I've heard relations between SLAS and the Clark Planetarium have been cool in the past. I don't get it but that is what I've heard. Debbie On Fri Oct 1 14:16 , sfisher01@comcast.net sent:
Ok, maybe I'm just grousing but I thought I would post my experience from
yesterday.
I had reason to be downtown at the Gateway Center. I thought after my business was
done around noon that I would walk over to the Clark Planetarium. I walked in the front door to find them busy putting up displays etc. and very busy. I thought nothing of it and of course went over to the dusty telescope display. I was looking at the Orion XTG in a 10". No not my kind of scope but I have to admit that a 10" goto for $1,095.00 is unbelievable in my opinion.
While I was looking and kind of laughing about all the dust on the displays a
young man walked up to me in a Clark shirt and asked if I was "with the conference group". I said no, I was "just looking at telescopes" and "thinking about going to a show". He told me in no uncertain terms that the planetarium was "closed to the public" and that I would "have to leave". I simply said "OK" and proceeded to exit.
I looked back over my shoulder as I went out the main entrance door at the hours
posted on the door and found that I was within their normal hours of operation. Still walking around and quite a walk to the west I found a small A-frame sign stating that the planetarium was closed until 5:30 PM. The sign was in an alcove far from the front entrance. Actually it was next to the alcove where the downtown people leave their whiskey bottles. I couldn't help but turn and take a cell phone picture of the sign with the empty half gallon whiskey bottle in the same frame.
Someone who has dealings with them may want to suggest to the planetarium that
there may be some things they can do to improve their public perception. Maybe a little training for the security forces and maybe a little trip around the building to police the empty bottles before the public and the private party show up.
Me, I have just decided that it will be a cold day in hell before I make a
planned trip back. I may stop again but only if I am in the area.
Now if I can just find a place to post this story with the picture I took.
I'm just sayin'.
Steve _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com