Know the Rules and Enjoy Your First Star Party

Experts agree that one of the best ways to know which telescopes for beginners may suit you is by attending a few star parties. Star parties are an opportunity for astronomy club members to discover the wonders of the Universe using their combined resources.

A quick internet search will generally yield a list of star parties in your area. Most are sponsored by established clubs with detailed websites. If you are attending for the first time you may want to familiarize yourself with generally accepted etiquette at these gatherings.

Here are some of the basics:

• Limit use of any white lights — Star parties are held in remote location for a reason – to escape light pollution. Pulling up to a star party late with your headlights on full power is a sure way to get off on the wrong foot. Use dim red flashlights at the site. Use no lights of any kind if you can stand it. Also, keep laptop screens set as dim as possible.
• Don’t litter – Pack out all trash. Permission to use these sites for star parties depends on how well attendees respect the surroundings.
• Do not leave anyone alone at the site – If you are the second-to-last to leave, check on the remaining party. Between car trouble and other unforeseen events, it’ is all-too-possible to leave someone stranded.
• Park politely – If you did not bring a telescope, park a bit further off so people unloading equipment can have better access to the site. You can walk to the instruments. Back into your parking spot so you don’t have to ruin someone’s viewing with your back-up lights when you leave. If you are late, turn off your headlights and have someone guide you to a parking place.
• Bring what you will need – The sites are usually remote enough that there is no water. Plan ahead to pack in anything you might need.
• Invite observers – Pets and small children will be bored at these gatherings and can be distracting to others. Bring only those who will enjoy looking through telescopes.
• Respect others – Do not touch other people’s equipment without permission. It is generally expensive and very much valued. Do not totally monopolize experts’ time. They love to share their knowledge but will also want to have time to take in the specific sights of that night’s sky.

Whether large and regional or small and local, these gatherings will allow astronomy enthusiasts to share their vast knowledge with less experienced viewers. New astronomers will be given lots of opportunities to look through different instruments, which will help them sift through all the telescopes for beginners on the market.

You can learn the sky at these parties and identify what celestial objects interest you most. These parties can take the edge off the potential frustration of your first viewing attempts. If you start at a star party you will know what to expect by the time you start really investigating telescopes for beginners.

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