Under those circumstances, I would concentrate on naked-eye astronomy. How many stars can your guests see in the Pleiades? Guide them to the different constellations that are prominent at the time of your get together. Share the names of the brighter stars, and perhaps the meanings of some of those names. Share constellation stories. How about one of the Native American stories about the Pleiades and Devil's Tower?
Have the guests look around to see if they notice colors in any of the stars. If they do, explain why this star or that star has that color (a temperature thing). Betelgeuse is a great star to cover -- lots of information is available to share about Betelgeuse. Point out the Milky Way and explain why it looks like it does from our vantage point. Tell them we're inside that galaxy as is our solar system and all the stars that they can see.
Point out the zodiacal constellations. Mention the ecliptic that runs through them and its significance when it comes to the apparent travels of the sun, moon, and planets. People were aware of such things long before the invention of the telescope.
Point out satellites. Explain why the satellites that they see traveling eastward in the evening sky fade from sight. Have them keep an eye out for meteors.
Point out how they can determine which direction North is by the stars.
Let them know that they don't need binoculars or a telescope to enjoy the night sky. There have been plenty of historic astronomers prior to the invention of the telescope. Planets were known to be different from stars in their apparent motions -- thus referring to them as "planets" ("wanderers" amongst the "fixed" stars) -- again, long before the telescope was invented.
When I've used a small telescope with a group of people, I've generally worked to keep all those not looking through the telescope occupied with stuff like the above. It can get pretty boring pretty fast waiting to get a turn at looking through a pair of binoculars or a telescope. You kind of have to be the ringleader or master of ceremonies in a circus working to keep everyone entertained 
.
There's more than enough for them to see with their own bare, naked, eyeballs. Even the object that we now know as the Great Andromeda Galaxy was known about long before the invention of the telescope, though no one had any clue as to just what that hazy little patch of light really was back in those days.
Edited by Sketcher, 04 October 2024 - 04:55 PM.
