You do not have to be a member to attend one of our
star parties. We
love sharing
the universe with new people. But you can make the experience much
better for everyone, including yourself, if you know a little about
star parties before you get there. Expectations for visitors will vary
depending on the event
If you are attending an event in the
city (Houge Park, a school, etc) then the
following will make the
experience more enjoyable for yourself and the others attending:
Leave flashlights at
home, and omit lighted toys or rings. As your eyes
adjust to
the dark, you'll
be able to see well. Most cities star parties have plenty of unwanted
light anyway. Many astronomical objects are rather faint, and you need
to get acclimated to the dark. For the same reason, please resist the
urge to take flash pictures. We can accommodate photos during the setup
period, prior to full darkness.
Bring warm clothes
-- a
sweater or jacket, as the air cools quickly after dark, even after a
warm day. Dress for weather about 10 degrees cooler than what
is forecast.
Don't carry food and
drinks
around the scopes. Spills are a problem for the scopes and also for
those around them -- it's no fun walking around in sticky shoes.
Be careful not to
touch
the telescopes, unless the astronomers instructs
you.
Telescopes move very easily and will lose what we are looking
at.
Your fingers will damage sensitive optics and mirrors
Worse,
you
may lose your balance!
We will provide a chair or stepladder
to steady
yourself. Please use it!
Toddlers are
too young
to understand how to look into the telescope, nor can they make sense
of what's going on. When lifted, their natural tendency is to grab onto
whatever is available, and that's usually the telescope. Bring them
again next year, when they are old enough to climb the ladder without
help.
Don't just look once -After
we show the first group of objects, we'll move the scopes
to additional objects. So, after making the rounds of the telescopes,
go back again, as we may have something new. We also take requests.
Public Star Parties
Away
from the City
SJAA holds public events at Coyote
Lake and Yosemite to avoid the light
pollution of the
city. We move away from the central city
specifically to take advantage of the dark skies. After driving for an
hour or more all of
those attending have higher expectations of everyone's behavior.
Please note that other events way from the city are not intended for
public viewing. See the next
section for more information.
No Bright Light -
The most important rule of star parties is to keep it dark.
No white flashlights, no Coleman lanterns, no using cellphones
or PDAs as a flashlight, no camera flashes,
and especially no car headlights. Learn more here
Use Dim Red Light -
If you need light, a dim red light is best -- that's what
astronomers use to read their star charts. A small red LED
flashlight (the kind that costs $1.99 at Fry's) is great.
But any dim flashlight with a piece of red cellophane stretched over
the front works fine.
Nothing in Your Hands
- Some of the scopes will have open frames where
the mirror is exposed. Set down anything you are holding before
trying to look into the scope. One slip could damage an expensive
mirror!
Watch Those Car Lights
-
Turn off any dome lights in your car before you get to the star
party.
Turn off your headlights and drive slowly with parking lights.
Park so you will not have to back up. SJAA sets aside a parking area
near our observing area at Coyote Lake Park. Please look for the
signs
and cones.
Dress warmly.
No, even warmer than that -
Few people realize just how chilly it gets late at night, even in
summer. Sites away from the city are also higher where it will be
colder.
Be careful where you smoke - We
are
outside frequently when there is little wind. This makes
cigarette smoke hang like a stale stench. Please be aware that
some people (like one of the authors) are deathly allergic to cigarette
smoke. If you are going to light up be aware of who is around you
and whether they want to share your smoke.
Non-Public
Dark Sky Observing
During most SJAA Events the public is invited to look through the
telescopes we provide. For
these we relax the expectations somewhat.
We do conduct several star parties every year that are intended
for private viewing . You are still welcome to attend, but must bring
and use your own scope. Examples of these non-public events are the
"Dark Sky Weekends" and Messier Marathon at Henry Coe State
Park . SJAA
members also observe at GSSP
and through TAC.
Here there are very high expectations for everyone's
behavior.
In addition to the etiquette for a public event here are
some additional things you must do
Strictly Follow the
Light Rules - In these situations there is little
tolerance for not obeying the light rules. The entire purpose of
traveling to a dark site is to observe very dim objects. One mistake
can prevent someone from finding that elusive glob for 30
minutes or more.
Double Check Your Car's Dome
Light
It said Dim Red Light- One
of the most common mistakes is to confuse Red with Dim. Even though you may be
using a red light, if it is bright it is a problem. Be aware of
how bright your lights are. Be aware of where they are pointing
Unfiltered Laptops are a No No
- Laptops (even those with a "Night Mode") can be bright enough
to cast shadows. TAC recommends
use of plastic filters.
Announce Before You Leave - Many
modern cars do not allow driver control of the headlights.
Announcing
that you are leaving allows everyone to shield their eyes. Note:
Some parties (e.g. GSSP
and CalStar)
restrict when people can leave. Be sure you know the rules before
you go.
Green Laser Generally Not
Welcome -See the discussion on TAC for
more details.
Please No Music
- Music tastes differ so violently that
it's usually best to avoid it -- chances are that your favorite band
isn't the favorite of everybody else in the parking lot. If you really
want to listen to music, use headphones
Some People Want To
Work on their Own - While private observing
sessions are frequently very social, some people have their own
priorities. Anyone imaging would generally
prefer you stay well away from their scopes. Use good social judgment.
Have fun!
We hope you have fun at the star party!
After all, that's what it's all about.