"Star Watch" is a term amateur astronomers use for an evening get-together where we talk, look through telescopes, find new objects and enjoy each others company. Our public Star Watches are an opportunity for you to:

• Look through a variety of telescopes at planets, star clusters and galaxies and discuss what you are looking at with a knowledgeable person.
• Learn about the constellations - you don't need telescopes or binoculars for these.
• Ask questions about our solar system, cosmology, stars and many other subjects.
• Learn about telescopes, binoculars, books and software.

Our club is scheduled to conduct a total of seven public star watches in 2007 in two different New Jersey State Parks (Batsto Village and Bass River).  These are weather-permitting events so if the weather is questionable, call the park to see if the star watch has been cancelled. This information will also be posted on this web site at the bottom of the home page by 3:00pm of the afternoon of the star watch.

At Batsto Village, our telescopes will be in the field beside the visitors' center and attendees should park in the paved parking lot at the front of the visitor's center. At Bass River we will be located on the beach and attendees should park in the paved parking lot at the entrance to the beach facility. For directions to these two sites, see the menu at left.

Etiquette and safety - following a few simple rules will maintain an adequate level of safety and improve the general experience:

• Do not drive your vehicle near the telescopes. This area is dark and you might accidentally hit an attendee or astronomy equipment.
• Flashlights are welcome but keep them pointed at the ground. It takes time for your eyes to adapt to the dark so you can see the fainter objects in a telescope such as galaxies. Having someone shine their flashlight in your eyes will reduce your dark adaptation for awhile.
• Do not touch the telescopes. Not because you will damage any of the telescopes but you may move the telescope off the object it is aimed at and it takes time for the operator to reacquire the object.

• Cameras - it is ok to bring cameras but don't use a flash. If you wish, bring a tripod and one of our club members will show you how to image the night sky.

Also - don't forget to check the web sites of the other astronomy clubs in the Delaware Valley area - they frequently schedule as many or more star watches as we do and some may be much closer to you. You can find their web sites at Links.

-Lane