[AZ-Observing] Re: Star Party Rules

>
>     Another is WHERE people park. I was at the far south end of the All AZ.
>  site this weekend because I knew it would be a all nighter. When at Vekol
>  I tend to go to 1 or 2 am and park nearer the road and don't go back into
>  the site so deep. I had no trouble this weekend because I was at the back

I am someone who does long-exposure film astrophotography, so I will add
my thoughts. I wasn't at All AZ last weekend, but was at Empire instead
where there were a bunch of people. Most people didn't stay very late, as
it got pretty cold (35 deg!).

  By the time I finish drift polar alignment, getting a picture focused
and guide star set up, get the autoguider going, etc, it is about the time
the first cars are leaving. A typical film exposure for me is 30 min-1
hour. Sometimes people check with me before leaving, but at least once
someone has blasted me with their headlights on full at 3am because I
guess they assumed they were the last people left at the site.

  No matter what you do, people driving out while others are still
observing are going to cause annoyance. Driving off from the middle of an
observing field with no lights just isn't safe. I think about the only
thing that would help for a large event is to mark off different parking
areas for those people camping and not leaving, and those people planning
on leaving during the night. The camping area should be closed off with
traffic cones, etc after dark. The areas would have to be separated by a
few hundred feet, and people in the "leave early" lot should still park
pointing towards the exit.

Torsten


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