Due to the volume of email I receive, the following "Email Etiquette" applies to email sent to me asking questions or to make comments. Thanks for your understanding and compliance.

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Contact

Email should be sent to me at mweasner@mac.com.

Please note that I do not use X (formerly known as Twitter) or Facebook for "technical support". Use the above email address if you have questions.

Subject Line

Use a meaningful and in English Subject Line entry. It should describe in a few words (typically less than 10) the nature of your email message. Otherwise your email will be interpreted to be SPAM and deleted UNREAD.

Email with a Subject Line like "URGENT REQUEST", "Request for Assistance", "I need some help", "Help", "Link Request", "Link Exchange Request", "HELLO", "Question", or a blank Subject will be treated as SPAM and will likely be deleted UNREAD. In fact, any email that has an email address and/or Subject Line that looks like SPAM will be handled similarly.

Your Email Address

Use a valid From, and optionally a valid Reply-to, email address when sending email. Due to the volume of email I receive, please do not request that I use a different email address for my reply. Also, if your ISP uses a "Spam Blocker" to prevent "non-authorized" emails from reaching your inbox, please add the email address "mweasner@mac.com" to the list BEFORE sending me a message. I will not request authorization for replies that I've sent and so my reply might not reach you. If I reply and the reply is rejected due to an invalid From address or a SPAM blocker, you will not receive my response.

I usually reply to emails needing a reply within hours, sometimes within minutes. So if you don't receive my reply within a day, check your SPAM folder.

NOTE: If you use Microsoft Outlook and do not receive my reply, it is because my reply has been returned to me as "undeliverable". Microsoft is aware of this issue and has posted this article with instructions on how Outlook users should correct the problem. Once you have done that, send me another email so that I can reply to you.

Image Files

Any photos sent should be in JPEG format. Please try to keep your images under 10 MB each due to my limited Internet bandwidth.

Message Text

Do NOT use ALL CAPS when typing your message text. It is hard to read.

Use paragraph breaks (blank lines) between paragraphs (if appropriate). Avoid using more than one blank line between paragraphs however.

Use English. Emails not in English may not be read or any response may be delayed.

Please be specific, clear, and provide appropriate details when asking a question. Emails that ramble on are hard to interpret as to what exactly the problem is. Also, if you have a specific telescope question, please include the make, model, and any other appropriate information.

I prefer to receive plain text email as opposed to HTML or Rich Text formatted email. If you can configure your email software to turn off HTML for my address, please do so. If you cannot turn off HTML or Rich Text, please avoid fancy formatting or fonts in your message. It is really difficult to read white text on a light background or red text on a blue background. Yes, I have received email formatted this way!

Please do NOT use "shortened URL's" when providing links to web pages. Use the full original URL. Emails with shorten URLs may be considered as SPAM and deleted unread.

Terms and Conditions of Use

There is a Cassiopeia Observatory web site "Terms and Conditions of Use". It is applicable to "email harvesting", whether by manual or automated processes. In addition, cross-posting of messages, articles, and/or images originally published on the Cassiopeia Observatory web site or on any Web Site maintained by Mike Weasner on other web sites and/or forums is acceptable, but only after permission for such cross-posting is granted by Mike Weasner (mweasner@mac.com). Requests for cross-posting must include the specific page URL, message subject or article title, or image URL, and where it would be cross-posted. Cross-postings must include the message, article, and/or image in its entirety. Exceptions due to length restrictions must be explained in the cross-posting request. All messages and/or articles that are cross-posted must include the original page URL in the cross-posting.