[ATM] Bullets and observatories

[William Porter]

Yes, an observatory design for the hinterlands needs extra 
considerations: high-powered rifles (whereas in the city, you only need 
to worry about 9mm automatic weapons) and break-ins. A remote 
observatory should be built like a bank vault, maybe concrete block 
filled with concrete, high enough to protect the telescope inside from 
bullets entering through the top (e.g., thin aluminum dome) perhaps 
angling downwards from neighboring hilltops. The padlocks & hasp 
arrangement on the door should be redundant and robust, protected from 
boltcutters, like those padlocks on high-security mailboxes. Leave no 
food or food wrappers in the building when you leave.
As a backpacker, I have never worried about wild animals, though if I 
was in Glacier Natl Park I would be leery of grizzlies, and here in 
SoCal I keep my eyes peeled for mountain lions, and I try not to get 
between a bear mama and her cubs! The vast majority of 'animal problems' 
are really human-behavior problems, i.e., going into the woods with 
unsecured food with all those tantalizing odors (or worse, unsupervised 
roaming toddlers). Then we get indignant that the wildlife have the 
effrontery to try get at it, and shoot the animal. Makes a lot of sense. 
Keep food in a 'bear keg' away from your tent or car at night, and you 
will probably have no wildlife encounters, except good ones.

Bill Porter



>>> the apparent lack of bullet casings at the
>>> selected site, a rare feature for any location in the
>>> Sierra's.
>>>       
>> What on Earth are people shooting at?. Perhaps the more important
>> question is why are they shooting?!?.
>>     
>
>
> Mostly target practice. Depends on their meth consumption that day. ;^)
>
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> -73 de Mike N3LI -
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>