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I'm a self taught amateur astronomer. During the summer I run astronomy programs at a small observatory. Most people who come on the tours are wonderful, and the tours are the most fun I've had at a job. Last night, however, I got to deal with the most annoying man I've ever had on the program.
Apparently his hobby is astronomy! Lovely, we have something in common. Or at least, lovely if he didn't think that his subscription to Astronomy Magazine made him smarter than everyone else.
I should have seen it coming when he started saying that he KNEW there were planets visible tonight, and why would we not see them in the telescope. How about...they are visible at DAWN and it's not even midnight? Yes there are five planets visible right now, but Saturn is only visible low in the sky at sunset and the rest at sunrise.
Also, he kept complaining and asking why I was not moving the telescopes to this object or that object. Well...perhaps because even though he'd had a look through the telescope the other 22 people on the tour wanted to see it as well? And demanding that I show him a galaxy...well I can, but it wont be much to see, all the good ones are below the tree line right now!
He thought he saw the great square of Pegasus and was pointing it out to everyone. I told him it wasn't...wrong spot in the sky, not the right size, but nope he knows better because "The stars move sideways like that". On the walk back, he saw the actual great square and pointed it out again, right where I said it would be.
Also, it's fine if you disagree with me on the possibility of space travel and colonizing other planets, but that's no excuse to be snarky to me and the children I was talking to.
Finally, when I warn you to mind your head on the observatory stairs, that is not a reason to make fun of how I speak to your son, it's a reason to watch your freaking head because the ceiling is low, you jerk.
And trying to let your son use my astronomer's laser as a lightsaber? THAT IS JUST DUMB. I passed it to you cause you mentioned wanting to get one...I hope you never do. Or that I see your name in the paper when you are arrested for interfereing with airplanes. (WHY are these things not liscenced like they are in the US?)
*sigh* it was my trainee's second night, and I am afraid she's going to think they are all like that.
Apparently his hobby is astronomy! Lovely, we have something in common. Or at least, lovely if he didn't think that his subscription to Astronomy Magazine made him smarter than everyone else.
I should have seen it coming when he started saying that he KNEW there were planets visible tonight, and why would we not see them in the telescope. How about...they are visible at DAWN and it's not even midnight? Yes there are five planets visible right now, but Saturn is only visible low in the sky at sunset and the rest at sunrise.
Also, he kept complaining and asking why I was not moving the telescopes to this object or that object. Well...perhaps because even though he'd had a look through the telescope the other 22 people on the tour wanted to see it as well? And demanding that I show him a galaxy...well I can, but it wont be much to see, all the good ones are below the tree line right now!
He thought he saw the great square of Pegasus and was pointing it out to everyone. I told him it wasn't...wrong spot in the sky, not the right size, but nope he knows better because "The stars move sideways like that". On the walk back, he saw the actual great square and pointed it out again, right where I said it would be.
Also, it's fine if you disagree with me on the possibility of space travel and colonizing other planets, but that's no excuse to be snarky to me and the children I was talking to.
Finally, when I warn you to mind your head on the observatory stairs, that is not a reason to make fun of how I speak to your son, it's a reason to watch your freaking head because the ceiling is low, you jerk.
And trying to let your son use my astronomer's laser as a lightsaber? THAT IS JUST DUMB. I passed it to you cause you mentioned wanting to get one...I hope you never do. Or that I see your name in the paper when you are arrested for interfereing with airplanes. (WHY are these things not liscenced like they are in the US?)
*sigh* it was my trainee's second night, and I am afraid she's going to think they are all like that.
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