Dome and domer

Discover the strange encounters at the copperhead snake observatory and the experiences of an eager astronomer.

Written byPhil Plait
| 1 min read
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As an astronomer, I've seen and done a lot of weird stuff. I got eye-to-eye with a copperhead snake outside an observatory. I've poured liquid nitrogen all over the floor of the dome to clean it. I once saw a pair of floating red eyes off in the distance while peering out the dome slit (scared the bejeesus outta me). While observing for my Masters degree I watched as the door to the dome turned into the mouth of hell while reading The Exorcist (that's true). But I've never actually seen strong potassium emission lines in a spectrum that turned out to be from something somewhat more local. I love astronomy. I was made for it. But sometimes, just sometimes, it seems like a weird match. Tip o' the smoking jacket to Bernie Kalp.

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