[AZ-Observing] Re: Star Party Rules
- From: Russell Chmela~ <rchmela@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 13:01:24 -0700
Steve , and AZ observers:
There are always people who do not know these basics, because they
are new to the hobby or are just visiting or are a somewhat more experienced
observer who has had thier night vision or photo blitzed and have decided
not to care anymore. It requires someone who invites others to regular or
special events to tell the newcomer about light precautions. Anyone who is
in a don't care frame of mind should get some consideration for others.
I have not been perfect in past on this and will try and do it better.
Here's some ideas I have had, or have seen at various star events and
have been to a lot of them all over the US.
Use the clock to advantage, basic idea is that the ten minutes at the
top of the hour or at the half hour are reserved for people to start up and
leave in thier cars. This way, anyone who wants night vision undisturbed
can close thier eyes for a few minutes or visit the bushes, whatever. This
would have to be in the form of a handout sheet , as it would not be well
perceived to have a cordon placed over the exit(s) for the bulk of the
hour. At one convention I used to attend in the midwest it went this way,
anyone getting ready to start up and leave will give three short (emphasis
SHORT) blasts of thier car horn before doing, giving several seconds after
the sounds before the start up. At this same event, it was emphasized that
people were REQUIRED to use thier parking lights at least and not drive
in dark because of the potential for a accident (they had a tent, fortunately
unoccupied, run over!). I worry much more about people trying to stealth out
of the sites I observe at than laying out too much light. I actually get
a bit defensive and place my van so it will take any hit from someone not
navigating the dark well instead of me or my scope.
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
end. Sometimes this may mean that you can't set up next to your favorite
group because you are leaving earlier. A possibility at either Vekol or
at Sentinel is to use multiple sites. At Vekol there is a site that goes
off to the right just some 100 yards or so after the BLM sign. Back about
some 1000 feet is a clearing for some 8 or 10 cars. Maybe it would be the
thing to have all nighters use the EVAC site some 2 miles down the
dirt road and the half nighters to use this other site closer to the main
paved road. At Sentinel there are some other turn offs before that last
curve to the regular site, and any lights from the one will not get the
other, the furthest back site is for an all night stay.
This may not go over big as with most Americans, amateur astronomers
do not like being told where they can park. But its just an idea.
It would only apply to the new moon night, as most leave on the last
quarter weekends at moonrise.
There is no excuse for dome lights, as they can be covered, shut off
or given red tinted lamps. Computer monitors are a problem, but the
fortunate thing is most laptops fade out if you are not looking at one
on center and close up. I would just recommend that when not in use they
be turned off or the display folded down. Have a black screen saver!
I don't know if a big turnout star party is ever a good place for the
astro imagers, its just too iffy. Maybe at least we can make it a good
compromise for the hardcore visual observers to do some useful viewing.
How long is the typcal astrophoto or deep CCD image anyway? I have heard
that most CCD users make multiple exposures of just a few minutes duration
True? not?
I know some will raise the idea about car horns, big shouts or bull
horns disturbing those napping (I take a 2 hr snooze on most all night
events). Personally as a lighter sleeper, the noise from the coyote
choir or the crowd when a meteor comes by is enough to jar awake. I
just understand that at a star event, sleep is optional and not guaranteed.
Thats all I have.
RC
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As Rick said....it just seems like something to put up with if you are at a
site with lots of people. I think that we need to change that.
Already we have chased all the long exposure astrophotographers away from any
type of star party that involves lots of people. They have learned that
ingnorant folks are going to mess up a long exposure with headlights or the
interior lights from their vehicles.
I would be willing to say that the times I have attended large Arizona
gathering, I don't take a list of very faint deep sky objects because I know
that this type of list will be tough to complete. I dearly love to meet and
chat with observers from all around the world, but this problem is not going
to help.
So, let's be creative here. Yes, I have already thought of all types of
violent things we could do to the perpetrators of light splash. We are big
enough to get past that.
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