Laptops at Dark Sites?

Hey All,
I'm just getting into imaging and I'm planning on hitting a dark site this weekend that is sponsored by a local club here (which I am not a member of...yet)

I'm trying to figure out what is the protocol for using a laptop while out at a dark site. Obviously the screen is a light source and a somewhat powerful one at that. I plan on dimming the screen prior to even going out there but it's still a significant source of white light. Should I just leave the laptop in the car and not bother with it? Or is this kind of thing pretty normal?

I've looked over the club rules as well as the dark site's protocol but it says nothing about laptops...just that white light should be kept to an absolute minimum.

Thanks,
Jared

Jared,

Depends a lot on the club and conditions.

As for me and mine--An unfiltered laptop screen is verboten anywhere I have been at a dark sky site. This is true even for those with the screen dimmed, and even when on "Night Vision Mode." And this is true even if on for "only a couple of minutes."

At some, you can get by with a heavy red filter over the dimmed (and probably in night vision mode) laptop screen. But even here, it is good to have a box with three cardboard sides, a top, and an opaque cloth to hang down when you are not actually viewing....And keep viewing to a minimum.

You will know a lot more when you get to the site and see what other people are doing. But I would suggest that unless everyone else has lit up their laptops you keep yours in the car.

Perhaps there will be an area set aside for imagers and laptop users. I have heard that happens in some places.

And perhaps it won't matter at all---But I doubt it.

At any rate, it is best to see what others are doing, and ask before doing it.

Alex

Laptops are a big nuisance in dark sky parties. I've seen a couple up at Pinos that were light beacons and despite complaints, one guy with a big tak left it on no matter what. The best shielding I've seen is used by Floyd Blue and perhaps he will chime in here. You can use a red screen and cut a cardboard box to provide side covers which is a big source of stray light from laptops.

Jared Wellman said:

Hey All,
I'm just getting into imaging and I'm planning on hitting a dark site this weekend that is sponsored by a local club here (which I am not a member of...yet)

I'm trying to figure out what is the protocol for using a laptop while out at a dark site. Obviously the screen is a light source and a somewhat powerful one at that. I plan on dimming the screen prior to even going out there but it's still a significant source of white light. Should I just leave the laptop in the car and not bother with it? Or is this kind of thing pretty normal?

I've looked over the club rules as well as the dark site's protocol but it says nothing about laptops...just that white light should be kept to an absolute minimum.

Thanks,
Jared

Keep it dim, red and shielded from the view of the folks around you. How do you do that? By doing all of the below.

1. If the program you are using has a night vision mode, turn that on.

2. Whether it does or not, cover the display with a piece of Rubylith or a Sight-saver.

3. Reduce the brightness of the display until it is no brighter than absolutely necessary.

4. make a little three-sided enclosure. I used the vinyl sign material politicians use for yard signs (available online).

If you are using a planetarium program it may have a night vision mode. I use the The Sky6,it has a mode which turns the screen into a nice,soft Red. Other programs may have something similar.

Jason

Jared, 2 things I would personally recommend...

1. Get a sheet of Rubylith, and that will take care of the laptop screen.
2. Get a large plastic container (big enough for your laptop to fit in), and cut holes for your wires to go through. It will keep Dew & Bugs away from your laptop, and it will also help control the light...


Clear skies! 8)

Attached Image:

Thanks for all the info! It turned out to not be a big deal. I ended up setting up towards the end and turned the laptop so that it wasn't facing everyone else. A couple of the other guys had laptops setup and even in the main observatory there were a couple of laptops. I'm sure it depends on who all is out there and what they're doing though.

Saturday was a public star party and I was one of just a couple of people that had setup their own telescope.

I'm just getting into imaging but I got a couple of pretty decent shots. Especially considering that this was the first time I had imaged with my dSLR.

Thanks again for all the info! I'll be getting one of those red screens and building something to keep the dew off the laptop.

Here are some shots from this weekend:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/averen1/sets/72157612700705165/

Jared