TSP Rules

The Texas Star Party is well-known for restricting activity and banning all lights after sundown. This provides a unique opportunity for you to become fully dark-adapted and remain so while observing under the dark skies. The Ranch will be dark from Sunday night through the final Saturday night, giving seven nights with no lights on the Ranch. The following rules will be strictly enforced. We hope everyone will cooperate so that we can guarantee "star party dark" skies to each observer.

• Vehicle headlights, parking lights, tail and brake lights, and interior dome lights must remain extinguished.
• All RV, trailer, and camper lights must be extinguished, unless proper shielding is installed on all windows and doors to prevent light escaping. This includes excessive lighting from the interior of open-ended observing trailers, which will require either dark curtains or facing away from observers.
• Coleman-type lanterns, campfires, grills, and outdoor lighting are NOT permitted.
• All flashlights must be equipped with red filters and should be pointed toward the ground at your feet. Red cellophane or fingernail polish is useful. Dim RED lighting for reading starmaps and equipment illumination is allowed.
• Laser pointers and any other form of lighting is not permitted during dark out, as these interfere with the observing/astrophotography by other attendees.
• In the event you must give off some light, give a yell! A precious photograph could be saved with a little warning.

The lighting ban will be in effect when the sky is more than 10% clear. If it is raining, the ban will be lifted. If it is cloudy with the potential for clearing or there are some holes in the clouds, please keep white lights to a minimum to protect other people's dark adaptation. Drive only if you must and use normal headlights.

Exceptions to the ban may be provided to certain persons or vehicles only by consent of the TSP staff. Please understand that Ranch employees have business to conduct from time to time, but will keep driving to a minimum to avoid disturbance.

Driving in the dark is dangerous and can injure or kill people, damage telescopes and other property, none of which is yours to risk.
Normal headlights are justified in true medical emergencies.

For Late Arrivals and Non-Ranch Guests: The front gates of the Ranch are closed at 9:00 PM to restrict traffic and minimize disturbance to observers. DO NOT plan to arrive at night. Park your car outside the gates if you plan to leave during the night.

• Only telescope drive equipment, anti-dew gear, drive correctors, 6 watt or less bulbs, and 75 watt or less laptop computers may be connected to TSP power outlets.
• PERSONAL COMPUTERS and appliances such as hot-plates, coffee pots, fans, heaters, and refrigerators are NOT to be connected to TSP power outlets.
• Use LOW-HEAT setting on hair-dryers and avoid running yours when you hear another one being used nearby.

• Laptop computers or viewers (more than 75 watts) are not to be connected to TSP power cords.
• Display screens must be used at very low intensity (0.10 lux when measured 22" from center of screen displaying black starmap)
• Display screens should be covered with red material or sufficiently shielded so light from them will not disturb neighboring observers.
• If you plan to operate your PC or viewer from inside your tent or trailer, install proper shielding to prevent light from escaping.

There will be no tents (sleeping or storage) allowed in the middle of the observing fields. On the North Field, tents are permitted in marked areas of the field perimeters, but not blocking roadways/entrances.

Approved areas for setting up tents on the North field will be marked. A road through the field will also be marked. A map will be available at the Ranch Office. Do not leave cars parked on the observing fields, remove them as soon as you have loaded/unloaded.

We want to maximize the amount of telescope space available, prevent tents from blocking the horizon for telescopes, and to limit the possibility of injuries caused by tripping on tent/awning support ropes and spikes.

"Starwars" devices are permitted, however you are not allowed to point them at other people. Shoot the sky or nearby mountains by pointing your device above the ground (away from people). While playing with cooperative friends is fine, there are usually innocent (and unhappy) bystanders that get blinded. Obviously, these devices are not permitted during blackout.

Dogs are no longer permitted at TSP. This is due to persistent problems with uncontrolled barking, uncleaned messes (a problem in observing fields at night!), as well as Ranch rules banning dogs in rooms and public buildings. Our check of the local vet ads includes: Ft Davis Veterinary Services at 432-426-3086.

New Rule! There is no smoking of cigars nor pipes on any of the TSP observing fields after sunset.

New Rule! On the upper (main north) observing field, the south 1/2 of the field will be a Smoke-Free Zone (marked by a double white chalk line). Non-smokers can appreciate cleaner air by setting up in this area. Please do not smoke in this area after sunset.

The Ranch has also implemented a no-smoking policy for all buildings. If you smoke, please do so outside. Please clean up your cigarette butts from the ground and observing area around your telescope.

Now that you know the rules ... have fun!