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[starbux]

A useful accessory are red-lensed glasses or goggles for dark-adaptation. They block white light and allow the eyes to dark-adapt (or stay that way) even while indoors under bright lights. You take them off when it's actually time to observe. They really do work, even under urban skies, as long as the streetlight isn't shining directly in one's eyes.

Orion sells the goggles, which renders everything a deep monochrome red. If you step outside still wearing them you'll practically be blind until you take them off. But when you do take them off the sky view can be breathtaking.

Scopestuff sells the glasses. Not as extreme as the goggles, the glasses turns white light deep pink but preserves some of the other colors. You can still see your way around outside while wearing them and are overall more comfortable to wear. The still work in allowing the eye to dark-adapt, though I wasn't able to test it side-by-side with the goggles (I own both but I've temporarily misplaced the goggles). The goggles may work a little bit better, but could be overkill.

I would highly recommend either of these for observing on (relatively) clear moonless nights, especially if you have to run back inside your lit house because you need something else that you might have forgotton.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I don't use eye patches, goggles or glasses. But on occasion I do use a red light to help out in map reading. I have found, (real or not), that gazing upon a lit map, illuminated by a red light, that the sky takes on a deeper hue, and I think that I am seeing more stars afterwards.

Perhaps it is so, or maybe it's in my head, but I'll continue to utilize the redlight...Which in one case.......is just a red balloon wrapped around the head of a book light. Works great!...and so cheap!

There...I have just revealed a Chicago Astronomer secret.

[starbux]

Well the neat thing about the goggles or glasses is that you can wear them while it's still light outside or if you are busy doing other things while under bright light, thus giving your eyes a head start in dark-adaptation. The time-saving application is no small deal, especially on a weeknight.

I was going to use post that started this thread as a response on the eyepatch thread, but though it might deserve its own topic.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I was going to use post that started this thread as a response on the eyepatch thread, but though it might deserve its own topic.

...and you were so wise.