Behave Yourself: Star-Party Etiquette

Whether you're a beginner or experienced amateur astronomer, star parties are a great way to share your interests with others and check out all kinds of astronomical hardware. But there are a few unwritten rules of behavior at a star party. Here's how to avoid being an astronomical social misfit.

The Basics

• The most important rule for any star party: don't turn on a white light without everyone's permission unless it's a dire emergency. White light ruins your fellow observers' dark-adapted vision. And you could completely ruin someone's long deep-sky image. Not a good way to make new friends! If possible, bring a red LED flashlight specially designed for astronomy.

• Arrive before dark. This gives you time to set up your equipment and get oriented. And for a serious star party, don't drive up (or leave) with your headlights turned on once the crowd has started observing. Many star parties don't allow it.

• One of the pleasures of a star party lies in looking through all kinds of different telescopes. But always make sure you have permission to look, and especially to touch and adjust someone else's optical equipment.

continue....