Stargazing Etiquette

Stargazing etiquette arises from two factors – night adaptation and respect for observing equipment. Anyone who begins the hobby of astronomy quickly realizes that the adaptation of the human eye to dark conditions vastly improves what can be seen in one’s telescope. Thus the loss of "night vision" detracts from the experience since much less detail can be seen and it can take many, many minutes to fully recover one’s dark adaptation. Looking at a white light or a bright light of any color can cause loss of night vision. Astronomical equipment is the other driver of stargazing etiquette. An individual telescope can range in value anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. This equipment must be treated properly to avoid damaging or otherwise impairing it. Thus stargazing etiquette provides a set of common sense guidelines designed to maximize everyone’s enjoyment of an increasingly rare resource – truly dark night time skies which allow us to explore our corner of the universe.

The rear or north observing site:

• If arriving after sunset, please turn off your headlights as soon as you turn onto the gravel road at the site entrance.
• Park with your headlights facing away from the observing field (to the east, your right as coming up the gravel drive).
• Those who plan on staying late (say 1am or later) should form one or two (north-south) rows towards the back (west side) of the field.
• Those who will be leaving around 1am or earlier should park on the east edge (corn field side) of the field.
• Leave a lane open adjacent to the cornfield.
• Also, leave a lane open around the entire edge of the observing field.
• If your headlights won’t turn off and you don’t have equipment to unload, park in the front field near the trailer and walk back to the rear field.
• If your headlights won’t turn off and if you must precede to the rear field to unload equipment or transport someone who is unable to make the walk, then cover your headlights with heavy towels or a tarp before proceeding up the gravel road.
• If your headlights won’t turn off please cover them and your tail-lights with heavy towels or a tarp before leaving.
• If you can turn on only your parking lights they can be used when entering/exiting the field if you feel it is necessary.

The front or south field:

• If arriving after sunset, please turn off your headlights as soon as you turn onto the observing field.

• Park with your headlights facing away from the observing field (to the east, your right as coming up the gravel drive).
• Park near the trailer unless you need to unload observing equipment near the observatory.
• If your headlights won’t turn off, then cover your headlights with heavy towels or a tarp before proceeding up the gravel road toward the trailer and observatory.

• If your headlights won’t turn off please cover them and your tail-lights with heavy towels or a tarp before leaving.
• If you can turn on only your parking lights they can used when entering/exiting the field if you feel it is necessary.

• Have any interior lights turned off before opening car doors, trunks, or hatchbacks.
• If the interior lights won’t turn off then disconnect them, remove the bulb, or cover them (e.g., with duct tape or attach heavy red or black fabric.).

• Only dim red lights should be used.
• Flashlights should be heavily red filtered.
• Normal flashlights can be adapted by attaching several folds of red cloth over the end of the flashlight with rubber bands.
• Keep flashlights pointed toward the ground – don’t shine them in anyone’s face.

Even smokers don’t want to collect tar and smoke particles on their telescope optics.

• Before lighting up be sure that your lighter is shielded from other’s eye’s.
• Select a location to smoke that will avoid having smoke drifting over the observing field. This should be well away from and downwind of the observing field.
• Don’t leave your cigarette butts on the grounds. Dispose of them properly.

Aerosols can damage telescope optics and coating.

• Don’t spray any aerosols around the observing field.
• Use rub-on insect repellents.
• If you must use any sprays on the field move well away from and downwind of the observing field.

Sticky fingers or spilled drinks around telescopes can be a real drag.

• Don’t eat or drink around someone else’s telescope.

• Never touch someone else’s equipment without their permission.
• Never touch an optical surface including the eyepiece and finder lenses.

Feel free to stroll around the observing field. If you are attending a scheduled public or group observation, the amateur astronomers staffing the event will be glad to attempt to answer any question you may have about the science and hobby of astronomy. Keep in mind, however, that most of us are hobbyists with widely varying levels of experience and knowledge. But, it’s a safe bet that someone there will know the answer to your question!

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