A dark-sky site is a shared resource. Your eyes need half an hour to adapt, and one white headlight can undo that for a dozen people at once.
Arrive before sunset
Set up while there is still light. If you must arrive late, park with your headlights pointed away from the group and use parking lights only. Turn off the interior dome light before opening the door. Most conflicts at star parties are caused by a late arrival, not by bad intent.
Red light, low and dim
Use a red flashlight with the lowest setting that works. Hold it low and point it at the ground. Phone screens are the usual offender: set a red filter, lower the brightness, and avoid checking messages in the middle of an observing field.
Ask before you point
A green laser can be useful for pointing out a constellation, but it can also ruin an astrophotographer's exposure. Ask first, keep it brief, and never sweep it across the field. If someone is imaging, assume they are mid-exposure.
Keep the site better than you found it
Take every piece of packaging and every used battery home. Do not move picnic tables or build fires outside designated rings. Close gates. If the site has a permit or a curfew, follow it; access is usually granted because observers have been reliable guests.
Share the view
If someone wanders over and asks what you are looking at, show them. A short look at Saturn converts more people than a lecture. Keep the ladder steady, warn them about the step, and let them take their time.
Sources and review
Updated October 21, 2026. Date-sensitive details can change.