THE ART OF SEDUCTION

Seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage. 

 I have found that no matter what the content of any article is, if you don't grab the reader with the title and the lead paragraph, you are already lost.  Sooooo--------I am trying out my theory here.  I trust that you are  ENGAGED by now and eager to read what follows.


When you have invited someone to a star party that has never really looked at astronomy targets thru a telescope or maybe even binoculars you have to do something or look at something that will really impress them.  In my theory there are only three observable targets that will always impress even the most jaundice newbie.  In no order of preference those three targets are SATURN, JUPITER, and the MOON. Any one of these will be sufficient to get the usual "WOW" from a first time observer but if you could possibly arrange your observing timing so that you could see at least two of them during one given session, I can almost guarantee you a night of heavenly bliss.


Let me give you some examples.  Let's suppose that Saturn is going to be your target of emphasis tonight.  Besides the sheer beauty of the planet itself you should be able to give your guest some very interesting details about the planet and even present some challenging tasks to accomplish.

1. Saturn is one of the five planets that we can easily see without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. Even without the help of a laser pointer you can easily point out Saturn's position in the evening sky. It is always impressive to show your guest what or where they are looking in the sky before, after, and during their time at the eyepiece.  A word of caution here---a fledging astronomer might ask you what the other naked eye planets are so make sure you know which ones they are.
2. You might casually mention that Saturn has at least 60 moons.  Then challenge your partner to see how many they think they can see.  Some folks claim they can spot 8 moons but even on my very best night I do well to see five.  
3. The rings of Saturn change their angle that we observe them on a 14 year cycle.  Right now, they are moving to a better viewing orientation every night and will continue to do so until about 2014 and then they will start their journey back toward a less desirable viewing angle.  In the year 2024/2025 the rings will be so flattened with reference to our viewpoint here on earth that they will look like a small black line across the face of the planet.  
4. As a matter of casual conversation you might want to remind your guest that three spacecraft have flown by Saturn and one has been placed into orbit around the beautiful planet.  In 2004, the spacecraft Cassini went into orbit around Saturn and gave us some of the most dramatic close up images we could have ever imagined. 

I think that by now you have grasp the thrust of my thought.  You need to put a little effort into the observing process to make it enticing to anyone who hasn't observed before.  In other words, you are trying to SEDUCE THEM---- or maybe a more gentle term would be that you are trying to get them interested in something that they probably haven't been interested in before.  


It has been my experience that looking at globular and open clusters will not be the visual experience that will push someone into becoming a astronomy observer.  Even getting a very good look at some of the more prominent galaxies will likely get you the cold shoulder and that dreaded response---"you surely aren't going to use that old line to try and pick me up are you?"  On the other hand, your guest is there at your invitation and they must have some underlying interest or they wouldn't be there at all.  Your job, among other things, is to bring them down the road toward a final interest in astro observing without them even knowing or realizing what is going on.  In other words, you are deliberately trying to get them engaged----IN ASTRONOMY.  So now is the time to pull out all the reserves and really strut your stuff.  Now back to some of the things that I think would help you along that path.


If you happen to be lucky enough to have Jupiter in the sky on that fateful evening there is nothing better to illustrate your ability and knowledge than a good lively discussion of the four major moons of this great planet.  Let's outline a few pieces of information that will impress almost anyone.

1. There are four major moons and they move around Jupiter quickly enough to make a dramatic difference in the way we see them over the period of a few hours and certainly over an entire night.  (You are planning this SEDUCTION to be an all night affair aren't you?)
2. Because of their plane of reference to observers from earth, each one of the four moons will eventually pass either behind or in front of Jupiter.  This would be a good time to discuss the possibility of seeing the shadow (or shadows) of a couple of the moons as the pass between earth and the host planet. 
3. It wouldn't hurt to mention that on any given night all four moons might appear on the same side of Jupiter. The next night it might be three and one and the next night two and two. An on some nights you might only observe 3 moons all evening because one of then is either passing in front or behind the planet.
4. It might be worth your time to remind everyone that none of the planets have any light source of their own.  All their light and brightness comes from the Sun and we are just seeing the light reflected from their surfaces.
5. If you are brave enough you might discuss the "Big Red Spot" but personally I kinda stay away from emphasising that very much because I have extreme problems observing that phenom.

If you haven't made any headway with your guest with all this show of absolute knowledge then your last resort is the MOON.  Now let me say right off---you are treading in dangerous waters with this subject.

1. Right off you are going to be forced to acknowledge that your scope can't see the American flag on the moon or any other paraphernalia let there by the astronauts. This will eventually lead you into a discussion on how much does your telescope magnify---and if you can see into someones window during the daylight (or night) hours.
2. Next your guest will likely want to know if all the craters are caused by volcanoes or something crashing into the surface. Why aren't all the craters the same size?  You get my drift here.
3. Be careful not to get drawn into an endless discussion on the US Space program (or the lack of a manned capability). You are going to lose this argument no matter which side you take. 
4. Be careful or you might get trapped into trying to explain why a lunar eclipse cannot be seen by everyone if it is dark where they are at the time of the eclipse.  This could get to be pretty interesting.  You might want to do a little homework on this topic.

I figure that about now you are getting tired of this kind of thinking.  But I will venture a guess that the title got your initial attention.  Maybe you were even SEDUCED into reading a lot of nonsense in the hopes that it would take a different turn of subject matter farther down the page.  Not on this blog!! Go somewhere else for that kind of reading. 

HAPPY BLOG READING