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??

Clear Dark Steady Skies,
Dave Jessie

I fight with the "assholes" in my club about this all the time to no avail -
and I am a smoker!!!!!!!!!!! Smoking in an observatory next to the
telescopes I have cleaned and maintained etc for years? Go somplace else. Im a
smoker and I dont do it! Smoking on the grounds next to people doing
astronomy? Have some damned manners and go off to
the side or into the woods! Why does this even require debate?

We have some who try and do bring their dogs and cats into our
observatories - I just go nuts but I get punished if I say a word. We
have another guy who insists on having his cigar at the eyepiece -
our Astronomique Extraordinaire Royale. We have another idiot
who actually tells his kids to **** in some corner of the building
vs going outside! ............... You name it - Ive seen it.

**** astronomy clubs and the ASSHOLES in them!

Iowa Astronomer.