Sky & Telescope - March 2020 - 66

Astro Travel

p GOOD TO GO With the exception of his mount's large tripod, everything David Dickinson needs for an astro-getaway fits into one carry-on suitcase.

Zealand while on hiking treks. No one
would willingly pass up a chance to
view the bountiful southern sky! (Sky
& Telescope maintains a comprehensive
list of international astronomy clubs at
https://is.gd/astroclubs.)

Accessory Considerations
I ﬁnd that border and security staff
are always interested in my telescope,
though I haven't had a problem transporting it in my carry-on luggage.

Usually a brief inspection and short
discussion is all that's involved. As my
Malaysian colleague Shahrin Ahmad
suggests, "The best practice is to be
as transparent as possible and pack
your equipment so that it can be easily
opened and checked at customs."
While we tend to worry most about
the big stuff, other items can also
attract attention. If you plan on bringing an aerial drone, be mindful that
some countries ban such devices. The
website for UAV Coach lists current
domestic and international drone laws
(uavcoach.com/drone-laws). Laser
pointers are another potential problem and will likely be conﬁscated at
many borders. The U.S. Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) currently allows laser pointers in checked
and carry-on baggage, but I opt to leave
mine at home when I'm on an astrophotography trip abroad.
Be aware that batteries can also be
a concern. The TSA permits alkaline
and rechargeable batteries (including
lithium cells with "less than 100 watthours capacity") only in carry-on bags.
Be sure to check with the TSA (tsa.gov)
for the latest updates. You should
also ensure there's enough power left
in your batteries to brieﬂy demont LOCAL TRAVEL Not every astro-journey
requires a passport. The author visited Bruneau
Dunes State Park, in Idaho, where he shot this
image of the Sagittarius Milky Way glowing
above the park's observatory.

MARCH 2 02 0 * SK Y & TELESCOPE

strate that your devices function, if
requested to do so.

Stay Safe at Night
No matter how far aﬁeld you travel,
take sensible precautions and be aware
that conditions may vary greatly from
those you're accustomed to at home. In
Morocco and Turkey, for example, it's
not unheard of for drivers to travel at
night without headlights! Some rural
villages present hazards that include
horse-drawn carts and livestock
wandering around in the dark. This is
another reason why connecting with
a local astronomy group can be very
valuable. They'll likely know the best
places to safely set up, and you might
even score an invitation to tag along.
In any case, it's wise to employ a precaution used in the hiking community
and tell someone where you're going
and when you expect to be back. That
said, I've never had problems while
observing abroad.
Combining travel with astronomy
can be a tremendously enriching experience. With a little advance planning
and research, "getting there" really can
be half the fun.

¢ DAVID DICKINSON is a U.S.-based
writer who travels the world with his wife,
Myscha. He's the author of The Universe
Today Ultimate Guide to Viewing the Cosmos, and the forthcoming The Backyard
Astronomer's Field Guide, due this July.

https://www.is.gd/astroclubs http://www.uavcoach.com/drone-laws http://www.tsa.gov

Sky & Telescope - March 2020

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