Kim, that's the exact reason that when I first got semi-serious about astrophotograpy, I made the decision that all imaging sessions devoted to deep-sky subjects would be done outside of the star-party venue. Even the term "star party" denotes a social occassion and once you get several people with varying agendas at an observing site, you lose control of your immediate environment. Lasers and flashlights aside, it also just gets too distracting. Star-parties- public or private- are generally not the place for any serious observational astronomy or data taking, most of the time. Even at a dark-sky site, a star party to me means that the social aspect is just as important, or more so, than pristine skies. Many "serious" amateurs do their important work solo, or those that they "star party" with share thier needs for darkness and lack of distraction. They talk at break time; lasers are not needed and red flashlights are kept discreet and un-noticed. You're not going to get that lucky with a come-one, come-all astronomical society star party in a national park. I now think that if one is at a star-party at a national park or monument, or on public land in general at a publicized event, one can reasonably expect to have to put up with annoying distractions. There's really no such thing as a "private" star party on public land, unfortunately, especially if it's publicized and a lot of beginners are in attendance. I've bitched about it myself and just got criticized for it, so it goes. I do feel sorry that your experience was compromised- I've been there myself and just decided to put the camera away, of necessity. On 9/10/07, Kim <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
At the group site in Capitol Reef I/we easily saw the gegenschien at the anticipated position. Unfortunately there were so many green lasers and much-too-bright red flashlights that I realized that trying to photograph it would be futile. (Note to self: write a letter to the Nova editor about private star party etiquette.)