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The Dangers Of Amateur Astronomy In Afghanistan
Nancy_A writes "Most amateur astronomers take for granted that they can just go outside and enjoy viewing the night sky without encountering many problems. But in order for amateur astronomers in Afghanistan to simply set up a telescope in a dark region, they have to deal with more serious complications, such as making sure the area is clear of land mines, not arousing the suspicions the Taliban or the local police, and watching out for potential bombing raids by the US/UK/Afghan military alliance."
Most of us in the West complain when we don't have enough science grants or when some Bible-thumper questions our biology textbook.
These poor bastards have to practice astronomy in a country where 70% of the population is illiterate, where the Koran-thumpers cut people's heads off, and where the occupying military force takes a blow-them-the-fuck-up-and-ask-questions-later approach to anyone who looks like they have a scope.
Now *that's* rock-hard dedication to getting some astronomical observations.
On the upside, the piss-poor electrical service probably really cuts down on the light pollution.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Wow such an insightful article. Who would have thought that it would be dangerous in a country that has been a war zone for over 2 decades?
Also, be aware that these are not telescopes.
FTFA:
“We explained that we are astronomers, but the local police commander approached so to be sure that we are not terrorists and that our telescope had no military application and it is not a rocket launcher. We invited him to watch M4 Star Cluster, but he didn’t like it and said that his own binocular is more powerful. He told us were a group of half-witted and nothing else. One of the police registered our names and listed all our equipment.”
Yeah this is Afghanistan, the commander was power-tripping, and western police as a whole are 100x better behaved, but the above is yet another example of the idiotic fallacy of "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide" that authoritarians love trotting out to justify increased police powers and intrusions.
Fill in X with anything.
But their adventures weren’t over for the night. Next, a pack of dogs approached and began barking loudly. Aghaei said they dispersed the dogs by inventing a new application for green laser pointers.
Bothersome dogs? Nothing a little permanent eye damage can't remedy.
0 = 1 + e^(Alt something)
... where the Koran-thumpers cut people's heads off ...
In the middle ages muslims thought very highly of astronomy, so why would the guys wanting to base their society on that era be against astronomy?
Some of the scientific work was done in central asia, if not Afghanistan then next door. Perhaps you've noticed that some stars and astronomical terms are arabic in origin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomy_in_medieval_Islam
Yeah, well that is the cost of allowing war to dictate what goes in the ground. Koran-thumpers will hurt you and than ask questions later... that sounds like something we have here... Bible-thumpers who will blow up abortion clinics, or kill you if you don't fit into their way of thought (like that one guy who killed the abortionist that went to the same church because he felt the abortionist was in the wrong.
Uneducated world, it is bigger than you think. I have ran into so many idiots in the states that I am thing "I don't want to live on this planet anymore." - http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/original/000/126/314/3cd8a33a.png?1306264975 It is a shame.
Upside, little to no light pollution. I would kill for that (no pun intended).
I spoke to a man that was a college graduate out of Kabul when I was in Golestan, Farah Province, Afghanistan.
He asked, "Which country is better, the USA or Afghanistan?"
I replied "I think the USA is a better country."
"Why?"
"We have paved roads everywhere, and every house has electricity and running clean water." Only SLIGHTLY off, but it gets the idea across.
"I think Afghanistan is a better country because I know that those things are impossible. And we have beautiful gardens and can see the moon."
"We have gardens in America, and we can see the moon, too"
"I know you are lying, because I have been to college and you cannot see the moon from America."
This is a true story. Obviously, the dangers of astronomy in Afghanistan are worth the risk, because we cannot see the moon.
The article even mentions that their telescope was examined to make sure it wasn't a rocket launcher. This jives with what I think would happen if a bunch of guys went out at night with large tube like objects in that country. It does however sound like they still have to deal with light pollution, but from US bases.
Time to offend someone
Wow such an insightful article. Who would have thought that it would be dangerous in a country that has been a war zone for over 2 decades?
Shining green lasers around in a war zone, what could go wrong?
In the middle ages muslims thought very highly of astronomy, so why would the guys wanting to base their society on that era be against astronomy?
...because Wahabbism (the sect of Islam from which the likes of AQ and Taliban are based) isn't exactly out to bring back the days of classical scientific inquiry. The Wahhabist concept of Islam is a lot like Pol Pot's concept of Communism... skewed all to hell and not exactly what you would think, yet will claim to be the mantle and keeper of it.
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
If you don't like it, LEAVE !! We don't want your kind round here anyway !! Go back to fucking US of A or to whatever part of the third world you hail !!
Yeah, you don't wanna get caught out in the open mooning a sniper who'll put a shot right up Uranus.
I8-D
This is an interesting example. However, I think it fair to say that the headline could be made more generic:
Dangers of [X] in [Country Wired in Civil War, Corruption, Insurgency, and Foreign Occupation]
"Well, I've never seen that comet before. Hey, I can see it moving! It's almost as if it's heading straight towar ^ `{ &.......[NO CARRIER]
Table-ized A.I.
They are plotting a terrorist attack on the moon.
Bastards.
"We live in a global world" - Harvey Pitt, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman
If you do not step on a mine, you may have your head blown up for possible being a sniper, cool.
Here in Michigan we were once threatened by a bunch of drunk dudes who were out joyriding while we were out stragazing. Most of the time those type of guys were interested in getting a look through the scopes but these dudes were wacked. No harm came to anyone in this "incident". The only chemical weapons we ever encountered were wielded by the skunks. All in all much safer here.
The Afghans get props for their dedication to the science. Lets hope it gets better not worse for them.
who gives a fsck what happens in AssGhanistan.
Warzones are dangerous: More at 11.
It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
was absolutely thrilled that the soviets invaded afghanistan. it would give them a 'vietnam' (never ending proxy war).
although most of these posts on slashdot have left out Pakistan (especially the ISI) and India
considering that a large number of those astronomers were avid muslims and used their calculations to help plan religious ceremonies.
its like saying that indian astronomy survived 'despite hinduism'. alot of those guys were priests.
In Arizona, I can not just go out to the middle of nowhere and set up my scope. There are land owners with shotguns. I have to arrange with them where I can set up. Otherwise they shoot first and ask questions later.
And then there are scorpions and snakes. Granted, they are not as bad as landmines, but they are somewhat of a deterrent.
He went home, beat his wife and cut off her nose for looking at the reporter. Poor him.
Afghanistan is a lot more empty than NZ - he just needs to head out further. Maybe he was purposefully provoking some response to get the material for his article?
"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
Wait... they can still see the stars? Sounds like we need to install some additional infrastructure to fix that! Streetlights for everyone!
That's not "perspective", it's "fallacy"
Just because "X" sucks more than "Y", that does not imply that "Y" doesn't suck, too.
MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
I know the probability of them having internet access is pretty low, but if that were the case, and they wanted to do astronomy without having to go out into the danger zone, maybe the astronomy community with robotic telescopes around the world would be willing to donate time to help amateur astronomers in war torn regions? I know I could probably find a few hours of time here and there on the robotic scope I have access to.
so that was what they were doing before that rocket flew overhead. "Astronomy"
Who the fuck cares. Parking lots are waiting to be build on that land!
Same goes for kiting.
A telescope can look a lot like a mortar - a hollow metal tube, mounted at a steep angle, open at the top. A typical astronomical telescope is mostly open space except for a large mirror at the base and an eyepiece arrangement - it even has an aiming scope on the side.
It's understandable that people could get somewhat excitable if they think someone is setting up a mortar.