Directions for Telescope Captain

The Telescope Captain is in charge of assuring the stargazing portion of the event goes well.

General Responsibilities

• Train Telescope Volunteers in how to use the telescopes a day or two before the event night
• Plan and execute the telescope observing
• Pick out the target objects and assign them to the Telescope Volunteers
• Coordinate directly with the Lecture Captain before and during the event
• Help set up all telescopes being used
• Oversee the stargazing event, directing attendees, answering questions, and solving problems
• Close the telescopes down at the end of the event and return telescopes to Erika's office (Cahill 147)
• Answer attendee questions on astronomy, physics and science
• Positively represent the University, the Department, and our profession

Week Prior to the Lecture

• Plan what targets will be observed. Use the observational resources page for ideas. Is there a target that ties into the lecture topic?
• Study Observational Resources and know basic facts about the targets that will be observed: size, distance, age, phenomenon, etc.
• Contact the Telescope Volunteers to set up telescope training, and remind them they signed up.

Telescope Training -- No longer necessary

• The plan for what is going to happen at the stargazing event
• Where the telescopes are stored
• How to move the telescopes to the field
• How the telescopes work
• How to point the telescopes at a desired target using the finder
• How to focus the telescopes
• How to find the right eyepiece for different targets
• What targets you'll all observe at the stargazing event (see Observational Resources)
• What roles each Telescope Volunteer will have: one person on each telescope, extra volunteers answering questions of attendees waiting in line
• How to close up telescopes, turn off finder, put away
• Advanced: How to use Intelliscope on 10" Dob to point at faint objects
• Telescope Volunteers are expected to arrive at lecture start time to move and set up telescopes
• Volunteers should study Observational Resources and know basic facts about the targets they will observe: size, distance, age, phenomenon, etc.

Day Prior to the Lecture (or earlier)

• Look at the weather forecast. Will you be able to observe? Communicate with Lecture Captain so they know what to announce at the lecture.
• Contact the Lecture Captain. Exchange phone numbers so that he/she can text message you can update them with an observing status during the lecture if necessary.
• Make sure you have access to get telescopes from Erika's Office (Cahill 147)

At Lecture start

• Get badges and tally counter
• Gather telescopes from Erika's office and move them to north athletic fields.
• Get key from Lecture Captain opening up the North Field gate.
• Open the North Field gate, leave lock unlocked, and return key to athletics director in gym.
• Bring eyepiece case along with any necessary filters, green laser pointer, barlows, etc.
• Help Telescope Volunteers set up telescopes in the field so that they're pointed at the targets
• Text message the Lecture Captain what the weather conditions are and if you're going to observe (if uncertain)

30 Minutes after Lecture begins (NOT when the lecture ends)

• Greet people who arrive at the field, answer questions and direct them to the three telescopes. Use tally counter to count how many visitors we get.
• IMPORTANT: Make sure no one comes on the field with food, drinks, smoking, pets, or trash. No high heels or canes that could puncture the turf. If we don't obey these rules, we get banished from the fields! Be a hard ass!

Two Hours after Lecture

• Thank the visitors for coming and announce that the event is over.
• You and your volunteers should shutdown the telescopes.
• Assure all Telrads are off, eyepieces put away, lens caps on, etc.
• Help telescopes, and eyepiece cases back to Erika's Office (Cahill 147)
• Leave badges and necklaces and tally counter in Erika's office.
• Discuss with the Lecture Captain if there were any highlights, problems, suggestion for running more efficiently next time
• Give Lecture Captain tally of how many attendees there were
• If you are the last one into Erika's office. Lock the door!