Things That Go “Growl” in the Night

October 28, 2009

Like many skywatchers, I’ve run up against some unexpected visitors in the night.  Rowdy kids and drunks. Racoons and skunks.   Even an occassional armed officer of the law, wondering what the heck I was doing in the middle of a city park, aiming a long white tube over the roofs of a quiet neighborhood at two in the morning.

But these sights are nothing compared to what you’ll find in the deep wilds, far away from city lights.

I was reminded recently of a classic astronomy story, written by Jerry Lodriguss, the creator of the excellent Beginner’s Guide to DSLR Astrophotography. It seems Jerry had an unexpected– and quite unwelcome– visitor while photographing the night sky, completely alone in the Arizona desert and miles from anywhere.

But I’ll let him tell you the story right here.

Thanks to subscriber L. R. for calling this classic encounter to my attention.

Posted in Miscellaneous