Hosting a Star Party at your Telescope
Site Inspection / Personal Preparation / Set Up / Sharing the View
Site Inspection
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1) Day early if possible, if not 2 hours early before sunset. |
| 2) Determine Directions.
Consider chalking out directions or draw a compass rose. |
| 3)
Set up on paved or concrete area if possible close to venue. (Scan for ruts or
pitted ground if setting up on grassy area.) |
| 4) Do not worry about a ‘darkened area’ away from lighting. The sights we suggest viewing will not be obstructed by local lighting. Even under moderately light polluted skies, telescopes can
objects objects as dim as 7.0 magnitude. |
| 5) If power is needed, determine in advance where outlets are. |
Personal Preparation
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1) At home before the event try to locate
2 brightest stars in sky (navigational stars.)
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2) At home before use a star map and try to locate a few Asterisms so you are generally familiar with the night Sky. For CTN seek out Winter Hexagon
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3) Download an app to assist you when viewing the night sky: Stellarium (free)
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| 4) Practice setting up the telescope if possible prior to the event. Practice finding Sirius,
Capella or Aldebaron with the telescope.
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| 5) Dress in warm layers, take a few extra layers with you. It is always much colder than the temperature especially with a wind chill. Over prepare with clothing to be safe. Gloves, extra socks and knit hat can be a night saver.
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| 6) Small Flash light can help one find their supplies. Red lights save dark adaptation although dark adapation does not happen at most city sights. |
Set Up
| 1) Arrive 2 hours before sunset if possible for site inspection. If already complete or prior day, plan to arrive 1 hour before sunset.
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| 2) Level tripod set up for accurate finding of celestial sights.
If tracking is desired though the evening you will need to go through the alignment procedure for your scope.
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| 3) Most scopes require 2 star alignments. Locate Sirius and
Capella for tonight’s set up.
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| 4)
A step stool or small ladder to allow small observers a view is vital to
success.
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| 5) If more than one scope is used, separate scopes by at least 10’, preferably 15’ if you can manage.
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6) Glow sticks (red) placed at the edges of the tripod can help avoid accidental bumping. Can be used even though telescope is in plain view. Red induces caution. |
Assisting Your Observers
| 1) Explain what they will see as they are stepping up to the telescope.
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| 2) Explain to observers that the telescope is a tool that is aligned to a sight. Touching the scope will cause it to move off it's target.
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| 3) Tell where hands can be placed (preferably on ladder next to scope, or on back of step stool.) Explain as observer approaches scope, rather than to scold them about not touching.
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| 4) As they are observing, suggest some things to look for (picture, patterns, terminator line on moon, mountains, craters, rays, mare.) Stationary scopes = opportunity to observe Earth's rotation. Movement is Daily Motion.
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| 5) Explain moment of clarity (Atmospheric Transparency) and why they may want to look again, or spend a minute observing. |
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