StarParties

Below is a list of regional and national star parties you may with to consider attending. Most regional parties are within a 4 – 10 hour drive. The locations farther away were picked for their prominence within the astronomy community. Some will cater to observing, some will cater to vendors, and some will have a mix of both.

For a complete listing of star parties, you can search by month, year, and state here: http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/calendar/

Name: Winter Star Party
Month: February
Location: Florida
Description: The annual Winter Star Party, hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society, takes place at Girl Scout Camp Wesumkee in the Florida Keys. Held in one of the darkest and southernmost sites in the continental US, WSP offers views of Alpha Centauri, Eta Carina, Omega Centauri, and the Southern Cross. Space is very limited, so be sure to register early.
Website: http://www.scas.org/   back to top

Name: Mid-South Star Gaze
Month: April
Location: Mississippi
Description: The Mid-South Star Gaze, sponsored by the Rainwater and Jackson astronomical associations, the SLO of Memphis, and the Memphis Astronomical Society, will be held at French Camp Academy’s Rainwater Observatory in French Camp.
Website: http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org     back to top

Name: Northeast Astronomy Forum & Telescope Show (NEAF)
Month: April
Location: New York
Description: The Rockland Astronomy Club and Sky & Telescope magazine invite you to the East Coast's largest annual astronomy trade show, NEAF. The venue is Rockland Community College (RCC) in Suffern. Highlights include vendor exhibits, talks by leading amateur and professional astronomers, workshops for beginners and advanced hobbyists, door prizes, Starlab planetarium shows, and activities for children.
Website: http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.htm    back to top

Name: Texas Star Party
Month: May
Location: Texas
Description: The Southwest Region of the Astronomical League presents the Texas Star Party at Prude Ranch near Fort Davis in the Davis Mountains. Activities include a full week of observing and astrophotography, invited talks, raffles, swap tables, and daytime tours of nearby McDonald Observatory. Facilities include cabins, bunkhouses, and RV hookups. The 3,500-acre ranch also offers swimming, horseback riding, tennis and hiking. It is located a day’s trip away from Carlsbad Caverns and other national parks.
Website: http://www.texasstarparty.org/    back to top

Name: Georgia Sky View
Month: May
Location: Georgia
Description: The event is being held at Camp McIntosh, Indian Springs State Park by the Flint River Astronomy Club. Applications and information about the event can be obtained from the web site.
Website: http://www.flintriverastronomy.org.    back to top

Name: RTMC Astronomy Expo
Month: Memorial Day Weekend
Location: California
Description: The RTMC Astronomy Expo (formerly called the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference) takes place at YMCA Camp Oakes in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear. The Beginner’s Corner will demonstrate telescope building and basic astronomical principles. Camp Oaks also features swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, archery and climbing.
Website: http://www.rtmc-inc.org/     back to top

Name: Wisconsin Observers Weekend
Month: June
Location: Wisconsin
Description: The Wisconsin Observers Weekend, sponsored by the Northeast Wisconsin Stargazers (NEWSTAR), will be held at Hartman Creek State Park near Waupaca.Hiking, biking, birding and swimming are just a few of the activities available. $9. per adult, $2 per child.
Website: http://www.new-star.org/     back to top

Name: Rocky Mountain Star Stare
Month: June
Location: Colorado
Description: The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society sponsors one of the Rocky Mountain's most popular gatherings of amateur astronomers, located within Pike National Forest about 45 miles west of Colorado Springs, elevation 8800 feet. Incredible fields of stars by night are supplemented by day with workshops, children's activities, door prizes, catered meals and fun for everyone makes RMSS a great family affair. Free camping on the National Forest site, everything from tents to large RVs permitted, or stay in local rustic motels within 20 minutes drive. Setup your telescope next to your tent or RV! Join the "Walk-About", a review of amateur telescope maker's efforts over the last year. Swap meet. Don't miss the annual "Best Bug" photo contest!
Website: http://www.rmss.org   back to top

Name: Nebraska Star Party
Month: July / August
Location: Nebraska
Description: The NSP takes place at Merritt Reservoir, 27 miles south of Valentine. This event has established itself as one of the premier summer star parties, offering pitch-black, transparent skies, guest speakers, telescope-making and astrophotography contests, door prizes, and a beginners’ field school, as well as hiking, swimming, canoeing, boating, water skiing, and fishing. Lodging includes cabins at Merritt Resort, trailer spaces, and an unlimited number of tent campsites throughout the state park.
Website: http://www.nebraskastarparty.org/     back to top

Name: Stellafane
Month: August
Location: Vermont
Description: Considered the granddaddy of American star parties, Stellafane is held outside Springfield at Breezy Hill, which features the famous Pink Clubhouse and Russell W. Porter’s Turret Telescope. Presented by the Springfield Telescope Makers, the event is the largest and oldest gathering of amateur telescope makers in the world, drawing more than 1,500 aficionados last year. Here they show off their handcrafted telescopes and share their knowledge of mirror-making techniques. Aside from telescope displays and competition, there are also technical talks and hands-on demonstrations under a huge tent at Stellafane East -- the 33-acre main camping and parking site about a half mile away from the clubhouse. In addition, there are evening guest speakers, raffles, and an outdoor flea market on Saturday morning. Unlike other star parties, Stellafane doesn’t allow commercial vendors. To obtain a registration form, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Stellafane, P.O. Box 50, Belmont, MA 02478. (Last year's attendees will be automatically included in the mailing list.) Registration forms should arrive around May.
Website: http://www.stellafane.com/     back to top

Name: Indiana Family Star Party
Month: August
Location: Indiana
Description: The Wabash Valley, Indiana, and Calumet Astronomical Societies will host the Indiana Family Star Party at Camp Cullom (site of the Prairie Grass Observatory) near Frankfort.
Website: http://www.indianastars.us/     back to top

Name: Ark-La-Tex Star Party
Month: September
Location: Arkansas
Description: Red River Astronomy Club hosts a five day Star Party at our club property located 13 miles west of Nashville, Ark. The Star Party will have dark skies, plenty of camping space, vendors (Rex's Astro Stuff), PhD and amateur presentations, meals , T-shirts, swap meet, showers, electricity, door prizes, and if cloudy, movies on a 72 inch screen indoors. We are currently looking into making available limited Broadband Internet access to the viewing field via wireless connection. Ethernet connections in main building.
Website: http://www.rrac.org     back to top

Name: Iowa Star Party
Month: September
Location: Iowa
Description: The Iowa Star Party will be held at the beautiful Garst Farm Resort, near Coon Rapids, Iowa.
Website: http://www.iowastarparty.com/     back to top

Name: ICStars Star Party
Month: September
Location: Missouri (KC area)
Description: A Labor Day Extended Weekend Star Party held in Warrensburg Missouri for the whole family. Special kids activities including planet making workshop, fossil hunt, hay rides and more! Daytime activities will include Solar workshops, Beginning Astronomy, Observing Techniques, Telescope Collimation & More!
Website: http://www.icstars.com/Ranch/starparty/     back to top

Name: Astrofest
Month: September
Location: Illinois (Chicago area)
Description: A nationally recognized gathering for observers and amateur telescope makers, Astrofest will take place at Vana's Farm, 7705 W State Rt, 17 Kankakee 60901. In addition to guest speakers and nightly stargazing sessions, there are also telescope and astrophotography judging, raffles, a large selection of astronomy merchandise from commercial exhibitors and the flea market, planetarium shows at nearby Olivet-Nazarene University, a space-art contest for kids, and sci-fi video showings.
Website: http://www.chicagoastro.org/     back to top

Name: Prairie Skies Star Party
Month: September
Location: Illinois (Chicago area)
Description: Join us for Prairie Skies Star Party as we continue the tradition, at beautiful Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See, near Kankakee, IL.
Website: http://www.prairieskies.org     back to top

Name: Okie-Tex Star Party
Month: October
Location: Oklahoma
Description: Held at Camp Billy Joe located in the panhandle of Oklahoma near the town of Kenton, Oklahoma. A week of dark sky observing, guest speakers, vendors and a relaxed star party atmosphere. Over 350 people attended last year.
Website: http://www.okie-tex.com     back to top

Name: Illinois Dark Skies Star Party
Month: September / October
Location: Illinois (Springfield area)
Description: The Illinois Dark Skies Star Party will be held at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, 25 miles northwest of Springfield, Illinois in eastern Cass County. Once again, this year’s event is co-hosted by the Sangamon Astronomical Society and the St. Louis Astronomical Society. The park is easily accessible from Illinois Routes 78, 97 and 125. This area boasts Illinois’ darkest skies. Plans for star party events include guest speakers, presentations and astrophotography contests. Bring your extra equipment and parts for swapping. Daytime activities at the park include hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding and hunting.
Website: http://www.sas-sky.org     back to top

Name: Deep South Regional Star Gaze
Month: October
Location: Louisiana
Description: Our Deep South Regional StarGaze is moving for the first time in our history. The new location is: Camp Ruth Lee, located about 9 miles north of Clinton, LA. The Deep South Regional StarGaze typically attracts about 175 amateur astronomers from our region. Generally about 10 to 15 astronomy clubs are represented. Our new site features skies which allow seeing down to approx. 7.0 magnitude. This is better than a .5 magnitude improvement over our last location. The new site has everything located conveniently near the observing field perimeter. The field itself is almost 3 acres in size and will allow for rv and camper participation as well as tent camping around the perimeter of the field. In addition to observing we will have programs and a large door prize drawing.
Website: http://www.stargazing.net/dsrsg/     back to top

Name: Tennessee Star Party
Month: October
Location: Tennessee
Description: The Tennessee Star Party, hosted by the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society, will take place at Camp Nakanawa near Crossville.
Website: http://www.bsasnashville.com/     back to top

Name: Peach State Star Gaze
Month: November
Location: Tennessee
Description: PSSG 2005 (Peach State Star Gaze) White Water Express High Adventure Camp Duck Town, TN (Just across the Georgia State line). Sponsor: Atlanta Astronomy Club Speakers, vendors, workshops, programs, and door prizes.
Website: http://www.atlantaastronomy.org     back to top