A lot of Newbies out there asking questions about attending the organized star parties. I've been to a lot of them coast to coast since 1991. Here's is a basic outline of the preparation and etiquette to go to these events. You can get more on the particular star party's site. These preparations, fees and rules will vary from place to place. I made a Power Point presentation 18 months ago for my club's In-reach meeting for the newbies. This presentation was geared for RMSS, but applies to most venues. You may add other things to this thread such as additional general RV/ dry camping prep. As for car lights, use or open a separate thread for that as these remedies vary with make, model and year.
Star Party Etiquette and Safety:
Dark skies
a. Observe dark sky etiquette when skies are clear or mostly clear. Solid overcast or storms you may use the white lights as long as it doesn’t bother your sleeping neighbors.
b. If you have to leave in an emergency at night, let your neighbors and the organizers know. They will lead you off of the site for safety.
c. Keep the lights pointing down while walking at night. Use care with the headlamps as these point as you move your head as these are quite bright. Same care if you are using these headlamps while adjusting your gear. A lot of complaints on this.
Roving
a. Day and night: Roving, that’s what star parties are for. You can watch some people observe through their scopes and ask them if you can look through the eyepiece. Daytime is for solar observing, plenty of solar scopes out there. If you see a line, get in the back of the line unless there is a group only such as Boy Scouts attending a certain scope. Ask!
b. Imagers: If you see a scope alone with blinking lights and other equipment, it is probably an imager nearby. You’re not looking through that scope. Some of these imaging scopes are on auto on Bluetooth. Leave these alone.
c. Eyeball observers: Some are doing observing lists for pins and awards. You may ask these people, but you’ll see the same faint fuzzy they are trying to mark off their list.
Lights complaints
a. Imagers: Do something about your screens! Some of you are out in the open and these screens are blinding even with red or light red screen covers on them. The Red screen programs still bring out the shrill light. Not much complaints about imagers in enclosed or portable dome spaces. Some have a box and shroud over the laptop to block most of the light. Also some drive units and power supplies have these bright green or blue pilot lights. A piece of black or red tape will help these.
b. All: As mentioned before, keep the penlights pointing down. When adjusting equipment, be careful that these lights are not intruding into others spaces. Headlamps are one of the major complaints. Turn these off if you’re not using them.
c. Your Vehicle: Be sure the lights are off when you open the door or the internal lights are masked in red. Check with your vehicle make, model, year to prevent headlights coming on when opening the doors.
Safety
a. Read the star party rules on safety.
b. RMSS is out in an open field in the wild. There are wild animals about. Most of the time these creatures will avoid human contact. Keep your food and pets locked up at night. Keep tabs on the children.
c. Look at the map in the building or online. The site is surrounded by private properties, respect the borders.
d. Show up well before sundown. Showing up at night will not allow access to the site for observing and safety reasons.
Example star parties and seasons examples I've been to:
Winter
Winter star party (WSP), February, Check for latest status of site at : https://www.scas.org...ter-star-party/
a. Mostly Retirees, very few students. Primitive with privies on Girl Scout side with no showers, with showers and reserved glam huts on the Boy Scout side. Food truck. Volunteer battery charging service on the Girl Scout side with electricity on the Boy Scout side. On Hurricane damaged sites with repairs. Still with no electricity on the Girl Scout side.
b. Expensive, long haul, hotels in-route. Busiest time in Key West.
c. Tiered non-refundable reservations, but can sell with permission.
d. Florida Keys, on Boy and Girl Scout land next to US-1, the most southern in the lower 48, 24° N.
e. Plenty of attractions, fishing, private tours, restaurants. Crux visible.
Spring
Texas Star Party (TSP), April-May, Check for latest status of site at: https://texasstarparty.org/
a. Early vacationers, some students. Bundled and tiered costs with dry camping, reserved rooms, reserved male bunkhouses and numbered RV spaces with hookups in a lottery in January. Onsite meals with bundled registration.
b. West Texas, friendly area, on the Prude Guest Ranch. Showers with some added facilities. Electrical cords on fields, Telescope and imaging only.
c. 1-2 day travel from Denver.
d. Fairly south, Omega Centauri visible.
e. Some good attractions. McDonald Obs. tours, Fort Davis historical site (US Parks pass).
f. Hiking and horseback riding on ranch land. Next to Davis Mountains State Park.
Summer
Rocky Mountain Star Stare (RMSS), June-early July, Check for latest status of site at: http://rmss.org/
a. Family oriented. Primitive with facilities and a battery charging station. Plenty of daytime activities. Tiered per-person registration only. Spaces first come, first served. Food truck.
b. Near Gardner, CO. Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (SCAS) owns the land. Paid CSAS members use site as their DSS. Meeting building.
c. 3 hours from Denver.
d. Summer solstice, short nights.
e. Some day trip attractions. Great Sand Dunes National Park (US Parks pass).
Fall
Okie-Tex Star Party (OTSP) September-early October. Check for latest status of site at: http://www.okie-tex.com/
a. Late Vacationers, some students, plus a grade school class bused in a reserved area. Onsite meals separate registration. Camp on Central time. Tiered costs per person/per-night registration. Camping and RV spaces various in a grid first come, first served.
b. Neat Kenton, OK near NW tip of the Panhandle. Camp Billy Joe summer camp. Electrical cords on fields; telescope, imaging and CPAP only. Showers plus the added outdoor facilities with a hand washing station at each. Separate dining and meeting halls. WiFi available, no Bluetooth allowed.
c. Male and female bunkhouses on first come, first served.
d. 6 hours from Denver.
e. Milky Way overhead all night, Zodiacal light and Gegenschein in Pisces visible at site.
f. Some local attractions, hiking at Black Mesa, Capulin Volcano (US Parks Pass).
Joe
Edited by Joe F Gafford, 10 December 2024 - 03:18 PM.