Star Parties

Listed below are some of our favorite star parties. For a more complete list, check out the Astronomy Events Calendar.

Black Forest Star Party

Cherry Springs State Park

4639 Cherry Springs Road

Coudersport, PA

(814) 435-5010

September 6 - 8, 2013

 

The Black Forest Star Party occurs annually during late summer or early fall. It is hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Observers (CPO). It is held in Pennsylvania's first Dark Sky Park at the Cherry Springs State Park. In 2011, George Eberts, Tom O'Grady and Bob Eichenberg made the trip and have plenty of pictures to share. 

Cherry Springs Star Party

Cherry Springs State Park

4639 Cherry Springs Road

Coudersport, PA

(814) 435-5010

 

The Cherry Springs Star Party occurs in late May or early June. It is hosted by the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, PA. It is also held at the Cherry Springs State Park in central Pennsylvania. This is a relatively new star party, having been started in 2009.

HIDDEN HOLLOW STAR PARTY

Warren Rupp Observatory of the Richland Astronomical Society

Hidden Hollow Campground

5127 Opossum Run Road

Lucas, OH 44843

(419) 892-2007



 The Hidden Hollow Star Party occurs yearly and was previously held during the first weekend in October. For 2013, it is being held October 3 - 7. It is hosted by the Richland Astronomical Society. It features tons of telescopes, including the 31 inch telescope housed inside the Warren Rupp Observatory. It takes place at the Hidden Hollow Campground near Mansfield, Ohio. For pictures from several different years of Hidden Hollow, click here.

Scope Out Astronomy Fair

September 14, 2013

Cincinnati Observatory 

 

The Cincinnati Observatory (3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH 45208) celebrates the telescope with an all-day (and all night) open house called ScopeOut. 


Scope Out is an opportunity for people of all ages to look at the latest and greatest astronomical equipment offered by local and national vendors. Activities include, classes, educational materials for teachers, kid's space crafts, safe viewing of the Sun, swap table, meteorites, tours of our historic buildings and more astronomical door prizes than you can imagine. ScopeOut takes place on the second Saturday in September.

StarFest 2013: Comet Tales!
River Place Park,
RR 3, Ayton, Ontario, Canada
Phone:519-665-2228 
August 8 - 11, 2013
StarFest 2013 is Canada's largest annual amateur astronomy conference and star party attracting hundreds of astronomy enthusiasts from Ontario and neighboring provinces and states. It has also been ranked among the top star parties in North America by Sky and Telescope magazine. This year, they are focusing on comets - past, present and future. StarFest is sponsored by the North York Astronomical Association.

Stellafane Convention

Breezy Hill

Springfield, Vermont

August 8 -11, 2013

 

The Stellafane Convention is for amateur telescope makers and has been going on since 1926. It is a yearly star party that takes place in August.

White Sands Star Party

White Sands State Park

Alamogordo, New Mexico

Contact: New Mexico Museum of Space History Education Department

(877) 333-6589

October 8 - 9, 2013

 

The White Sands Star Party is an annual event taking place in October. It is hosted by several organizations: New Mexico Museum of Space History, White Sands National Monument, the Alamogordo Astronomy Club, and the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces. This star Party is held at the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, within the world's largest gypsum dune field. The sand is indeed white! Incredibly white! For the serious amateur astronomer, it is definitely worth the trip to this special dark sky location. For pictures from the 2010 White Sands Star Party, click here.