Frequently Asked Questions

What will I see?

A variety of night sky objects will be visible. Exactly what is offered to view depends upon the time of year and the seeing conditions during our session. Often, we can view some of the planets that share our solar system. Then, there are the deep sky objects. Some of them like nebulae, supernova remnants, stars and star clusters, are within the Milky Way Galaxy while other objects are much more distant.

What do these objects look like?

To the human eye, celestial objects appear very different than what one might expect based upon images from the Hubble Space Telescope or books. Our vision is not very sensitive to dim objects. Deep sky objects like nebulae and other galaxies have a subtle, almost ethereal quality challenging the limits of our perception.  Planets and many stars on the other hand, will reveal color views and are sure crowd pleasers. There is nothing like the thrill of seeing the rings of Saturn in “real time”!!

What kind of equipment do you use?

My main telescope for night sky tours is a 20 inch (.51 meter) aperture Newtonian Reflector. It collects over 5,000 times more light than the unaided human eye. When pointed straight up, it is taller than most people, but one or two steps up on my sturdy contractor's ladder brings the eyepiece within easy reach.

For larger groups I bring along additional telescopes ranging from 4 to 8 inches aperture. Having extra equipment to view through allows me to acquire more than one object at a time and gives my guests a “smorgasbord” of the sky.

When do the tours start and how long do they last?

Tour start times vary with the season. In winter, I may begin about 7:30PM. But, in summer I may have to wait until almost 9:30PM before it is dark enough. When possible, I like to continue with the Night Sky Tours as long as folks are interested  and want to keep viewing. Generally, I find that folks seem satisfied after about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Do you provide transportation?

No, I do not provide transportation. My main dark sky site is located 15 miles south of Santa Fe along the Turquoise Trail New Mexico Scenic Byway (NM State Hwy 14). Since most folks rent a car after arriving in Albuquerque, this issue is usually not a problem. Plus, because each party has their own car, they can choose to leave when they are ready rather than wait for a group departure via bus or van. 

I need directions to the dark sky site. How do I get there?

Once your booking has been confirmed with payment, I send on a comprehensive set of driving directions. 

What is your background?

I have been a student of the sky since childhood. I believe that because my astronomy knowledge is from a "grass-roots" level it makes what I share with people at my night sky tours more accessible, interesting and fun. My approach to astronomy is that the night sky belongs to all of us. It is not just for the highly trained and educated professional scientists to explore. Anybody can experience the magic of the heavens. All one needs to do is look up.

How large a group will I be observing with?

As people contact me with dates in mind, I request that they be open to observing with other folks who may be visiting Santa Fe around the same time.  I try and keep observing groups to a manageable size (4-10 people, if possible) so that everybody gets enough eyepiece time. I find that if the party is too small, the 'juicy' questions may remain unasked. If you are interested in booking tour exclusively or for a special occasion, please let me know. A supplemental charge may apply. I reserve the right to cancel a guided night sky tour if there are fewer than 4 people booked. 

The weather doesn’t look promising for a tour tonight. Are you still going ahead as scheduled?

Absolutely!! I keep a very close watch on weather and sky conditions. Often what looks threatening and overcast during daytime rapidly clears up soon after nightfall. Even if conditions aren’t ideal, we can often view through gaps between the clouds. In the unlikely event there is severe weather expected, I will be in touch to cancel or reschedule the tour.

 THE ONLY OTHER THING YOU NEED TO BRING ALONG IS A HEALTHY SENSE OF

 CURIOSITY AND WONDER.

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**A NOTE ABOUT COLD**

OUR MOUNTAIN CLIMATE CAN BE QUITE COOL IN THE EVENING HOURS, EVEN DURING THE SUMMER! COME PREPARED AND BE READY TO DRESS PROPERLY. USE LAYERS SO THAT YOU CAN ADD OR REMOVE JACKETS, SWEATERS, ETC. AS CONDITIONS CHANGE.  

I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE NEED FOR WARM CLOTHING. BECAUSE OUR TOURS ARE OUTDOORS, GUESTS ARE SUBJECTED TO THE WHIMS OF WIND AND WEATHER. DURING OUR OBSERVATIONS WE DO NOT MOVE AROUND VERY MUCH. THIS FACTOR MAKES US MUCH MORE VULNERABLE TO CHILLING DOWN AND GETTING COLD.

IF YOU GET TOO COLD, YOU MAY FIND YOUR DISCOMFORT TO BE A DISTRACTION AND IT MAY PREVENT YOU FROM ENJOYING OUR TIME TOGETHER. PLEASE DRESS PROPERLY.

Send mail to peter@astronomyadventures.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Unless otherwise noted, all content is © 2003-2008 Peter Lipscomb
Last modified: August 17th, 2008