NEAF 2006

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:19 pm

Anyone attending this? I'm looking for a travel buddy.

http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.htm

Cheers!

Post by **rcj** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:08 pm

wish to. $$$

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:34 pm

i'm going NY in mid-March. any interesting event on that period?

qu1xs1lv3r · Post by **qu1xs1lv3r** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 3:09 pm

im flying to newark on may 6!!! and il be arriving in newark on the 6th!! see if i can convince my mom to let me take the van up to new york!!

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:24 am

looking for opinions if it is safe to bring a medium aperture scope (my intes micro m603) to the states. the scope case is fully airline carry-on compatible, my worry is the custom officers there start asking difficult questions (like what i'm going to do with it :-)). i've been to the states before, but it was before 911.

maybe chee-chien or others can advise?

cheers,
arief

Post by **acc** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:41 am

Not too sure about Newark (which may have tighter security checks) but SFO, LAX and Denver I have passed through in the last year with scopes and eyepieces without problems. The scopes go through the x-ray machines and the customs officers don't even bat an eyelid. The only occassion I had a little bit of trouble was when I had more than a handful of eyepieces in my bag and was asked, after scanning, if I am carrying GOLD inside. I told the customs officers (a group had gathered to stare intently at the screen) with a huge smile "I wish I am!"; they laughed, and was let off just like that!

Maybe it has something to do with the exotic glass and coatings.

Don't think you will have much trouble with the scopes. More worrisome would be your scope spilling out of the overhead compartments during or after flight

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:49 am

I think the big problem is Arief is holding an Indonesian passport. Anybody with Indonesian or Malaysian passport will be checked much more thoroughly (as compared to Spore who is self declared friend to USA) in USA... guess the Americans are rather biased people and they can't tell religion or race apart.. also with Arief carrying the telescope, he could get be asked more questions.

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 10:50 pm

I hand-carried my PST back from San Diego-LA-SIN last May and aside from a brief pause at the San Diego customs when the worker asked someone more senior to check the X-ray screen, and the latter turned to me after taking a look at the screen and said 'Telescope, right?'. I said 'yes' and was let through, not even having to open the case for inspection.

Will try it again this May - with another PST.

Good luck!

qu1xs1lv3r · Post by **qu1xs1lv3r** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 10:21 am

arief,

newark is pretty lax when ur inbound... they only really check when ur leaving the states.. ie: boarding for ur outbound flight... they will check everything... but i doubt they will question ur telescope though...

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 10:48 am

yup, decided to bring my scope
thanks all!