This evening, my club held a public star party at a local natural area, Vasquez Rocks. Many of you would recognize its distinctive sandstone formations from the many movies, TV shows, and commercials filmed there. I conjure a mental image of Captain Kirk being chased by the Gorn every time I visit...
Anyway, as we were knocking down equipment around 11:30 at the close of the event, I happened to be set up near fellow Astromarter Linton Rohr.
I was knocking down my Genesis when, for the first time in over 10 years of ownership, I DROPPED the nice aluminum dust cap onto the dusty ground. You could hear the collective intake of breath as everyone nearby wondered what piece of equipment had made that very audible, slightly metallic impact. I had all my cleaning gear and this was more an embarrasment than a real problem, so I reflexively let out a fairly mild curse as I bent to pick up the cap. My subdued reaction made it obvious that it wasn't a 31mm Nagler that had hit the ground.
A moment later, the silence was broken by Linton's voice....
"Like New, In Box....."
...and the astronomers taking down their scopes all immediately dissolved into laughter!
Jim
Anyway, as we were knocking down equipment around 11:30 at the close of the event, I happened to be set up near fellow Astromarter Linton Rohr.
I was knocking down my Genesis when, for the first time in over 10 years of ownership, I DROPPED the nice aluminum dust cap onto the dusty ground. You could hear the collective intake of breath as everyone nearby wondered what piece of equipment had made that very audible, slightly metallic impact. I had all my cleaning gear and this was more an embarrasment than a real problem, so I reflexively let out a fairly mild curse as I bent to pick up the cap. My subdued reaction made it obvious that it wasn't a 31mm Nagler that had hit the ground.
A moment later, the silence was broken by Linton's voice....
"Like New, In Box....."
...and the astronomers taking down their scopes all immediately dissolved into laughter!
Jim
