On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 23:23:21 +1000, "Mark & Roslyn Elkington"
wrote:

A few impressions I've picked up having been at or heard about various
public viewings...

After queuing for half an hour:
- "That was so not worth it!"

Having seen Mars through a 30 inch:
- "I feel all tingly"

On a bad seeing night:
- "It's jumping around a lot"

Through a dob without tracking:
- "Gee it's moving fast"

Through an unknown 70mm refractor:
- "It's just a blob! It's worse than just looking straight at it!"

After a private viewing:
- "Well, I've done my duty" [re once in 60,000yr opportunity]

That's more like it:
- "Wow, I'm actually looking at another planet"

All of the above, but the ones that stick with me are the thank-yous.

And also some of the questions, specifically the ones that indicate
that the person has no concept of what a solar system is (I showed
M13, described what it was, and then was asked how it was different
from Mars, I responded with an explanation of the difference between
objects that are lightseconds versus lightyears away) or that our Sun
is a star, or that Stars are Suns, or how a planet is different from a
star, or the lady that explained to me that until I explained how Mars
and the Earth orbit the Sun she thought the TV newspeople were telling
her that this was her last chance to see Mars ever. Oof-da.

..
Paul Below
Battle Point Astronomical Association
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
http://bainbridgeisland.org/ritchieobs/