To jail on december 14 2014 !,

• Print
• Email

Jan 12

2015

by Raoul Lannoy

Observation for detainees

Hi,

Last december 14th, I went to  a prison (Marneffe, Liege province). We were 3 from various clubs (me, Linda and Serge) to pass the checkpoint an go to a place with a noth-west free sky visibiliy (there are lots of spotlights all around). Linda had arranged this visit and it was starry but cold. We deployed ou instruments and saw ISS pass over us. Then came a group of detainees. W shook hands and Linda (with her ACS 6 inches) could go from one object to the other. My Dobson 12 inches took a while to prepare. I could show Vega, Alcor, Mizar, Albireo and other objects...It's true that a Goto (which my telescope is not) could be a lot more useful under these circumstances. We couldn't show Orion and Jupiter which were in the wrong direction. We also talked a lote explaining what we saw, what we do. One of them knew a bit more about astronomy and he helped us explain to his comrades what it was about. He wrote later a very moving best wishes letter for 2015 to Linda. We had about 90 minutes to show the sky and explain. When we left Linda, Serge and myself hugged each other, realizing the interest of our unusual  event. Thses guys have hardly ever something out of the ordinary going on and this visit was very special to them too.

https://picasaweb.google.com/108584325990837650927/14Decembre2014Marneffe