Once the observing is underway, feel free to go from scope to scope and talk with the people around you. They'll be more than happy to let you look through their scopes and talk about their equipment, what they're observing, and anything else that might interest you. This kind of chitchat is expected at star parties, particularly from visitors, so don't feel you're imposing on them. Most star party attendees make the rounds at least once during the night to see what the others are looking at and what kind of equipment they brought, and you should feel free to join in.

Likewise, don't be afraid to ask questions about what's in the sky, where the different constellations are, or anything else you need to know. Astronomers, particularly amateur astronomers, are used to questions like that and typically enjoy explaining such things to other people.

If your location is particularly dark and free of ambient light you'll notice an interesting effect: Even if you know the location of some constellations, you may discover that under a dark sky there are so many stars that you can't pick out the familiar patterns. In the days before light pollution, this is how everyone saw the sky, filled with thousands of stars. For modern city dwellers, however, it may take a bit of practice to find the constellations again.