Our main goal is to share the excitement and fascination
of actually seeing astronomical objects, things that the students have
only seen in books. We like to explain interesting details about what
we're showing, and we enjoy talking about astronomy and science in
general. So, tell the students to bring their questions and take their
time; it's to be enjoyed!
Our star parties are informal. We set up several scopes
and invite everybody to look at Saturn, Jupiter, the Moon, star
clusters, etc. Each astronomer will talk about the object, answer
questions, help pick out details, etc.
Fees: none; this is our contribution to the
schools and the students. Astronomy is our hobby, not our job.
Available dates are on the
Current Events page.
Half the Fridays are Houge Park public star parties, and I'd rather not
double up on those dates. It is desirable to have the moon, as the kids
love it and it's a spectacular object. But there are relatively few
good moon dates, so much of the time we'll use a moonless evening.
Too much moon (over 75% illuminated) spoils the view of all but a
very few objects, so we much prefer to avoid such dates.
Suggested start times are included on the above page.
In early March, the clocks are advanced to DST (Darkness Squandering
Time), so we must start later than may be desirable. Though 8:30 pm may
seem impossibly late, in practice we have pretty good turnouts, even
starting that late. One trick for parents is to get the kids to finish
homework and baths before coming back to the school.
A typical star party runs 90 minute to two hours, but
sometimes a few extra-interested students will stay somewhat later.
In practice, the parents determine the end time, as they know when
bedtimes approach.
The teacher needs to explain the activity and times to
the principal and other teachers, and verify that the date isn't
already occupied by a school event. (We don't compete well with
sports.) Once the date is approved by the principal, contact me again
and I'll put it on the SJAA calendar. I'll put out the call for scopes
2 to 3 weeks before the event.
Someone at the school should make up an announcement to
be sent home with the kids. The note (see my tips,
below) should tell parents to bring warm clothing, and to leave
flashlights at home. The younger ones don't get much out of it, so we
suggest that the announcement is sent home with 3th grade and older.
But I do not argue with a teacher who wants to include 2rd grade.
Commonly, the parents bring the younger kids along, too,
and that's okay. We try to actually discourage only the ones who are so
young that they can't climb the ladder unaided.
Telephone numbers: send along a daytime phone
number, and I'll supply mine. On the day of the event, I want to phone
you about 11:30 to noon, as a final readiness check and to discuss the
weather prospects. It needs to be early enough so that, if the weather
is impossible, you can broadcast a cancellation message at school.
If there is hope that there may be holes in the clouds,
we may come out anyway. If there are other events at the school (such
as science night) some of us would probably come, just to show the
scopes and answer astronomical questions.
I try to get there 90 minutes before start time, look it
over, and decide just where we'll set up. The others come along as
early as necessary to be ready by the announced starting time.
Setup area:
We usually set up on a play area, such as the basketball or tennis
courts, or other open area with a view of the sky, away from outside
lights. This usually eliminates the main parking lot.
Since the scopes are big and heavy, we need to drive
into the observing area. So, if there is a gate, someone will have to
obtain the key. Usually the teacher or PTA officer carries the key and
stays until the end. We need an hour before and a half-hour after to
set up and tear down the scopes. Sometimes the custodian has left,
and I'll snap the lock on the way out.
We set up near our vehicles, so that we can quickly
reach for various items during the star party, such as various
eyepieces, a reference book, a warmer jacket, or another bottle of water.
Regarding directions: You'll see detailed driving
directions on the current events page; I make those up from maps and
refine them after the first visit. But you need to let me know whether
we enter at the front of the school, or from a side street.
In practice, I much prefer to visit the school well
ahead of time, so that we can determine just where to set up, what gates
need to be opened, and what lights need to be covered or switched off.
The preliminary visit should start about sunset (or later) on the visit
day, so that we can see the interfering lights. One hour is sufficient,
and it saves time, as the directions will be accurate, gates will be
unlocked, etc.
Regarding outside lighting: Any light that shines
on the star party will interfere with viewing astronomical objects.
These can be play-ground flood lights, lighted outdoor hallways, even
lighted rooms with open windows. It is very helpful to look around
after dark to see which lights are visible from the intended observing
area. Any that show the actual bulb, or that throw a harsh glare, will
be trouble.
Please make arrangements ahead of time to have them
turned off, or better yet, find out how to turn them off yourself. That
way, we won't be stuck at the last minute trying to find someone who
knows where to find the switch or circut breaker.
Regarding worksheets, forms, and questionnaires:
Short answer: Please don't!
Long answer: Doing paperwork at the telescopes is
very disruptive. Therefore, it is SJAA's Policy to strongly oppose the
filling out and/or signing of forms and questionaires at star parties.
The paperwork is disruptive in several ways:
- Any lights needed to see the papers will spoil everyone's night
vision.
- Filling out the forms becomes the goal of the event.
- Some of the students don't bother looking through the scopes, or
will take only a cursory glance.
- Students often become so wrapped
up in the forms, they interrupt our explanations to them or to others.
- The astronomer's time and attention is absorbed by signing papers or
answering the same assigned questions over and over.
Since we are not school employees, it is inappropriate
to make us a required part of a school course. We cannot guarantee that
we'll be able to be there, nor that we will have sufficient telescopes
for the students.
If the students are required to attend, then the
teachers should be there too. If attenance is to be taken, that's part
of the teachers' responsibility.
Extra credit may be a way to encourage parents to bring
students to the star party. But paperwork isn't needed; instead, have
the students check in with a teacher, aide, designated parent, or PTA
person. Another approach is for a designated person to give out
"tickets", which are turned in the next day to verify attendance. No
signatures or flashlights are needed.
How to get the most out of your star party
- Leave flashlights at home, and omit lighted toys or rings. As your
eyes adjust to the dark, you'll be able to see well. 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.
- 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, especially the eyepiece
where you look in. They move very easily and will lose our target.
Worse, you may lose your balance! Just hang onto the stepladder with
both hands.
- Toddlers are too young to understand how to look into telescopes,
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.
- 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.
Many thanks to Gary Mitchell for his help with this page.
Back to School home page. Mail to Jim Van Nuland.
Last updated:
2010 August 24, 1832
hours, pdt
