Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton
Washington Crossing Observatory Guide

first draft 1/2000 K. Alexander, revised 7/2000 W. J. Murray, revised 1/2001 R.A. Parker

 

Keyholder Duties

Along with the privilege of having full access to the AAAP’s telescopes and observatory facilities, all keyholders must participate in the AAAP’s public observing programs as outlined below, and are expected to contribute to occasional maintenance and work sessions at the observatory.

 

Each keyholder will be assigned to a public observing duty team of approximately four keyholders. Each team will have one team leader. The leader and his/her team will have full responsibility for operation of the observatory and for public interactions during the public observing sessions. Each team will pull duty on a rotating schedule of the designated public observing nights. The current public night schedule consists of the first and last Friday nights of each month from March to November, plus each Friday night in May and October. The latter are joint AAAP-New Jersey State Planetarium observing sessions with relatively large groups. The schedule is published in the SIDEREAL TIMES and on the club’s website (princetonastronomy.org).

·         The observatory will be open each scheduled public night when there is a reasonable chance for clear or even partly clear skies. When conditions are uncertain, phone your team leader regarding status.

·         If you cannot make a scheduled public night, it is your responsibility to contact your team leader in advance if possible, or the observatory chairman if the former cannot be reached. You must arrange for your own substitute if one is needed.

 

KEYHOLDER PUBLIC NIGHT DUTY IS MANDATORY.  IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH KEYHOLDER TO KNOW THE DUTY SCHEDULE AND HIS/HER DUTY NIGHTS.  Persistent absenceS from duty nights WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF KEYHOLDER PRIVILEGES.

 

Dealing with the Public

Keyholders are ambassadors of the AAAP to the public. Patience must be exercised and respect shown when responding to the various questions and situations that arise when public is on the premises. Be prepared to direct the flow of people through the observatory and the grounds when there are large groups. Be aware of traffic and the status of parking to maintain good control. 

 

Keyholders are expected to be knowledgeable about astronomy and our equipment, and to be able to communicate basic astronomical and telescope principles to the public. Use the opportunity to educate and entertain as appropriate for the audience. Communicate the need for control of light pollution, for example, point out that homeowners can minimize outdoor lighting.

 

It is suggested that the observing team agree in advance on a list of desirable objects to show the public (refer elsewhere for suggested talking points for topics to raise). These should include a mix of the best Messiers plus planets and moon as appropriate. Since many people stay for only a brief period, it is advisable to rotate through a list of prime objects a few times during a night’s session.  

 

If non-members arrive at the observatory on non-public nights, keyholders should briefly describe the observatory and point out the public observing schedule. Always be polite in turning away visitors. It is your option to provide a few observations to public under these circumstances.

 

Gate Opening Procedure

There are three locked gates between RT 579 (Bear Tavern Rd) and the observatory in Washington Crossing Park. Recent security problems in the park dictate that the following procedures be followed at all times by all keyholders. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF KEYHOLDER PRIVILEGES.

 

Each gate is secured in an identical fashion:  a length of chain is run through the gate latch with the park’s lock on one end and the AAAP’s lock on the other end. When securing a gate it is to be locked only in this way. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LOCK ANY GATE BY ATTACHING THE AAAP’S LOCK DIRECTLY TO THE GATE LATCH—THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE STATE PARK RANGERS 

 

If a keyholder enters the park to use the observatory on any night other than a designated public night all three gates are to be secured upon entering the park and after leaving the park. The gates must not be left open. It is also not sufficient to close the gate but leave the lock on the chain unlocked or locked with one number shifted for easy egress from the park after an observing session is finished. The gate must be locked and the numbers spun on the lock so that anyone who comes by cannot easily guess the combination and gain access to the park. This procedure must be applied to all three gates. It is not sufficient to lock the RT 579 gate but leave the other two open, all gates must be locked.

 

The only deviation from the above procedure is if there are campers in the park, especially in campsite D near the last gate. The campers need access to the park and therefore the first two gates must be left open. However, the last gate must always be secured on a non-public night. It is the duty of the first keyholder to enter the observatory on a given night to note the state of the gates and communicate this information to any other keyholders who arrive at the park later. If you plan to stay at the observatory later than the keyholder who first opened the observatory, make sure that you find out the status of the gates before he/she leaves.

 

On designated public nights all three gates may be left open to facilitate entry of the public to the park. However, all gates must be locked and secured no later than 11:30 PM. This means that if there are still members of the public present at the observatory who do not wish to leave by 11:30 PM they will be locked in the park until a keyholder leaves and secures the gate(s) behind him/her. At 11:30 PM a keyholder must leave the observatory to secure and lock all three gates.  (If there are campers in the park only the last gate needs to be locked and secured.)

 

If during entry you are stopped by a park ranger or (on non-public nights, particularly off-season) by township or State police, identify yourself as a member of the AAAP and assure the police that you have authority from the Washington Crossing State Park to be on the premises. Always be polite if you are stopped.

 

We realize that the above procedures will be an inconvenience to many keyholders, but they must be followed if we are to maintain the good will of the park administration.

Parking at the Observatory

On nights other than public observing nights, keyholders are free to drive back to the observatory on the gravel driveway and park there. The unlocked gate at the entrance to the gravel driveway will normally be closed to prevent the public from driving back to the observatory. It should be closed when a keyholder is leaving the park after finishing an observing session.

 

On public nights, the gravel driveway is reserved for off-loading equipment by AAAP members. If there are only a few such members they are free to park near the observatory. However, if a large number of AAAP members bring scopes then the on-duty keyholders should restrict driveway parking, allowing people to drive back to unload and pack up equipment only.

 

Parking on other park roads is restricted to parking along the side of the road in front of the observatory, but not on the gravel shoulder or on any grassy area. This restriction applies to all AAAP members as well as the public. People parking on park roads should attempt to park as far over on the side of the road as they can without parking on the shoulder in order to not block road access.

 

When large groups of people are expected at the observatory, such as on planetarium nights, the public should be directed to park in the grassy field near the last gate and walk over to the observatory. These situations should be planned in advance by the duty team along with the leaders of the public groups (teachers, planetarium staff, etc).

 

Opening the Observatory

 

Setup -- Telescope - C14/Paramount

Setup -- Telescope - Refractor

 

Setup -- Computer

§         double-click on the time counter in lower right of screen

§         adjust settings to about 30 seconds ahead of electronic clock

§         watch electronic clock and click on "Apply" when time matches your setting

 

 

Operation

 

Shutdown -- C14/Paramount

 

Shutdown – Refractor

 

Return Refractor to its initial horizontal Position

Turn off and Un-plug mount

Return eyepiece to case

Re-Install bungy cords to keep scope in position

Re-Install Lens caps on scope and finderscope

 

Closing the Observatory