Telescope Reviews: How to Make Your Star Party Almost Heaven

"As I said previously, there's a difference between a public star party and a serious dark sky event. Sure, at a public outreach/sidewalk event, John Dobson's word is my law. At something like the TSP? The best way to get a look through a scope is bring a scope with you." Rod Mollise

Rod,

Great article! Of course there are always two sides to sharing your scope with the public at star parties. Here's another side that many may not have thought of, yet I have had to be careful with it since the 80s. I have usually had a very large scope at star parties, and there are times when it is just not comfortable to invite total strangers to climb high on the ladder to the eyepiece of a 36" or larger scope…

Many a time the person was so scared of hights that by the time they got up to the eyepiece the object being view was long gone. Other times elderly people have leaned against the scope for support, and you can imagine what the results of that was. So many times guests at my scope have stepped off the ladder long before they reached the ground. I've hurt myself trying to catch them before real disaster struck. Once, late at night I was explaining to a fellow high up the ladder how to move the Dob, but Jeannie interupted me and said, "Tom, I think Richard knows how to move a Dob!" I wasn't aware that Richard Berry had waited in line and then climbed the ladder - I was a bit tired at that time myself.

Having one of the largest scopes is always an attraction and I never view alone. I always have a few invited guests around to share our observing time with, but have become uncomfortable when an unknown comes up in the dark and asks for a peek - it seems like it usually happens when we are looking straight up!!

I now prefer to hold public viewing times when I can keep the scope pointed less than 45 degrees above the horizon. It's also a good time to keep bright objects in the eyepiece so the beginners eye's can see a view that is easy to see.

Now that my observatory and 42" scope are on the side of the observing field at Chiefland, there is a dim red porch light on the side of the dome. When the light is on everyone is invited to come in and look. The rest of the time there are just a few invited guest inside.

Any time you are at a star party and see a scope you would like to have a look thru, talk to the owner in the daytime and ask about the chance to look thru it that night. He will be happy to let you know when a convenient time would be for you to come by. You would be surprised how few ever ask in advance. When they do we bend over backwards for them.