Planning a Star
Party
If possible, contact
DAS before you
complete the plans
for your star party
or event. A
successful star
party requires a
dark, but
accessible,
observing location;
a date that provides
a sky with a minimum
of moon glow;
several adult
volunteer leaders;
enough
well-maintained
telescopes with
experienced
operators to handle
the size of the
group; and people
with an interest in
observing the night
sky. Advance
publicity is also
important.
The
location
should be checked
out well ahead of
time. Ideally, it
will be reasonably
protected and remote
from bright
streetlights,
commercial or
parking-lot
lighting, automobile
traffic, and
nighttime sports
with big crowds and
lights. If this is
not possible, the
DAS coordinator can
suggest ways to
optimize viewing at
any site.
The dates
just before the
first quarter moon
are best for a star
party. The moon is
easiest to observe
when it is a small
crescent. More than
a few days after the
first quarter, the
moon reflects too
much light to allow
viewing of dimmer
astronomical objects
like nebulae, star
clusters, and
galaxies. The full
moon should be
avoided if possible.
Adult volunteers
can be recruited
from a school or
organization staff
or may include
parents of children
in a school group.
They should be
briefed to educate
children or other
participants how to
behave around a
telescope (e.g.,
enjoy the view, but
don't touch, ask
questions) and
should be prepared
to help maintain
lines at telescopes
and assist the
operators with
stools and other
observing aids for
small children.
There should be at
least one adult
volunteer for every
25 participants.
The DAS can
arrange to provide as many
telescopes and
operators as
your group will
require. A good
rule-of-thumb is to
provide at least one
telescope for every
20-25 people. It is
important to provide
enough telescopes to
avoid long lines and
allow each
participant enough
time at the eyepiece
to enjoy the view.
This is particularly
important for
children or people
with eyeglasses, who
may need extra time
to focus on the
image.
The
cost
of DAS star parties
is modest. Public
school events are
always free of
charge. Private
school events are
generally $75. Costs
for conventions and
corporate events
will be negotiated
with the event
coordinator. Funds
are used by DAS to
purchase services
and equipment needed
to sustain our
non-profit outreach
operations or, if
distances are long,
to compensate
members for travel
expenses. |
The
Denver
Astronomical
Society
conducts
educational
astronomy
and
observing
activities
for
schools
and
other
organizations
as a
part of
our
mission
to
increase
the
public
knowledge
about
astronomy,
promote
the
importance
of
maintaining
dark
skies,
and
encourage
careers
in
astronomy,
space
science, astrophysics,
and
other
physical
sciences.
