If I were you, I wouldn't bother with my equipment.
"Star Parties are designed to give you, the amateur astronomer a place to setup your equipment and share the experience of observing with fellow astronomers. SJAC does not setup telescopes for the general public." - quoted from the web link for the South Jersey Astronomy Club star party that's the subject of this forum string
If you show up without a scope, you are the general public.
Star Party has become a meaningless term. Some think it a place to go look through others' gear. And sometimes it is. Others think it an opportunity to retire to a dark place and observe with their gear. They too are often right. Hence the devaluation of the term.
So it should probably be incumbent on anyone intending to attend to know beforehand what they should expect from the experience.
And it should be taken as SOP here to expect the advise offered to be uninformed at its core. Because it's just so difficult to read the web link before pontificating.
Edited by havasman, 22 October 2024 - 12:55 AM.