Star Party Etiquette

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

• 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!
  

• 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

First, Do Everything in the previous section

In Addition,

• 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

Again, Do Everything in the previous section

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 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.

You can also read what other clubs have to say on this topic.