Amateur Astronomy on Shell Key Shell Key is a favorite location for amateur & professional astronomers to to savor some of the darkest skies in this part of Florida.

Local Astronomy ...

Light polution in our area limits most amatuer astronomy to planetary and moon viewing. Unfortunately a wealth of nebulae, galaxies and dense star clusters are washed out by local light sources. As members of the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club, we are grateful to have access to this unique spot in our county.

Due to it's location at the tip of our peninsula, Shell Key has the darkest skies in Pinellas County. With the open gulf stretching from the northwest to the south, it is the last remaining place in the county where the Milky Way can be easily viewed with the naked eye down to sixth magnitude. The farthest object known to have been observed from Shell Key was Quasar 3C-273, which is over 2 billion light-years away, nearly one-fifth of the way across the universe.

In 1998, our group of local astronomers began a tradition of bi-annual "star parties" to take advantage of this unique location. See the column to the right for dates of upcoming events. Please contact SPAC member Jack Coletti for details about attending our events.

Star Party Etiquette...

• It is generally considered rude to use white lights at a star party. Red lights should be used sparingly. If for some reason you MUST use a white light and are neer observers, shout out a warning. One second of exposure to white light can ruin your night-adaptation for 15 minutes or more.
• Despite the above convention, Shell Key star parties are more informal than some . We often have a bonfire nearby - at a considerable distance from the telescopes - and with light barriers. After all, camping is half the fun..
• Never touch anyone else's equipment without permission. But don't be afraid to ask. Never touch any glass optical surface.
• It is always polite to avoid loud and boisterous behavior. However, at Shell Key star parties, we encourage acoustic musicians to bring their instruments and to play them.
• Don't litter - and observe all the preserve rules.
• Watch your step. Be especially careful of wires on the ground. Some scopes require power and some folks use a portable battery. Be doubly careful when astrophotographers are doing their thing.
• Don't set up too close to another observer. When in doubt, it's always a good idea to ask, "Is it OK if I set up here?" If your scope requires power try to make the wires as safe as possible.
• Remember that you are on a beach with the possibility of wind and sand. Telescopes should be well protected from the elements.

Some Images taken on Shell Key...

Jupiter00.JPG 320 X 240 8 KB	mars-082603-Final.jpg 427 X 246 17 KB
moon53.jpg 640 X 480 20 KB	saturn.jpg 320 X 233 11 KB

The Star Hopper
is our chariot to dark skies ...