dkself wrote:
With regards to binocular mounts, here's a suggestion, they automatically adjust to different heights. http://www.telescope.com/Orion-Paragon-Plus-Binocular-Mount-and-Tripod/p/5379.uts?keyword=binocular%20mounts
With that said, I live in the small town of Marathon, Texas located in the Big Bend Region of SW Texas. We have the distinction of being an established community under a Class 1 Dark Sky. We recently acquired a 24" Dobsonian donated to the school district from McDonald Observatory. What we need are astronomy enthusiasts to help us with star parties etc. If y'all know of anyone interested, please let us know!
I can be contacted through www.marathontexas.com or www.marathonmotel.com
Hope the suggestion helps!
That rig is a bit pricy but similar to one my late friend, and Star Party pad neighbor, Steve Kufeld, Telrad developer, used with his binos. See the 11th post in the thread. Not really worth the money unless you have some expensive and heavy duty optics like he did.
You show Midland as home in your profile. Have you moved? Just wondering. I know that area.
There are Star Parties and there are "Star Parties". The first is when it's knowledgeable people who gather together and set up their telescopes in a dark place have have their own plan for the evening, as in my post #11 mentioned above. The other is when you are trying to entertain and enlighten, even recruit, the uninitiated. My assumption is that it is the latter that you asking about.
For the first, in that area, you just need remote property that you can use, legally and a weekend nearest the new moon. For the second, you have to think it through a bit. Few are going to want to traipse off into the middle of nowhere to look at bright spots in the sky. You need to find as dark a location as you can that is close to town. This time, you probably don't want a New Moon.
A young waxing moon is a good start. It's, obviously, closer and more familiar. But, it also allows them to see the Sun rising on the crater walls and peaks. This amazes everyone and is mesmerising. (It got my wife interested in astronomy!) Next move to the planets. You have to go with what is visible but, honestly, if it's not Saturn or Jupiter, they won't be all that impressed. Venus, maybe, if you can show that it has phases like the Moon. If Saturn or Jupiter are visible, check to see if there will be any eclipses or occultations.
Binary stars and Star Clusters are probably next. Albireo would certainly be my first choice for newbies, but you need to bone up on them since questions will be asked. ;) With the 24", you can move out to galaxies, my favorite. Of course, there is my favorite star, and yours, the Sun. That's really where a real star party starts. Then you eat some BBQ and settle in for the nightly show. :D
Clear skies!
LS
ETA: BTW, if you are recruiting, tease them. Get them interested in the Moon, then tell them that next month it will be the planets. Then Star Cluster, etc. The idea is to hook them into delving deeper into the night. Remember, a lot of people get frightened thinking of the vastness of "out there". They may need to be introduced slowly. Don't push.
