We hold “star parties” for the general public almost every month. We have two main locations. They are, the Tulare County Department of Education’s Peña Planetarium and the Tulare Riverlands Trust Dry Creek Preserve.
If you plan on attending a star party there some things you need to know to make your experience more enjoyable.
1. Arrive before the designated time of the event, usually before twilight ends. It is very disconcerting to other observers if you arrive late and wash the crowd with your headlights. It takes twenty minutes for ones eyes to become dark adapted and only one second to destroy it.
2. If you are a visitor without a telescope, park in the parking lot. Do not drive up to the observing area.
3. Always bring a “red light” flashlight. Red light will save your dark-adapted eyesight. Please keep all flashlights out of the hands of children. They like to play with them, which becomes very annoying to the other attendees.
4. Closely supervise all children. This is not a play area. Only bring children who can understand and appreciate the stargazing experience. There is expensive equipment all over the star party area, with many trip hazards.
5. Never touch a telescope with you hands unless the technician instructs you how and where to touch. If the object is not centered or seems to be out of focus, let the technician know so the he can fix it for you.
6. Place you eye as close as possible to the eyepiece. Your eyebrow may gently touch the eyepiece.
7. Be carful walking around the telescopes. Be carful do not kick the tripod with your foot. If the telescope is computer controlled it will loose it’s alignment. The scope will need to be realigned in order to find objects.
8. Senior citizens and folks having breathing or walking difficulties, please beware that Dry Creek is a very dusty area and the walk up to the observing area can be difficult. It is a dirt road and not an even flat surface. Please be very careful and take plenty of time walking up the short hill. It is highly advisable to have someone accompany you holding your hand or arm for added support. And be very aware that walking down the hill in darkness can also be very difficult due to the uneven condition of the road.
