FOMALHAUT NIGHTS

 

 

WELCOME!
This site is for urban stargazers in the St. Louis area, as well as anyone with an interest in urban and backyard astronomy.

Opportunities for city-dwellers to do deep-sky dark-site astronomical observing are limited, so my goal is to connect with other amateur astronomers in the greater Saint Louis, Missouri area and plan dates and locations for deep-sky observing. Here, I post my advice on urban and backyard stargazing, as well as information about dark-site observing. If you are interested in deep-sky dark-site observing, please feel free to email me. Thanks for visiting!
-- Bill Breeden, St. Louis City Urban Starrgazer

 

 

STARGAZING FROM A LIGHT-POLLUTED BIG CITY?
Yes, you can stargaze from a big city! Here I am in my urban backyard with my Meade LX-90 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. I am setting up for an evening of lunar and planetary observing. I have observed many objects from the city, including deep-sky objects. My unaided-eye limiting magnitude is 2.5, and star clusters, planets, double stars, and even some nebulas are within reach.

 

 

 

URBAN STARGAZING TIPS

· Although a dark-sky site is best for astronomy, you CAN stargaze and observe hundreds of objects from the light-polluted skies of a major city.
· Turn off all the lights that you have control over. Turn off your porch lights, security lights, etc. Also, turn off the lights inside your house. The light coming out your windows counts, too.
· You may be able to ask your neighbors to turn their outdoor lights off if you ask them in advance, or invite them over for stargazing.
· Position your observing area so that trees or buildings block bright lights near you. You may not be able to block them all, but every little bit helps.
· Do not be discouraged if you don’t have much sky visible from your city location. There is a lot to see up there, even if you have just 20 or 30 degrees of unobstructed sky visible.
· Plan your city observing session using a planisphere or star chart. Write down what constellations are visible from your location, even it is only one or two of them. Then, use a more detailed star chart to write down the objects in these constellations you would like to observe. Start with brighter objects, such as planets, double stars, and open star clusters. Also, consider the movement of the stars. More constellations may be visible two or three hours into your observing session.
· When you start your observing session, use your planisphere or star chart to orient yourself with that part of the sky that is visible. Locate the brightest stars to identify constellations, and proceed with your observing plan.
· Feel free to deviate from your observing plan now and then, and just scan the visible sky with your telescope, binoculars, or with only your two eyes.
· Do not point your telescope or binoculars at the neighbor’s house. Astronomers use their equipment for stargazing, and you don’t want to appear to be a Peeping Tom.
· Find someone to observe with in the city. Involve your family, friends, or members of your local astronomy club.
· Make a short trip to a nearby city park. It may still be light polluted, but it may offer skies one or two magnitudes darker for just a trip around the corner.
· Always consider your safety first. Do not observe from a public location where you do not feel safe. When observing from city parks, I recommend doing it in groups. Set a date and plan a city observing session with members of your local astronomy club.
· Do not observe alone at night in a public park. If you had set a date with others, wait until a second astronomer arrives before setting up your equipment. The last two astronomers should also break down their equipment and leave at the same time. Observing alone in a public place makes you appear suspicious, and also makes you more vulnerable. Don’t do it.
· When observing in a public park, always obey all local curfews and ordinances. Astronomers can appear suspicious-looking by being outside at night with weird-looking equipment.
· Do not set up your equipment at the side of the road. Oncoming vehicles may not see you and your telescope.
· After your observing session, review your observations indoors by using your star chart to refresh your memory.
· If you are so inclined, make a list of the objects you observed, or even write up a summary of your observing session. This will help you learn the sky, and will be interesting to read later.

 

STAR PARTY ETIQUETTE

· Astronomers at star parties have certain rules of etiquette that they follow which makes stargazing more enjoyable for everyone.
· Arrive at a star party before night, if possible, and set up your equipment during daylight or twilight. Of course, this may not be possible in winter, when the sun sets so early. In that case, try to arrive at a time before everyone else will be observing.
· If you must arrive at night, slow down so that your car does not kick up dust that will settle on everyone’s optics. Turn your headlights off.
· Check where you should park. Some star parties go all night, and if you plan to leave before sunrise, you may find yourself annoying others when you pack up and drive away in the middle of the night.
· Take everything out of your car that you will need. If you open your car doors or trunk later, the dome light or trunk light will destroy your dark-adapted vision, and will be a nuisance to other observers. Alternatively, you can remove your dome and trunk light bulbs beforehand, but some cars also have lights in the doors and under the dashboard. Those lights will seem really bright once everyone’s eyes have dark-adapted.
· Use red light only. White light will destroy everyone’s dark-adapted vision, including yours. It takes 30 minutes to restore total dark adaptation.
· Do not spray aerosol mosquito repellant within 200 feet of the observing area. The sticky spray will damage lenses and mirrors. Walk long and far away before spraying mosqito repellent.
· Be reasonably quiet. Stargazing is a peaceful activity, and many astronomers are working on target lists, astro-photos, etc. Speak quietly to your fellow astronomers.
· Alcohol is generally frowned upon at star parties. Astronomers like to have fun like anyone else, but stargazing requires concentration, and so does driving home after hours under the stars.
· Smoking is not allowed within 200 feet of the observing area. Smoke and ashes will damage optics.
· Walk slowly and carefully around a star party. There are wires, tripod legs, batteries, computer setups, and plenty of other objects to trip over or knock down in the dark.
* Do not touch anyone's equipment, tripods, eyepieces, etc. Do not lean on, grab, or touch anyone's telescope without permission. Some astronomers may have delicate equipment, or they may have just completed a painstaking alignment. Even if someone asks for your help, ask them before touching their equipment.
· When using your red flashlight, always point it down at your star chart, equipment, or the ground. Never point it at anyone or their observing area.
· Watch your language. Stargazers are gentle folks, and there may be children present.

* Don’t be a pest. Stargazers enjoy good conversation as much as anyone, but please let the astronomers enjoy their night under the stars. Don’t hang around someone to the point that they can’t stay focused on the sky. The same goes for public outreach events – please let the astronomers spend time with guests and also enjoy the sky themselves.
· Use green laser pointers sparingly, and always ask everyone if it is okay to turn it on. Some astronomers may be taking long-exposure photographs, and your green laser pointer could destroy them.
· Never point a green laser pointer at or near aircraft. If you are not sure if a moving point of light is a plane or a satellite, assume it is a plane and do not take the chance. Pointing a green laser pointer at aircraft is illegal.
· Do not point a green laser pointer at people or equipment.
· When planning a stargazing session on private property, always obtain permission from the landowner. Then, greet the landowner (if they are there) when you arrive. Remind them of why you are there, how many people you are expecting, and when you are leaving. Invite them for a look through your telescope.
· When planning a stargazing session on public property (such as a park), always obey all curfews and ordinances, and pay any fees that may be due. Then, greet any rangers or police officers that are there, and tell them what you are doing, how many people you are expecting, and when you are leaving. Invite them for a look through your telescope. Most of all, be respectful and polite. You want to be welcome at your dark-sky site in the future!
* Even if you have permission to stay late at a public dark-sky site, other rangers or officials may not be aware of it and may approach your group. If this happens, politely explain that you have permission to be there, but offer to pack up and leave as a gesture of good will.
· Always leave your observing site completely clean. Leave no litter behind, and pack out your trash if there are no trash containers.
· Astronomers strive to maintain a good reputation with landowners and public officials. We can appear suspicious even when all we’re doing is observing, simply because we are out at night with weird-looking equipment. That is why I recommend that we go out of our way to let landowners and officials know exactly what we are doing.
· If you plan to bring children to a star party, be sure the event allows it. Some star parties are for serious observing and may frown upon bringing children. By contrast, other star parties are outreach events especially for kids, so please check.
· When bringing children, keep them in your observing area, and do not let them run around the observing site. There is a lot of expensive equipment to knock over or trip over in the dark, and it is not safe to allow kids to run around the site.
· Keep children as quiet as possible.
· No horseplay.
· If you enjoy listening to music while you observe, use headphones or keep the volume low. Other astronomers may not share your taste in music.
· Turn off your cell phone. When it rings, it may light up, which will destroy your dark-adapted vision.
· Most of all, have fun, and always respect the space and darkness of your fellow stargazers.

 

Click here for Meade LX-90 Telescope Setup Tips

LINKS

River Bend Astronomy Club

St. Louis Astronomical Society

Astronomical League