How to prepare for your evening of star gazing - Rotary Club of Cameron Park Observatory

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Observatory - How to prepare for your evening of viewing

Current Status:

The observatory is now open to the public. Press Here for further details.

There are many things you can do to prepare for your visit to the Cameron Park Community Observatory that will make your visit even more enjoyable. Dressing appropriately for the weather conditions is the most important and that subject is covered extensively in the web page entitled How to dress for your evening of viewing.

If you have binoculars, bring them along. They are great for looking at the Moon and can be used to find several other deep sky objects such as galaxies. Binoculars are also good for looking at comets. If you have a small telescope, you may bring it to the Observatory. There is room outside the building for you to set it up. If you have a larger, heavy telescope, be aware that there is an uphill hike of about 500 feet to the Observatory from the parking lot. There is no road access for the general public to the Observatory and heavy objects will be difficult to carry. Consider a small wagon or garden cart to help you get your telescope from your car to the Observatory.

If you have star charts and astronomy books, bring some of them along too. While the Observatory has a good reference library, you will have a good opportunity to learn how to use your own materials if you bring them along.

Bring drinks and/or snacks along, particularly hot drinks on cold winter nights. However, keep in mind that this is school property and no alcoholic beverages are ever allowed.

Our Observatory is fully accessible to our disabled visitors. There is parking right at the Observatory for the disabled. See the guide in the main parking lot if you need access to disabled parking.

WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun. Do not look at the Sun with your naked eye. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope or with any other type of magnification. Doing so will instantly cause severe eye damage or blindness. Even if the Sun seems dimmed by clouds, fog, or is near Sunrise or Sunset, looking directly at it will cause severe eye damage or blindness. Do not attempt to look at the Sun through dark glasses or other dark glass. Doing so will instantly cause severe eye damage or blindness.

There is only one exception to this rule. During daylight hours, our Observatory staff may have set up our telescopes to view the Sun. Those telescopes have a special Sun viewing safety filter placed over the lens so that the Sun will not damage your eyes.

Note: All of the information on this web page is tentative and represents what we think will be the plan on this subject once the Observatory opens in the summer of 2006.