(meteorobs) Police and astronomical observations

[FELIX A MARTINEZ]

I knew there was another reason why I enjoy observing from my own rural
backyard here in Central Virginia!  Happy 2005 to each and every one of
You in this unique Meteor Forum!!
                        In Astronomical Affinity - Felix

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:05:25 -0500 "Jeff Wilson"
<meteorrr at worldnet.att.net> writes:
> Actually, Im procrastinating on doing  a piece for a non-astronomy 
> mag my
> cousin
> publishes dealing with my "encounter" with authority.  Lew also has 
> his tale
> of astronomy, scopes, and the law which is quite funny.  I
> may use these tales of meteor observation/astronomy humor as well.  
> Nuff
> said, excuse the
> slightly of topic.
> 
> Jeff W.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Stine" <david at exposquare.com>
> To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 10:06 AM
> Subject: RE: (meteorobs) Police and astronomical observations
> 
> 
> All of these stories are great, someone should take all of our
> encounters, put them in an orderly readable session and send them to 
> Sky
> and Tel or Astronomy for an article about Observing Encounters with 
> the
> Law.  I think it would be an enjoyable and fun read. Maybe even a 
> book.
> On the meteor side can someone tell me what night is going to be 
> the
> best to observe the Quads in Jan.  Is it the night of the 2nd and
> morning of the 3rd or the night of the 3rd and the morning of the 
> 4th.
> 
> Thanks
> David in Tulsa
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
> [mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Wayne T Hally
> Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 8:53 AM
> To: 'Global Meteor Observing Forum'
> Subject: RE: (meteorobs) Police and astronomical observations
> 
> You've got to be careful which scope. Back in the 70's I was 
> observing
> with
> my bright red Astroscan, and the officer was convinced it was a 
> device
> for
> smoking something :-0
> 
> I did manage to convince him to look at the moon through it (one of 
> the
> Astroscan's wide field advantages), so all ended well.
> 
> Wayne
> 
> ----------
> From: Richard Taibi[SMTP:rjtaibi at hotmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2004 12:20 PM
> To: meteorobs at meteorobs.org
> Subject: (meteorobs) Police and astronomical observations
> 
> This seems like a "quiet" time on the list, so I hope others won't 
> mind
> a
> brief off-topic issue.
> 
> Thanks to the two observers who shared their experiences with 
> police
> while
> observing the sky.  It is reassuring to know that police inquiries 
> occur
> on
> an international scale!  Jeff's idea about carrying a telescope to
> "prove"
> you are an amateur astronomer sounds like a good one, if you don't 
> mind
> lugging it around.  I had a brief idea during my encounter of 
> offering
> to
> let the cops listen to my tape-recorded observational notes.  I 
> hoped
> that
> might eliminate their suspicions that I was a felon up to 
> something.
> 
> Another unsettling incident comes back to my mind, when I 
> volunteered to
> observe grazing occultations with Dr. David Dunham about 20 years 
> ago.
> On
> one occasion, I had my refractor set up, aimed at the moon and a 
> local
> policeman drove up, lights and sirens on, to investigate the scene.  
> To
> the
> layman, a telescope, with its long tube, aimed at the sky can summon 
> up
> an
> image of an artillery piece, I guess.  As in "tom's" incident a 
> look
> thru
> the scope convinced him I was who I said.  In these days of 
> worrying
> about
> terrorists, I suppose the police are even more vigilant than about 
> 20
> years
> ago, and perhaps more suspicious.
> 
> So, perhaps those of us who travel to a public site to observe need 
> to
> give
> some thought about how to explain ourselves should the police drop 
> in to
> chat!  Dr. Dunham had some explanatory literature written up to give 
> the
> police if the situation arose.  Perhaps this is another idea, too, 
> for
> us
> to
> emulate.
> 
> Best wishes for good uninterrupted observing!    Rich
> 
> 
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