Beginner Star Party Resources/Checklist

[Newtownian]

Several times over the years I've organised 'star parties' for small groups of friends. Things have never gone optimally. But I have now solved one critical issue, dark sky location I can control and set up with emergency shelter, by virtue of us now having a small rural place away from major light sources, 15 km inland from Seal Rocks NSW whose skies are not infrequently 9/10 (10/10 being dry high areas in the outback and 11/10 being the Chilean Andes). And the locals who see the sky all the time but dont know the difference between an asterism and a constellation, want shows put on. So I want to get this right.

Thus the challenge is how to set up the optimal party for adult total novices and probably some children. So I'm here requesting anyone who feels like it to add things as dot points so I can develop an equipment, explanatory and planning checklist to minimise the stuffing about so people can enjoy the heavens and maybe learn something beyond Saturn's rings. I've marked critical issues with "???" Maybe later it can be turned into a resource metadocument. To start the ball rolling I've listed things below I've already thought of including the very basics. I emphasize this is for real novices not a bunch of amateurs who are already fluent in the terminology and in fact understand far more than the term 'amateur' implies.

• Quick beginners guide - in preparation with jargon explanation and short intros to concepts ..planned to be 10 page PDF (??? is there a tested document on line - I couldnt see anything on this web site)
• Tracking telescopes - two, one being a CPC 800 with binocular head, the other a Nexstar 114 - actually works ok with decent eyepiece. And for the enthusiasts one big 12" Dob, 80 mm refractor.
• Good quality eyepieces.
• Binoculars (recommend people bring them too)
• Some planispheres. (??? ease of interpretation for novices)
• ??? Downloadable Youtube intro video (10 min or less)
• Big tables (under construction) and seating.
• Blankets or list of warm things.
• Star maps and books (??? I have various but what works best for newcomers? How to explain the images wont be like Hubble?)
• Lighting for safety and reading (I have various but OH&S demands a good balance between red lights and eyesight....???? string of red LEDs powered by battery.
• Checking rain/cloud cover, dew and moon glow predictions. ??? How good is Skippy these days? How far in advance are its predictions reliable (probabilities appreciated)
• ??? Best months (I cant see locally that some are much better than others but who knows. Dew/mist isnt too bad as we are on a ridge but sometimes its a problem)
• Check for satellite, meteors and planet locations.
• ??? Camera mounting on rail for any enthusiasts or too messy?
• ??? A fire using one of those Mexican chimney thingies so people can keep warm - can distort air currents
• ??? Limits on/management of food and drink.
• ??? How / far to trust people with delicate eyepieces.
• ??? Green laser pointer
• ??? Stellarium
• ??? Computer and video maybe in a loop to explain
• ??? List of basic intermediate and advances viewing challenges with checklist
• ??? Should they bring the phone constellation viewers?
• ??? Taking phone happy snaps (I have an adaptor but have yet to try out.
• ??? DSO emphasis and dark night or moon plus brighter stars?
• ??? Orary ( I really would love one)
• ??? Short formal lecture

Any more appreciated or comments on the above items.

[glend (Glen)]

Have a good laptop or tablet with Sky Safari Pro or similiar planetarium app, one like Sky Safari gives imbedded images of the objects in the info section and all the details on distance etc. Stellarium is good be IMHO harder for a novice to navigate.

Forget ten page PDFs, they won't read it. Three pages max would be my suggestion.

Be prepared to talk alot and explain all the questions. Allan_L is an excellent 'tour guide' and has the patience necessary, it would be worth talking to him.

Stick to New Moon periods if you want to maximise DSO views. Wide field EPs are better than narrow. Kids will bump scopes and grab them or lean against them - so explain that people should not touch the scope just look in the EP and provide a step ladder if necessay for the kids.

Good luck that close to the coast.

[Wavytone]

Things you've missed:

1. Assemble and test all your gear at home beforehand to make sure (a) it's all working (b) you haven't omitted an important part and (c) batteries, iPhones and laptops are all charged up. It never ceases to amaze me how many turn up at some remote location only to find they've left something behind or didn't charge a battery.

2. Something to warm/wake you up afterwards before driving home (coffee/tea) and a sugar hit (choc or a mars bar). Or a cuddly partner

Fires are not a good idea. In summer there may be a total fire ban, and even if not, if scopes are nearby the smoke is not good for optics plus the light pollution will be annoying. And the problem of making sure it's really out afterwards (esp in summer)... there's the question of both finding fuel for it and tidying up the mess afterwards. At the most a small gas ring and cylinder (the sort for camping) may be useful, but IMHO a thermos is a much better idea.

3. Make clear no alcohol otherwise the idiots will bring slabs and proceed to get plastered. A positive way to put this is to remind people they will be driving home late at night and driving and alcohol do not mix.

4. Depending how/where this is organised you might like to check your legal liabilities and consider insurance.

[Newtownian]

Originally Posted by glend

Have a good laptop or tablet with Sky Safari Pro or similiar planetarium app, one like Sky Safari gives imbedded images of the objects in the info section and all the details on distance etc. Stellarium is good be IMHO harder for a novice to navigate.

Forget ten page PDFs, they won't read it. Three pages max would be my suggestion.

Be prepared to talk alot and explain all the questions. Allan_L is an excellent 'tour guide' and has the patience necessary, it would be worth talking to him.

Stick to New Moon periods if you want to maximise DSO views. Wide field EPs are better than narrow. Kids will bump scopes and grab them or lean against them - so explain that people should not touch the scope just look in the EP and provide a step ladder if necessay for the kids.

Good luck that close to the coast.

Many thanks for all the information. Some specifics.

- I hadnt thought of kids. Good point.
- Regarding 3 page PDF. Good point. Though I think I may generate both or at least maybe a template with the selected night's viewing in mind.
- I have an like Stellarium but havent updated it for a few years. Certainly worth considering the others. I'll have a look at them.
- Yes I expected to do lots of explaining and not much viewing so maybe I need to think less ambitiously the first time round anyway.

[Newtownian]

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Things you've missed:

1. Assemble and test all your gear at home beforehand to make sure (a) it's all working (b) you haven't omitted an important part and (c) batteries, iPhones and laptops are all charged up. It never ceases to amaze me how many turn up at some remote location only to find they've left something behind or didn't charge a battery.

2. Something to warm/wake you up afterwards before driving home (coffee/tea) and a sugar hit (choc or a mars bar). Or a cuddly partner

Fires are not a good idea. In summer there may be a total fire ban, and even if not, if scopes are nearby the smoke is not good for optics plus the light pollution will be annoying. And the problem of making sure it's really out afterwards (esp in summer)... there's the question of both finding fuel for it and tidying up the mess afterwards. At the most a small gas ring and cylinder (the sort for camping) may be useful, but IMHO a thermos is a much better idea.

3. Make clear no alcohol otherwise the idiots will bring slabs and proceed to get plastered. A positive way to put this is to remind people they will be driving home late at night and driving and alcohol do not mix.

4. Depending how/where this is organised you might like to check your legal liabilities and consider insurance.

Also many thanks for the different perspective. Specific comments

1. The community would organise this and they have liability where we might organize a mass session.

2. Avoiding alcohol will be difficult though moderation might be possible. I'll think about this more. I agree its an issue though the group I'm thinking of should be controllable and responsible as they are mostly older..

3. Sounds like attention to clothing will be paramount so as to avoid nearby fire while keeping people comfy. I know how to do this provided they have the layers. Thermos and chocolate sound good.

4. Good point about pretest especially if someone brings their own telescope along which they havent used in a while.

[Glend, regarding closeness to coast, yes I know about beaches looking specky but having lousy optical properties. We arent that close but it is still an issue being in a rainforest area. Viewing quality does alter from night to night. Whether this will affect a very amateur night will be interesting to see. Certaintly we are not talking here ideal photographic conditions but under dark skies I can look at the Magellanic clouds directly which is a good measure I think of light pollution which is pretty minimal.

Regarding too much water vapor or mist that is an issue. Fortunately we are on a ridge. A lot will depend on humidity.)

[Newtownian]

ps I see you are at Lake Macquarie. We are a lot better off than that. 80 m altitude is quite effective.

[doppler (Rick)]

Try and get hold of a video projector and screen for your laptop, they are excellent to show larger groups the sky with stellarium.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Re your Good Eyepieces ...
Advise ladies "Please No Mascara"

[MichaelSW (Michael)]

Newtonian,

G'day.

It took me two reads of your post to see you probably had my 2 cents worth covered already.

I see you are planning a couple of Tracking Scopes and, "for the enthusiasts one big 12" Dob, 80 mm refractor". A Dob is valuable not just for the enthusiast.

I take my 12" Collapsable Skywatcher to star parties and being able to give someone a go at finding an object for themselves in the finder-scope, and then the eyepiece, can give just was much a "Wow" reaction as just showing them something wonderful.

As for precautions / level of trust:- Apart from a deliberate act of vandalism, can't really hurt my Dob. I use my 25mm plossl for Lunar and Baader Hyperion 13 for most of the rest. I am happy to remind each observer there is no need to handle the eyepiece.

And I always have the light shroud on so foreign objects can'y accidentally be dropped in from the side.

And as a bit of humour for any verbal presentation, I always tell them:-

1: This isn't the Hubble Space Telescope they are about to look through.
2: My name isn't Fred Watson, but I'll do my best to answer any questions they might have.

Cheers.

Hope it goes well for you.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

A little more with eyepieces...

Don't use your top shelf stuff. Allan's mentioned mascara. There are also kids with ice cream soaked fingers, and Lord knows what else. I suggest you use eyepieces that you won't mind needing to give a good clean.

Also, use eyepieces that are easy to use. Some require careful eye placement - these are not the type to use on these occasions. Many people will struggle with this and will come away disappointed. WE know how to place our eyes at the EP. Most novices don't. Kids in particular. Even if it means a 52* or 68* AFOV, if it is easier to use, then these are the best of the occasion. I have a few eyepieces I keep just for this. Keep the top shelf stuff for the very end if there are some die-hards who are especially keen.

Be patient with people coming to the EP for the first time. Sure you can bark out instructions on 'how to look into the eyepiece'. It is a very new experience looking into an eyepiece in the dark of the night, and unless it's the Moon, it will be a dim image. When some one new comes to the EP, take note of how they place there eye, particularly kids. When I notice a little hesitation, or too much movement of the head, or that something is not quite right, I just come up to the person and quietly talk to them. It helps keep them calm, and makes the instructions very much personal. They will respond a lot faster and positively. Kids and adults alike. They won't feel pressured like they would if the instructions are LOUD. Yeah sure, it makes things a little slower, but you will end up with really happy people who have had a really positive experience. When they come back for another look at something else, they will be more likely to remember how to look into the EP, be calm about it, and then things will move along a little faster.

Mental.