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Preparations |
- Bring warm clothes and extra layers. The
air cools quickly after dark, even following a warm day. Astronomy
is a sedentary activity; there's no movement to generate warmth.
Bring layers for weather 20 degrees cooler than the forecast.
- If you plan an extended stay you may decide
to bring a light snack and a beverage. However, please observe
the rule below about not eating or carrying drinks in the near
vicinity of telescopes and other equipment.
- If you wish to bring equipment of your
own you are welcome to do so. Make a checklist so you don't forget
extra items such as star charts, batteries, tools, etc. If you
need help setting up, ask; most veterans will be glad to help
once their setup is complete.
- Leave flashlights at home or place a red
filter over the lens (see advice on lights below). Many astronomical
objects are very faint, and it takes 30 minutes for eyes to adapt
to night vision.
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Safety Warnings |
- Watch your step in the dark, especially
around tripods, chairs, tables and other equipment. Be aware of wires on the ground and other shadowy
obstacles. (If your scope requires power make the wires as safe
as possible.) Walk, don't run! Only bad things happen when people
run in the dark around expensive equipment.
- Green lasers are popular because they
project a collimated beam into the sky, allowing astronomers
to point out stars and constellations to onlookers. However,
never point a laser at anyone or anything, especially not
an airplane. In fact, the latter is illegal; lasers can momentarily
blind or disorient the pilot, even thousands of feet up.
- NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN THROUGH A TELESCOPE. The result will be instant damage and irreversible
blindness. Use only specially designed solar filters under the
watchful eye of an expert astronomer.
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Arriving and
Departing |
- Plan to arrive before sunset if you have
equipment to set up. Leave a comfortable working space around
other observers and their equipment.
- Drive slowly, both for safety and to avoid
kicking up dust. If you arrive after dark, turn off your headlights
and use parking lights. If you don't bring a telescope park some
distance away to leave room for those who must carry heavy equipment.
If you plan to leave early park close to the exit. Park to avoid
using backup lights when you leave.
- Turn off your car's interior lights. Most
cars have a dial or switch (often connected to the panel light
dimmer) that shuts off interior lights even with open doors.
Pulling up one or two notches on the parking brake of cars with
automatic headlights will sometimes extinguish interior lights.
- Announce your departure. Some astronomers
may be doing long exposure imaging; if so, wait until they finish.
Some parties restrict when people can leave. RAC does not, but
know the rules at other parties before you arrive.
- Use parking lights to exit the telescope
field and turn on your headlights only once you are some distance
away. Driving without any lights is not necessary -- and may
be unsafe!
- If there is a gate at the telescope
location, it is the responsibility of the last person to leave
to close it!
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Red Lights Only |
- Darkness is essential for viewing faint
objects. Don't use flashlights, car headlights or other white
light sources. Dark adaptation takes 30 minutes and bright white
light ruins the eye's dark adaptation in seconds. As your eyes
adjust you'll be able to see your surroudings.
- Most astronomers use a specially designed
red flashlight to read charts and books. Red light does not reverse
night vision adaptation. If you don't have a red light cover
a regular flashlight with anything red, such as a layer of red
plastic secured with a rubber band. However, even a bright
red light can interfere with night vision so make sure the output
is dim.
- If you MUST briefly use a white light
ask first; someone may be in the midst of a long exposure photography
session.
- Flash photography is strictly a no-no.
A camera flash can immediately reverse the night vision of everyone
in the vicinity. Photos can be accomodated during equipment setup,
prior to full darkness.
- Stray light from laptop computers can
be dimmed with a red plastic sheet while still allowing the screen
to be seen.
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Asking Questions |
- Most astronomy clubs have as one of their
missions education of the public. If you have questions, ask;
most astronomers are more than willing to share with you whatever
they know.
- Setting up equipment, collimating optics,
and aligning and calibrating mounts requires dedicated concentration.
Allow those thus engaged to complete their tasks without distraction.
The sooner the scope and mount are aligned, the sooner the show
can begin!
- Respect astronomers who want to work on
their own or who are temporarily engaged in activity requiring
complete concentration. While public sessions are usually very
social, a few have personal observing programs.
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Observing Through
Telescopes |
- Set down anything you are holding before
looking into a telescope. Some scopes have open frames with exposed
primary mirrors. One slip can damage an expensive mirror!
- Queue up and wait patiently for a turn
to look through a particular telescope. After you have had your
turn, move to another scope while others are viewing the object
you just saw. After making the rounds, go back to the first scope
as something new may be in view.
- Equipment should be handled with the same
care accorded any delicate instrument. Ask where the focuser
is located so you can adjust for your eyes. Look through the
eyepiece but don't grasp it to steady yourself. Even a slight
touch can disturb the view of high magnification optics and may
move the scope so that you cannot see the object. It may also
ruin calibration or even damage the mount's mechanical components.
- Owners of large scopes usually provide
a chair or stepladder for viewing comfort and to steady guests.
Take care to keep your balance while on the ladder. Assist small
children so that they do not loose their balance or try to grab
the scope to steady themselves.
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Noise, Music
and Conduct |
- Avoid loud and boisterous behaviour. The
same restraint applies to shouting, running, racing car engines
and other forms of noisemaking. Star-gazing is a quiet, tranquil
activity.
- Leave your music at home or wear a headset.
The music you love may be extremely irratating to others.
- Generators are not allowed at some star
parties. RAC does allow them if they are quiet.
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Children and
Pets |
- Children are welcome -- an early observing
experience can kindle a lifetime love of astronomy. But make
sure your child understands the rules about safety, not touching
the equipment and noisy or disruptive behavior.
- Small children should be supervised at
all times. Since the observing field is dark small children are
more likely to trip and hurt themselves, become lost, or bump
into and damage expensive equipment.
- Toddlers are too young to understand how
to look into the telescope. When lifted, their natural tendency
is to grab onto whatever is available, and that's usually the
telescope. Let them have their turn when they are old enough
to climb the ladder or look for themselves without help.
- Make sure pets are under control at all
times. Frisky behavior is cute, but it can be disasterous around
expensive equipment, especially when exhibited by a large bumptious
dog.
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Food, Drink and
Spray Cans |
- Do not use aerosol sprays on the observing
field, including insect repellent, hair spary, etc. These sprays
can permanently damage telescope optics. Lotions or roll-ons
are fine.
- Don't carry food and drink around the
scopes. Spills are a serious problem for telescopes, accessories
and computer controllers.
- Pick up your trash. Many star parties
are held on public property, and your litter may cause officials
to disinvite the astronomers next time.
- Alcohol is usually prohibited at public
locations where star parties are held. It adversely affects night
vision, body temperature and ability to drive home in the dark.
And all too often it leads imbibers to ignore the "loud
and boisterous" behavior rule.
- Refrain from smoking near telescopes.
Smoke particles adhere to and damage telescope optics. If you
must smoke, please move well away from the telescope area.
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 Having
said all that, star parties are great fun and the views can be
nothing short of thrilling on a good night. Come on out and enjoy!
P.S. The above rules are mostly common
sense and courtesy. In fact, they are a synthesis of writeups
found on many astronomy web sites. So if some of the words look
familiar that may be because they are! |
Star
parties are a lot of fun, both for the seasoned observer and
the newcomer. Most star party veterans love to show off their
equipment, talk about astronomy and answer questions. However,
a few things about observing the night sky may not occur to first-time
star party goers.
First,
certain safety rules must be observed; it is easy to become disoriented
in the dark and wander into an accident. Second, telescopes are
expensive, and a certain amount of care is required around them.
Third, night time observing and photography require almost total
darkness. Bright lights ruin night vision and are definitely
a no-no. Astronomers use red flashlights, which do not compromise
night vision.
stiffle enthusiasm but rather to ensure that everyone has a safe
and productive experience while respecting the right of others
to enjoy the same. With that in mind, here are the rules of the
road -- most of which are simple common sense and courtesy!