Stargazing Outreach: The Focus Problem

[@Rustyzip53]

Good discussion to have Adam. I worked the Kitt Peak night programs before covid. Yes, when having groups of 20 to 30 people cycling through objects in a timely fashion is a dilemma. We would not get to the telescope till sometime after sunset. I would find a bright object, such as star, planet or moon and have them practice their viewing skills on that i.e. looking through the eyepiece properly and focus. As you show objects you can query the guest on what they are seeing to find out if they are focused. And every 3-4 guests check focus yourself. On particularly challenging objects I would use Sky Safari to show them how the object would look in a scope with a camera. That gave a wow factor to some folks. And it could give would also give you an opportunity to briefly explain how using camera's and integrating photons over time shows you so much more then your eyes can. Then you can explain why. This all helps fill in time and keeps things interesting for guests not looking through the scope. But in the end I think EAA is going to be the way to go.

[@AdamBlock]

Thank you for keeping the KP programs alive. The pandemic and fire really did them in... I hope they do start up again. 24 Years is a good run though. :)

[@Rustyzip53]

@@AdamBlock Thank you Adam. Right now I have not heard when public programs, day or night will start up. The Windows on the Universe project in the McMath Pierce is pretty far along so someday programs will restart..

[@wavo7]

Thank you for making this video Adam, it couldn't come at a better time as we're having our first public outreach/space camp for kids here in my rural town next week! These are all great things to remember.

[@AdamBlock]

Thank you so much for listening to me on the subject. It has been interesting to see so many people finding it interesting- I really thought very few would watch (listen) to this stuff.

[@outdegree]

Thank you! Just in time for the InOTMN which I will be doing for my child's class. I am glad I installed focus motor on my C8 a few months ago.

[@rickbria8420]

Thanks Adam, i’ve been doing public outreach at observatories since 1985. it’s funny how I learned all the same lessons… of course the hard way. I never had equipment damaged thankfully, but experienced everything else you’ve discussed. It’s great how you put all those lessons wrapped up in a single video. I show the group the object they are about to see on an iPad with the brightness dimmed all the way down. I explained it won’t have as much contrast as the picture, or the color, but it does give them a Visual starting point so we speak. if they don’t see it, I explain as you do, the centering of the eye and so on. Thanks again. Rick Bria

[@SeaLintAstro]

Great video series! Thank you for making these informative and helpful videos.

[@AdamBlock]

Thank you for watching.. I need to continue them.. but others are currently a priority

[@garylawson5381]

This video is of a rare quality to see. As an amateur astronomer with a couple decades of experience I wish I could have seen this video the last six years of my observing, so I learned on my own as time went on. Thank you so much for a finally useful and informative video.

[@AdamBlock]

Thanks Gary.

[@dvcpro200]

Great video, especially the part at 12:34 that human nature may affect others to enjoy the great view.

[@davidaylsworth8964]

I haven’t done public outreach in many years, but your point about there is only one focus point of objects through a telescope is something I would emphasise. I would encourage people wearing glasses to keep them on. Easier to do because I wear glasses too. This video is a good primer for those doing outreach.

[@AdamBlock]

Agreed. One of the nice things about this method- is that it doesn't force people to keep their glasses on... but I did encourage if they are able to.

[@georgeshoup4046]

I feel your pain on maintaining focus on the Meade SCT. I have a C11 with a similar focus gizmo. One issue is no movement index feature so one does not know the position of the mirror relative to full travel.

[@georgeshoup4046]

Another issue is long tube Newtonian scopes where folks stand on a ladder to look in the eyepiece. This should be avoided for many reasons

[@Desolator777]

Hi Adam, you mentioned that you let all the visitors look through the telescope in a row. How do you spend your time while they are doing so? I usually explain what they are looking at, what should be obvious, and what they can try to notice. However, it gets repetitive when I have to explain it again to every other person. Furthermore, those who are queuing for their turn also seem to lose interest and excitement over time. Do you have any tips on keeping those in the queue engaged? Regarding the focus problem: I have always focused the telescope to my eyes, which are corrected with glasses, and ask visitors to keep their glasses on. However, those with poor and uncorrected vision have never crossed my mind. It is quite embarrassing and humbling to realise that there could be hundreds of people (such as those with weak myopia but prefer to not wear glasses) across many years with a blurry view and I never did anything about it. I will be sure to take the Focus Problem into consideration the next time I have a session! A key difference between the stargazing sessions I have hosted and those at your observatory is that the visitors at my sessions flow through non-stop, while yours seem to be a large group that keeps together through the night. Some of the things you mentioned are difficult to implement for the flow-through kind of crowd, such as categorising their foci using a bright star and explaining many aspects of stargazing (how to look through the eyepiece, how focused objects should look like, etc). I think that adapting your lessons from observatory (constant big group) to sidewalk astronomy (flow-through) will be key for many of us!

[@AdamBlock]

Ah, the engagement thing and other logistics is the subject of another video of course. :) But a key here is the use of binoculars. Presenters explain what to see- what it is in the telescope as a group- but then for those waiting- point out things in binoculars with cool green lasers. Most effective, where possible, is to show the SAME thing in binoculars as the telescope- people will appreciate the idea of light gathering and magnification. Regarding the flow-through type experience...yes, I understand. However, I think some of these ideas can be modified to help this experience as well.

[@dvcpro200]

I am not sure why different people may have different focus. Is this because the person who set the focus may not set the near perfect focus? Suppose the person uses Bahtinov mask to set the focus, would it solve the focus problem?

[@AdamBlock]

Light coming out of the eyepiece will be parallel with perfect focus... BUT an eyeball... an imperfect one..will not focus these rays on the retina. It is an eyeball problem...and everyone's sucks. Does this answer your question?

[@GrnXnham]

The biggest problem that I've noticed at our public nights is when club members insist on using BINOVIEWERS with the general public! It Just Doesn't Work There are just too many adjustments on a binoviewer that have to be customized to each person and it's frustrating for a newbie to try to focus for both eyes using a binoviewer as well as set the interpupillary distance. I've seen many people who end up closing one eye and just use one side of the binoviewer because it's easier. I understand why people use the binoviewer. It's usually a new toy for them and they want to show it off. But there is a time and place for everything. Binoviewers should not be used at public outreach programs.

[@AdamBlock]

Yikes...I wouldn't have even though to do this bad idea. I agree with you...this goes against everything I am trying to explain in these videos! Please suggest your club members watch my videos. :)