Dark Skies & Stargazing
Stargazing etiquette
When you share a dark site with other people, a few small courtesies keep the night good for everyone. They all come from one idea — and once you get it, the rest is easy.
The one golden rule
The one golden rule: white light is the enemy. A single bright phone or headlight wipes out everyone's hard-won night vision in an instant. Use red light only, and turn your phone to red night mode, dimmed all the way down.
Stargazers spend 20–40 minutes letting their eyes adapt to the dark, and one flash of white light resets the clock for everyone around them. That's why almost every rule of a shared dark site comes back to lighting. Get that one habit right and you'll be a welcome guest at any star party.
Kill your headlights and dome light
Kill your headlights and set your dome light to 'off' before you arrive, so you don't blind the people already set up.
Arrive and set up before dark
Arrive and set up before dark.
Ask before you look
Don't touch other people's telescopes — ask before you look.
Keep the noise down
Keep the noise down, and welcome kids and beginners.
Leave no trace
Leave no trace — pack out everything you bring.
The biggest courtesy of all
The biggest courtesy of all is reducing your own outdoor lighting at home (see Protecting the dark).. Aiming your own lights down, dimming them, and putting them on a timer gives the dark back to your whole neighborhood — every night, not just the ones you drive out for. Here's how to start: Protecting the dark.
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