Star party

A trailer-mounted newtonian reflector on display at the Stellafane star party in Vermont.

A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers for the purpose of observing the sky. Local star parties may be one night affairs, but larger events can last up to a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants. Many regional star parties are now held annually and are an important part of the hobby of amateur astronomy. Typically a dark sky site away from light pollution is chosen as a location. Participants bring telescopes and binoculars of all types and sizes and spend the nights observing astronomical objects such as planets, comets, stars, and deep sky objects together. Astrophotography and CCD imaging are also very popular. At larger star parties, lectures, swap meets, exhibitions of home-built telescopes, contests, tours, raffles, and other similar activities are common. Commercial vendors selling a variety of astronomical equipment may also be present. As with any other hobbyist gathering, there is much camaraderie and discussion of various aspects of the hobby at any star party.

The idea of a star party is not new and allegedly goes back at least as far as George III of the United Kingdom, who was passionately interested in astronomy and mathematics. On nights when poor weather blocked the view of the real stars and planets, attendants are said to have hung paper lanterns marked with drawings in the trees around the royal palace to provide something else for the King and his guests to spot through their telescopes.

Today, some leading regional star parties in the USA include:

• [Golden State Star Party] (Northern California)
• Stellafane (Vermont)
• Black Forest Star Party (Pennsylvania)
• RTMC Astronomy Expo (Southern California)
• Texas Star Party - Official Web Site
• Nebraska Star Party
• Mid Atlantic Star Party (North Carolina)
• Winter Star Party - Official Web Site (Florida)
• Table Mountain Star Party (Washington State)
• Oregon Star Party
• Grand Canyon Star Party (Arizona)
• Astrofest (Illinois)
• Prairie Skies Star Party (Illinois)
• Hidden Hollow Star Party at Warren Rupp Observatory (Ohio)
• Sierra Summer Starparty No.Calif

Star Parties in Canada include

• Saskatchewan Summer Star Party (Saskatchewan)
• Starfest (Ontario)

Star Parties in the UK include:

• Equinox Star Party
• Kielder Star Camp

See also

• Messier marathon

External links

• Astronomy Event Calendar at Sky and Telescope Website
• IceInSpace The Australian Amateur Astronomy Community
• List of star parties in North America with astronomy-weather forecasts