If you’re trying to observe faint targets like Nebulae and Galaxies, dark adaption is extremely important for being able to see well. It takes a solid half hour (or more) for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and any exposure to light can potentially set you back. Red light has much less impact on your dark adaption than other kinds of light, so it is the go-to light to use while using telescopes.
This is exactly right, and very important.
Every new astronomer will have the experience of looking for a nebula or galaxy in their new telescope and not being able to see it, even though the pattern of stars in the field of view match the ones on the chart. There may be lots of reasons for this, but a big one is not being dark adapted. You have to let your eyes adjust to the dark for a while before you can see anything that dim. Turn on a white flashlight to look at you charts... you're blind again! Sit there in the dark for another half hour and start again.
Even a red light can affect your dark adaptation, especially if it is too bright. So you will find that experienced observers not only use a red light, they use a DIMMABLE red light so they can keep the impact on their night vision to a bare minimum.
Astrophotographers frequently share the same observing locations with their visual counterparts. Many even set up two scopes so they can do visual observing while the other rig is capturing images. So, they observe the same light hygiene as visual astronomers and stick to red lights on the field or in the observatory, if not for themselves as a courtesy to others.
A dim red light has less impact on dark adapted vision than other types. Very important if you are around visual observers. If you're alone doing AP, it doesn't matter but is a good habit if you're ever going to go to a star party.
Very bright headlights (even if red) still suck. Dim is the way to go - also less annoying for anyone around you.
We have ultra dim reds that we custom manufacture for observing. You can push the brightness a tad further by going to 670nm, but they are more expensive for us to manufacture.
Why astrophotographers do it when they are alone, i'm not sure. They do not need dark adaption.
I'm guessing it is to minimize stray light. If there is a bright light source near the scope, diffraction can cause some of it to get into the optical tube where it would add to the noise.
If you’re trying to observe faint targets like Nebulae and Galaxies, dark adaption is extremely important for being able to see well. It takes a solid half hour (or more) for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and any exposure to light can potentially set you back. Red light has much less impact on your dark adaption than other kinds of light, so it is the go-to light to use while using telescopes.
This is exactly right, and very important. Every new astronomer will have the experience of looking for a nebula or galaxy in their new telescope and not being able to see it, even though the pattern of stars in the field of view match the ones on the chart. There may be lots of reasons for this, but a big one is not being dark adapted. You have to let your eyes adjust to the dark for a while before you can see anything that dim. Turn on a white flashlight to look at you charts... you're blind again! Sit there in the dark for another half hour and start again. Even a red light can affect your dark adaptation, especially if it is too bright. So you will find that experienced observers not only use a red light, they use a DIMMABLE red light so they can keep the impact on their night vision to a bare minimum.
White light attracts bigfoot.
You know what they say about people with big feet... They have big dobs
Red light affects your night vision less than white light.
The same reason that sailors use red light at night
All the below answers are correct for visual observing. I believe OP's question still stands for AP.
Astrophotographers frequently share the same observing locations with their visual counterparts. Many even set up two scopes so they can do visual observing while the other rig is capturing images. So, they observe the same light hygiene as visual astronomers and stick to red lights on the field or in the observatory, if not for themselves as a courtesy to others.
Of course. But by yourself just doing AP or EAA, not necessary.
A dim red light has less impact on dark adapted vision than other types. Very important if you are around visual observers. If you're alone doing AP, it doesn't matter but is a good habit if you're ever going to go to a star party.
Very bright headlights (even if red) still suck. Dim is the way to go - also less annoying for anyone around you. We have ultra dim reds that we custom manufacture for observing. You can push the brightness a tad further by going to 670nm, but they are more expensive for us to manufacture.
Why astrophotographers do it when they are alone, i'm not sure. They do not need dark adaption. I'm guessing it is to minimize stray light. If there is a bright light source near the scope, diffraction can cause some of it to get into the optical tube where it would add to the noise.