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TELESCOPE ETIQUETTE

Some people like to call it "Star Party Etiquette" Or "Observing Rules" Or there is the Star Party Survival Guide.

Call it what ever you want, I like to explain "Scope Etiquette" as common sense around telescopes and people that are observing!

First things first...You are observing faint objects in the dark...Your eyes get adjusted to the dark so you can see better...this is known as Night Vision...So NO WHITE LIGHT!!!..People at star parties take this very serious! Sometimes TO serious for my liking. You have to understand that when your pupils dilate allowing more light in (remember the aperture thing we talked about) you see better in the dark. White light shrinks you pupils to adjust for the light and it take around 20 minutes for your night vision to return...RED LIGHT DOES NOT DESTROY YOUR KNIGHT VISION!!! Aint that cool! It's a 3 page reason why red light don't shrink you pupils. So lets just accept that... and always carry flash lights or any other type of light emitting device that put out RED LIGHT ONLY! Green and blue are better but still not good.

I have literally seen heated arguments break out over white light. At some of the more serious Astronomy gatherings. Especially if there is astro photography involved.

Its good at finding its way out of motor homes, car interiors, head lights, Cigarette lighters, computers, kids toys....and the list goes on. Just remember if you don't have a red light use sonar or cover your light with your hand if you absolutely must have light.

Please! If somebody does yell TURN OFF THE DAMNED WHITE LIGHT and it happens to be you?.. don't get mad or let you feelings get hurt it is not personal! I notice that it is mostly the newer observers that think its cool to be the "Light Police" <G>

Unless it is bothering me personally Il eave the policing to some one else.

Remember to turn your head lights on your car OFF when coming into or leaving a star party.

Astro Photography can be extremely time consuming and tedious. Especially with film. There is an immense amount of work in keeping an object in a 4 pixel square in an illuminated eyepiece. These guys will actually adjust their scopes every 45 seconds or so for up to an hour some times...

Please do not be the one that destroys their picture with a carelessly placed flash of light...It's not a pretty site.

Enough on light

Watch the kids and your own big feet! Some guys go to great lengths and spend an hour or more to get an equatorial mount set up just right. This ensures accurate tracking through the night. One kick or bump or OOPS means they start all over again. Photo guys really hate this.

Come Prepared! This is important..Act like your going camping with a scope. (no camp fire..its the light thing) I mean bring appropriate attire for the weather ...Scopes work best at ambient conditions...That means even if it is in an observatory, every thing is wide open! No warm and cozy indoor viewing stuff.

Bring snacks, coffee, bedding for the kids, for you too if you get tired. Bring your binoculars, planisphere and any other astro stuff you may have

Wear good shoes. Your making your way around in the dark allot. Plus you are going to be on your feet a lot....Some times it can really get to your back etc.

Do look through all the telescopes, binoculars and anything else you can find set up to look through.

Do ASK QUESTIONS. There are no dumb questions!! ASK!

Be polite and wait your turn ...sometimes there are long lines behind some of the fancier scopes.

Be patient when an operator is moving or adjusting the scope. Remeber this is all volunteer stuff. They don't have to be here. (I know it seems like you shouldn't have to make a statement like that....but I see some rude people now and then.)

SPACE.COM STAR PARTY SURVIVAL GUIDE

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