Dave Jessie wrote:

OK, I admit I haven't been to any of the major observing events that take
place annually around the country, or else I'd already know the answer to
this question. Perhaps some will remember a similar question I posed a
couple years ago about this matter. Anyhow, here goes...

What's the rules regarding smoking on the grounds where folks have set up
equipment? Our 57 year old astronomy club is, once again, arguing about
this - well, some members are.

We FINALLY posted 'No Smoking' signs in our observatory after much heated
debate - and lost some members over it. The rest of us are relieved to be
out of the smoke, I assure you.

Is it the general rule that there's NO SMOKING anywhere on the grounds of an
observing event??

I don't believe that my club has a written rule. But nobody smokes on
the observing field at our star parties, which are held in a county
park that is large enough to permit smokers to move some distance away
when they want to light up. In today's social climate that is
considered proper behaviour no matter what the occasion or venue. We
have bought a 10-ft dome that will house a restored antique refractor
for use in public outreach. Smoking will definitely be banned in the
observatory.

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com