RE: [APML] Critter woes

["Thom Iwancio" <tiwancio@sc.rr.com>]

Just great, now I have to add gophers to my "will go wrong" list.  At
least with an observatory I would probably hear them using a power saw
or something <VBG>

Thom Iwancio
Elgin, SC

www.machunter.org
www.elginphoto.com


-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]
On Behalf Of Alan Voetsch
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 2:54 PM
To: APML
Subject: [APML] Critter woes

Hey all,

I just have to share this.

Every summer our local club puts on a couple programs for a local state
park. It's Stewart State Park which is about halfway between here and
Crater Lake. In exchange for our time, they kindly give us about 4
sites to use for free. Our president does a slide show then all the
campers come around to look through our scopes. Usually by 11:30
they're gone to bed and I can start imaging (I'm the only imager of the
group).

Other than some problems with one of our club members who has no
night-time etiquette, things went smoothly for me until late saturday
night. After setting up a shot of M17 and getting it going, I went to
take a shower (ahh, the pleasures of autoguiding). When checking the
ST-4 readings about 30 minutes later, I noticed unusual numbers: a
whole series of zeroes, occaisonally interspersed with a '6' or a '7',
then back to a series of '0's'. That is just not normal. I love those
zeroes, but am always happy with '1's and '2's. I interrupted guiding
and checked the parameters and found that the ones I had entered were
now replaced with the default settings. That only happens when power is
shut off. So, I scratched my head, re-entered my numbers, re-calibated
and started another exposure. Soon the same thing started showing,
again. At this point it was about 3:15 AM and the sky was getting
noticeably lighter in the NE. So I shut down. 

Yesterday as I was packing up my equipment, I noticed that the red wire
in the ST-4s power cable harness was severed. That explained my
problems, but not how the wire was cut. I didn't find that out until I
removed the carpet remnants I always cover my wires and cables with.
Upon doing so, I saw a brand new gopher hole. Apparently, the hungry
little SOB surfaced, and ate his way though the wire. My only hope is
that he may have gotten a little shock as he did so.

I patched the wire after returning home yesterday, and the ST-4 was
working great last night, so all is well.

Submitted for your amusement,
Alan


		
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