Things I learned at the 'Scopes
Get lots of sleep before going observing
When drinking caffine get more than one serving
You'll feel exhausted before you get far
You sleep with the sun and you rise with the stars
Always be carrying a flashlight with you
If you don't have one, they come standard issue
You'll need it at twilight or midnight or day
You might need a helmet if you lose you way.
Bring lots of sweaters now this one is easy
Up on the mountain, it tends to be breezy
The air is quite thin and the nights are quite cold
You can't pretend that you haven't been told!!
CHORUS:
When there's stars out on Kitt Peak Mount
When the seeing's all right.
Just take a quick focus and start to observe
You're gonna stay up.... all night.
Always remember to order a night-lunch
As midnight approaches, you sure want to munch
Chocolate Expresso Beans and other such stuff
Will last for awhile, but it's never enough.
Make sure the instruments working correctly
Else all your objects will look a bit hectly
Don't try to image too close to the moon
No matter what, it starts rising too soon.
Sometimes you'll see ladybugs are a-hatching
Creeping and crawling, they start you a-scratching
Covering the scopes, changing white walls to brown
Happily, they'll find your shirt and crawl down!!!
CHORUS
Visitors slow down the plans you've arranged
Yes between dome flats, the physics laws change
Get a ride there and ride back with some one
Half asleep astronomers are no fun.
Before the sun rises, get all of your guide stars
If it gets to bright, you can't see too far
Give more than 3 minutes at the very end
When the dome closes, it's too late, my friend
When the day's gone, When there's stars out
When the seeing's all right,
I think of the things that I learned at Kitt Peak
And then I stay up ... all night
