Useful link written by Phil Harrington

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:17 pm

This link is useful as it gives tips on observing in an urban environment (Singapore).

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4735

I think I will try the cloaking technique:
"Instead of putting it (T-shirt or turtle neck T) on over my head, I stick my head into the shirt's neck from the top. Then, as I look through the eyepiece, I pull the shirt up and over the eyepiece. "

I have an overly large black T shirt and I can use it; Probably this can help to improve observing DSO from my house with all those street lamps shining right into my house.

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:43 pm

Tried before, it works but it will get hot and stuffy after a while, and your eyepiece may dew up due to your breath. One also does look very good when others see a headless man with a shirt put on the wrong way and stuck to a piece of wooden furniture somewhere in East Coast Park!

Fuzzball · Post by **Fuzzball** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:11 pm

Great article!

Clifford60 · Post by **Clifford60** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:36 pm

Why don't wear a black goggle with 2 opening (cover up if needed) good for the eyepiece, so no headless man, no dew up ep, not hot, only your eye in the dark environment.

Post by **weixing** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:39 pm

Hi,

Why don't wear a black goggle with 2 opening (cover up if needed) good for the eyepiece, so no headless man, no dew up ep, not hot, only your eye in the dark environment.

May be some astro manufacturer will make black goggle with eyepiece adapter on it, so you can mount the eyepiece on the google... excellent for bino viewing... ha ha ha

Have a nice day.

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:26 pm

Clifford,

Ha... that won't work as ambient light will interfere with the observing eye when observing. I have already a pirate patch to cover my non observing eye so that I can observe very long without any tiredness in my eyes since both eyes are open; cyclops without having tired eyes. I look like a pirate and worse still I have the spectacle band. So I am a 'uncle'/'auntie' pirate when I observe!

So, I think being headless look better than a uncle/auntie pirate right? But.. if people look into the headless being beside the weird furniture scope, they will see that pirate! Oops...

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:32 pm

Even better idea.. buy a snorkle tube and breathe through it. Poke a hole in the T-shirt and insert the tube out..that way the breathing will not fog the eyepiece and it will not be stuffy inside. haa

mrngbss · Post by **mrngbss** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:43 pm

How about this?

1. Have a large pail, roomy enough for your head. Make sure to paint flat black inside the pail, best to have baffles...
2. Make one/two holes big enough for your eyepiece to go though,
3. Put the pail over the head, move the pail so that the eyepiece goes through the hole.
4. Look through the eyepiece.

If you do the above, no need to spend money on snorkel tube, and won't look headless.

In case people think you are headless in the dark, paint your own face on the outside of the pail.

Cheers!

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:25 pm

Yup.. I thought of a box... but it has some issues:
1. The hole needs to be at the correct height and correct diameter so that the eyepiece can be inserted. Container size must be right too. It cannot be shared with other people!
2. It is not portable
3. The plastic container may damage the *expensive* eyepiece

However, the advantage is that it looks cool with decoration and does not have the headless effect. If you have watched Death Note 2... L has a funny face mask. Put that face mask on the container!

Other alternatives:
1. Hat with cloth on it
2. Sweater/ windbreaker that has a big hood

mrngbss · Post by **mrngbss** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:35 pm

The container can also double up to container your boxes of eyepieces, batteries, etc. This container then can be pushed around!!

Wow!!! This is called OPTIMISING the use of our equipment!

:P