Observing Etiquette

[Shep]

Just wanted to know what astronomy club etiquette is at observing nights, are they usually a beer/wine or a tea/coffee thing, I'm guessing tea/coffee but just wanted to check...Planning on going to some club meetings this year ....

[norm]

Hi Sarah,

Tip 1. Don't turn up with car lights ablazing !!! They'll let you know pretty quickly!

Cheers Norm

[Shep]

Thanks! Good tip!

[pgc hunter]

Do not use spray-on insect repellent

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

Other things I'd add (and wish more people would take note of):

Turn off the internal lights in your car, including the boot light. If the boot light doesn't turn off cover it with some red cloth or the like.

Have a small red torch. Don't turn up with a Dolphin lantern covered by just one bit of cellophane, that still waaaay too bright. Dont use white light!!!

(As mentioned above) Dont' turn up with the high beams on and blast the whole observing field. If you're not familiar with the site arriving in daylight is recommended.

If you're going to leave early place yourself near the exit or facing the exit so you don't blast everyone again on your way out.

If using a laptop make some effort to at least shield it or using a filter over the screen to dull it down. I'm not much of a fan of the red 'night vision mode) some things have, I still think its too bright (yes, I'm a bit old school when it comes to light on the field, the less the better).

Most places I've been its been tea and coffee galore but alcohol to be consumed quietly if you really must have it and do not ever get drunk. You're there to do astronomy, not drink. If you're a serious observer best not to have any as it can affect your night-vision. Best to check with your local group on their policies, however.

Don't play loud music blasting from your car speakers. If you really must have music use earphones. Not everyone will share your musical taste, unfortunately.

Bring a chair, unless you like to do lots of standing.

Some of this might seem like common sense, but there's always someone who doesn't see it that way.

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by Shep

Just wanted to know what astronomy club etiquette is at observing nights, are they usually a beer/wine or a tea/coffee thing, I'm guessing tea/coffee but just wanted to check...Planning on going to some club meetings this year ....

That's a hard call, Sarah. I'd suggest sussing out a couple of members who are attending. I have been to star parties that were strictly no alcohol, other camps have been BYO!

Here were my rules from a long time ago. They don't relate directly to your question but they may be of some help...

1. Don't take too much gear. Take minimal equipment and pack with minimal bags, and pack the bags in some logical order. There is nothing worse than trying to find something in across several bags.

2. Arrive early. Find a nice corner of the paddock/observing area and set yourself up in an easy spot with all your gear and camping items (tents etc.) close by.

3. Try to remain self sufficient.

4. No spray insect repellent.

5. No headlights. Buy some red cellophane and cover your car interior lights before driving to the camp, just in case you accidently open the door in the middle of the night.

6. Take snacks to munch on throughout the night. No greasy snack.

7. No makeup (or in my case, beware of people who use wear makeup). I had a woman look through my scope once and she left mascara (or something) on the eyepiece.

8. Make an escape plan in case the weather turns pear-shaped. What are you going to leave setup? What can you quickly dismantle and throw in the tent/bungalow/back of the car?

I haven't been to a star party for years now, but these are some tips I to followed. Good luck.

Stephen

[GrahamL]

eye make up and mascara not required (greasing up eyepieces).. sounds kinda sexist dosn't it ?.. but I swear I only found that out from personal experiance

[Shep]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

eye make up and mascara not required (greasing up eyepieces).. sounds kinda sexist dosn't it ?.. but I swear I only found that out from personal experiance

LOL Thanks people those tips have been really helpful and yes keep them coming if anyone else has anything more to add!

With the eye makeup, good point! - not sure I could be ass'd for nighttime in a backyard or field but a good thing to be remember incase you havent taken it off after wearing it that day!

[space oddity]

To add to the list, sprays of all kinds. Sunscreen solvent and insect repellent solvent can be lethal to optical components.It may be an idea to warn of these dangers to all entrants to star parties or other public astronomy functions.
Another to add to the list,assorted luxury goodies. Most people will bring some luxury goodies to share , so add to the variety. Luckily, garlic infested stuff is probably OK as scopes are usually sufficiently far apart. If the goodies create flatulance, at least there will be some extra gas nebulae
A bit of port always goes down well-warms the bones. So it can affect the vision a bit, but shivering is worse.
Getting back to the makeup, why in the cosmos would anyone want to be dolled up with mascara out in the dark where absolutely noone will notice?

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by space oddity

Getting back to the makeup, why in the cosmos would anyone want to be dolled up with mascara out in the dark where absolutely noone will notice?

Some people wouldn't be seen dead without their makeup.

And that's not just women.

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by Blue Skies

Most places I've been its been tea and coffee galore but alcohol to be consumed quietly if you really must have it and do not ever get drunk. You're there to do astronomy, not drink. If you're a serious observer best not to have any as it can affect your night-vision. Best to check with your local group on their policies, however.

Even though I'm a notorious boozehound myself (well according to my bro and his gf and pretty much all of my mates) I strongly object to the consumption of booze at star parties. That stuff will kill your night vision and make you cold, even if it works wonders for socialisation and getting cute astro chicks. As a serious observer myself, I want my galaxies resolved!

that being said, my best ever view of the Trapezium came at 500x in my 10" dob while I was wasted. Then it clouded over 0.1 seconds later. But folks, don't get wasted at the eyepiece! There is infact no positive corrolation between drunkeness and seeing.

Hot choc and Coffee is my beverage of choice when I'm at teh eyepeice

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Some people wouldn't be seen dead without their makeup.

And that's not just women.

I wouldn't be seen dead with make up on.

1. don't shine your torch down other peoples optical tubes. someone may be imaging through it. (it's a fairly common occurrence )
2. always bring enough chocolate cake for everyone. this will guarantee you an invitation to even more star parties.
3. it always gets cool/cold. take warm clothes, track pants, thick socks, flanno shirt, jumper.
4. be aware of leads around and between scopes. you don't want to trip over, taking $8000 worth of gear to the ground with you.

[thunderchildobs]

My pet peeve is when I setup and then a smoker setups near me.
If a smoker wants to smoke at the scope which is near me they should have the courtesy to ask first. Equally, if i am stupid enough to setup near a smoker it is my fault, so i can't complain. Once I know who the smokers are, I setup as far as possible upwind as I can.

just observe by yourself and do whatever you want

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by glenluceskies

. No headlights.
Stephen

I agree with everything Stephen has said except for the above point.

Whilst you shouldn't drive in with high beams on lighting the place up like Luna Park, you should drive in (and leave) very slowly with enough lights on to see where you are driving and ensuring the safety to everyone and everything that might be in your path. You don't need to hit a child or put your car into a gully or the like because you were driving in with no lights on to preserve the night vision of a few selfish individuals. People will yell and scream at you, let them. I just tell them where to get off.

Laboratory tests have proven that dark adaption is only momentarily affected by "brief" exposures to white light (less than 30 seconds) and will recover within 1 or 2 minutes. It will take an injured person, animal or child a lot longer than that to recover if it is damaged.

Cheers,
John B

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

I agree with everything Stephen has said except for the above point.

Whilst you shouldn't drive in with high beams on lighting the place up like Luna Park, you should drive in (and leave) very slowly with enough lights on to see where you are driving and ensuring the safety to everyone and everything that might be in your path. You don't need to hit a child or put your car into a gully or the like because you were driving in with no lights on to preserve the night vision of a few selfish individuals. People will yell and scream at you, let them. I just tell them where to get off.

Laboratory tests have proven that dark adaption is only momentarily affected by "brief" exposures to white light (less than 30 seconds) and will recover within 1 or 2 minutes. It will take an injured person, animal or child a lot longer than that to recover if it is damaged.

Cheers,
John B

Agree with you there, John. Perhaps I should have clarified this point. Don't come tearing into the site at dusk or later with your headlights on High beam, totally unannounced.
As I have had to do in the past, if you are arriving during twilight, or you feel there may be people already set up and imaging, perhaps stop over the hill, or down the road a bit, and walk up to the site to investigate it, and then proceed with low beams or parking lights. But every situation is different. In the end, try to get there and set up before sunset, I guess .

I have never been phased with someone driving in with parking lights on or even low beams, just lok the other way. Having said that I'm not a fussy imager

[rogerg (Roger)]

One item I'd like to add is being aware of how much you're talking to people. I find some people aren't aware how much they talk and how busy I am at the time. They think they can keep talking all night to me about nothing, meanwhile my imaging time is going bye bye. I like a chat now and then, and like much more of a chat once my gear is running, but it's really hard to shake some people off so you can get some of your own viewing & photography done. Can be a bit annoying when you've driven 2 hours for the night. So if someone's running around they're scope doing 10 things at once, come back to them later

Roger.

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Originally Posted by glenluceskies

Agree with you there, John. Perhaps I should have clarified this point. Don't come tearing into the site at dusk or later with your headlights on High beam, totally unannounced.
As I have had to do in the past, if you are arriving during twilight, or you feel there may be people already set up and imaging, perhaps stop over the hill, or down the road a bit, and walk up to the site to investigate it, and then proceed with low beams or parking lights. But every situation is different. In the end, try to get there and set up before sunset, I guess .

I have never been phased with someone driving in with parking lights on or even low beams, just lok the other way. Having said that I'm not a fussy imager

Me too. I agree with Stephen & John.

One thing I found out the embarresing way.
If you have a vehicle with lights which turn on & off automatically, make sure you MANUALLY turn the light switch to OFF not Auto after you arrive.

My vehicle has auto headlights. They will automatically come on as soon as the driver's door is opened.
One night leaving the MPAS in Frankston I casually wandered up to the car at about 1am & opened the door to jump in.
POW!!!
Super bright light blasting across the observing field.......
I slammed the door shut, but regardless the lights will stay on for aprox 45 seconds. That's a REALLY long time when EVERYONE on the field has their eyes glued to you........

I couldn't get in quick enough to turn the lights off.




The broken bones didn't take too long to heal...

[el_draco (Rom)]

Originally Posted by space oddity

Getting back to the makeup, why in the cosmos would anyone want to be dolled up with mascara out in the dark where absolutely noone will notice?

Same question I had when I saw stillettoes on the field. Lasted 10 minutes and one twisted ankle...

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Louwai

Super bright light blasting across the observing field.......

Even the key press remote can be a nuisance if it flashes your indicators. I make a point to key lock the car during the evening if I have to go and have coffee and want to lock it - that doesn't flash the indicators in my case.