining Camping and Star Gazing
    ... It sounds to me like you might really enjoy one of the big star ... We camp out in a tent, we have our telescopes set up for 4 nights ... so dark that you can't wait for that darned Venus ... and most big star parties supply daytime ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Green Laser Pointers and Star Parties
    ... But I would like to use this system at a major star ... on star parties where GLPs are permitted? ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: the refractor craze??
    ... >But I do know that if you go to a star party, not one telescope in 20 is a ... >A lot of people use them for imaging, which you are not going to see at star ... That's why I used the term "visually", and referred to star parties. ... book, a refractor has two primary uses- imaging, and visual for travel or rapid ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)