RASC Ottawa Centre schedules several star parties throughout the summer. Some of these will be cancelled because of poor weather or cloud, but several usually survive. They are open to the public and free, and you are invited to attend. This article will give you an idea what to expect.

Why?

Why Attend Star Parties?

A Star Party is an evening event where several amateur astronomers will set up several telescopes, at a reasonably dark location, and allow visitors to view celestial objects through their scopes. For many, star parties are RASC Ottawa Centre's "premier events".

By attending a star party, you will have an opportunity to talk with a number of amateur astronomers, and to see, discuss, and try out a variety of telescopes of different designs and sizes, observing a variety of beautiful celestial objects. This is a great way to introduce yourself, a friend, or a child, to the observing hobby. It is an especially good idea to visit a star party and see a number of telescopes in action before you invest in equipment of your own.

Plan to attend several star parties. You'll find they are very enjoyable, and that the objects you can observe change with the seasons.

Why Pinhey's Point?

RASC Ottawa Centre's regular star parties are held at Pinhey's Point, which is near the Ottawa River, in the West end of Ottawa. Pinhey's Point is a good site for public-oriented star parties. It has reasonably dark skies, yet is easy to access, being just outside the built-up city limits, and it features parking and washroom facilities. A site like Pinhey's Point is not dark enough to be a location where serious amateurs would travel to do their own serious observing, but it is darker than the average urban location from which you get a good sky view (parks and parking lots). Especially if you have rarely or never looked through a telescope, you'll be able to have a good experience at this easy-to-reach site.

Note that Pinhey’s Point is a heritage site and park owned and operated by the City of Ottawa museums department. RASC has permission to use this site in return for agreeing to obey certain restrictions and rules of use. Please help us to be welcome users of this site by reviewing these rules.

Who Can Attend?

The public is welcome at our star parties, as are amateur astronomers of all experience levels, with or without telescopes. You do not have to be a RASC member to attend, and you do not have to register in advance. Just show up.

If this is your first star party, however, you should be aware of some rules designed to keep the site safe and to protect the dark-adapted "night vision" of our participants. The rest of this document will outline these rules - please read them.

Where and When

We usually tentatively schedule two parties per month in June through August. Several of these will be cancelled due to weather, so there may end up being perhaps three or four events through the summer. The events are always on a Saturday evening, from dusk until midnight.

During the summer, the schedule is published on our events page, and will also be announced to members on our mailing list. During the summer we will also try to keep "go/no-go" announcements posted on our home page.

If in doubt, drop by on the tentative dates if it's clear - we are probably there.

How to Get There

To get to Pinhey's point by car, drive to the March Road exit on highway 417, and

• Head North on March Road.
• In about 8 kilometres turn right onto Dunrobin road.
• Immediately turn right again onto Riddel Drive.
• In 4 kilometres Riddel veers left and changes its name to 6th Line Road. Keep going on 6th line.
• In another 4.5 kilometres turn right at the sign onto Pinhey Point Road.
• Drive up this gravel road until you reach a parking lot on the right, just before an old barn. Park there, and then
• walk another 100 metres up the road to the observing area, a set of grass-covered hills on the other side of that old barn.

Warning: you are driving through a rural area. When you return home later, in the dark, you will almost certainly encounter wildlife (deer, raccoons, porcupines, or skunks) on the road, so be alert and don't drive faster than your headlights can see.

Parking

If parking is full and you need to park closer in, feel free to do so -- this event is for you. However, if possible, park with your car facing out of the site so you can get in and drive away without your headlights shining at the observers.

Arrival Time

You are welcome at any time, but we suggest you try to arrive at, or just before, dusk. Then you can learn your way around the site while you can still see. And, again, we'd prefer to minimize the number of headlights coming in after dark.

Generally the astronomers pack up about midnight.

Visitors: How to Participate

What to Expect

On three large grassy knolls, from five to a dozen or more amateur astronomers will have their equipment set up. There will be a number of telescopes of many designs, shapes, and sizes. Each will be operated by its owner, who will be finding and observing their favourite objects of the season. You are welcome to visit, chat, look through the telescopes, and discuss both the sky and the equipment.

What to Bring

It will be fairly dark - there are few streetlights, and the astronomers use no lights, or very dim red lights, to see what they are doing. This is important - your eyes need to remain in the dark to adjust properly. So please don't "help out" by bringing a bright flashlight. It's neither needed nor welcome. You can use a dim red flashlight (available at astronomy, sporting goods, and hardware stores) to help you navigate the area. Red light has the least damaging effect on night vision.

It will probably be cool, and might be damp. Even on a hot summer day, you will be surprised how chilly it gets when standing still at night, so dress warmer than you think necessary. We recommend long sleeves, pants, and possibly a light jacket.

It will probably also be buggy, so you will want insect repellant. Please be careful when applying it - don't use a spray anywhere near the telescopes, as the chemicals can damage the delicate coatings on the lenses.

If you own a decent set of binoculars, bring them along. You will be surprised what you can see with a dark sky and some guidance.

If you want to bring your camera, please turn off the flash.

Rules and Etiquette

Lights

The most important rule is one you've already heard us mention. No white lights in the observing area please. A dim red light is acceptable.

Being Careful

You'll be walking around, in the dark, among some sensitive and delicate equipment, so please move slowly and be careful.

• Please don't handle or adjust any equipment unless the owner is present. Better, even then, to let them adjust it.
• Never touch any glass surfaces (lenses, mirrors, or eyepieces).
• Don't smoke or spray any chemicals near the telescopes.
• Avoid kicking up dust on the road with vehicles or feet.
• Some of the telescopes may be very tall, and may require climbing a ladder. Be careful and keep an eye on your children.

Children

Your children are welcome - we hope the experience may interest them in science and Astronomy. However, please keep them with you and under control at all times. There are woods, hills, cliffs, and a river nearby, and there are few lights.

Don't give your kids regular flashlights - it's just too much fun to turn them on and wave them around. Dim red lights are OK but, even then, ask them to point them at the ground and not at the people.

Pets

Please leave your pets at home. This is not the place for them - it's pitch dark, and there will be a crowd of people with varied opinions on pets. And there is a lot of sensitive and delicate equipment standing around.

If you must bring a pet, keep it closely leashed (not on a long retractable leash) and under complete control at all times. You may think he's the best dog in the world, but when he knocks over that $15,000 telescope you're going to have an awkward conversation with the owner.

Visit and Chat

By all means visit all the telescopes, chat with the owners, look at what they are showing, and ask questions. These parties are for you; you are not inconveniencing or interrupting us. Plan to cycle by each telescope several times - most operators will show more than one object as the night goes on.

Remember that the operators are volunteers who have brought their own equipment out on their own time. They are not paid performers. So please be patient and polite.

Astronomers: How to Participate

Anyone is welcome to come out with their telescope too. Just show up before dark so you can be set up before night falls.

Beginners to Astronomy are welcome - in fact, encouraged. Come out before you buy a telescope, or with the new telescope you just bought. There is no expertise required, you'll have fun, and other members will be pleased to help you better understand how to operate your equipment. If you do want help setting up, then come extra early. Others will be pleased to help you, but they will also want time to set up their own gear before dark.

Bring everything you are likely to need, as there is nothing available on site. Bring your own power, table, chair, water, and so on.

Check your proposed setup location with your nearest neighbour, just to be sure you aren't in the line of sight of some low object they were hoping to observe. And by introducing yourself to them, you'll have a buddy to help watch your gear if you need a break for washroom or car.

Plan to stay for the whole event. If you must leave early, follow the above parking guidelines for visitors to keep your headlights out of the observing area. And if you are the second-last person to leave, make sure the final person you are leaving behind knows they are alone.

Finally, remember these star parties are for the public.

• Expect visitors and welcome them.
• Bring a step stool or step ladder to allow shorter people or children to reach the eyepiece. (Ladders and stools with handles are best because children can hold the stool, not your scope, to steady themselves.)
• Don't expect perfect dark-site behaviour; people will make mistakes with lights.
• Don't plan on doing serious imaging. There will be lights, laser pointers, etc., and you are not allowed to be irritated when a delighted child with a flashlight accidentally ruins your photo.

For more thoughts on preparing for and enjoying public outreach astronomy, see this article.