~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21658
Loc: North Texas
|
|
Come visit the Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties Forum!! 
One of the best pieces of advice we give to folks new to this hobby is to go to a star party -- to see scopes, to try eyepieces, to talk to people, to learn more. (This is good advice for those who've been doing astronomy for years, too!  ) But how and where do you find them?
Well, the first place to start is with your local astronomy club, if you have one. Most of those clubs hold public or private (member only) star parties once a month or every couple of months. Obviously, those events may be relatively small, depending on the size of the club.
But there are also many BIG star parties held throughout the year (though not many in winter as you'd expect!  ) that are open to anyone.
Please visit our Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties Forum, located down in the Specialty Forums section, to get more information on all kinds of open houses, star parties (big and small!) and more!
Among other things, you'll find a pinned post that provides a summary list of upcoming star parties and events, with links to threads within the forum with more info and details. There's also a pinned thread on where to look up info on clubs in your area and other events.
So come on down and find a party near you -- you never know what Cloudy Night member you might meet! 
--------------------
Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory 
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
|
CRSEREDA
sage
Reged: 01/07/06
Posts: 386
Loc: Davie Florida USA
|
|
And if you live in south florida like me there are some major star parties in the keys which are supposed to be awesome fun!!! and there is also the SFAAA which is located in a park. nice scopes there. but currently the 16" is unoperational and for more info on that talk to Charlie Hein.
Clear Skies, Calvin
--------------------
----Calvin Sereda
|
Sky Captain
Scope Builder
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 5743
Loc: Seattle Washington
|
|
Of course if you are up for a real adventure in star party viewing, come to the North West and view with us on an active volcano!
Mount St. Helens Star Party.
Should be a "blast". 
--------------------
Equipment Overload!
Kerry.
|
~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21658
Loc: North Texas
|
|
That was a groaner, Kerry...
--------------------
Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
|
Sky Captain
Scope Builder
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 5743
Loc: Seattle Washington
|
|
Quote:
That was a groaner, Kerry...
Well, I thought it was good.
--------------------
Equipment Overload!
Kerry.
|
wrather1
AstroBear
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2926
Loc: Dallas, Texas
|
|
Of course, as everyone knows, EVERYTHING is BIGGER in TEXAS!!
<go mavs>
--------------------
"Don't worry about what telescope you own, or its quality. Just get out under the night sky, and enjoy God's wondrous universe." - T. M. Back
Meade RCX400-12 on JMI trolley "Ursa Major"
TMB 130SS on EQ6 PRO "Ursus Polaris"
Orion ED80 "Ursa Minor", WO ZS66ED "grab-'n'-go"
Canon EOS 30D (Hutech), Meade DSI, Philips ToUcam Pro
North Texas Clear Sky Chart
|
snorkler
Aperture Aficionado
Reged: 10/11/04
Posts: 8266
Loc: Bay Area, California
|
|
I'm sure you meant to say Alaska, since Alaskans could split their state in two and leave Texas as the third largest state And when the sun sets above the Arctic Circle in September, it doesn't come up again until March. That's right, they have a six month long night!
--------------------
Lotteries are a tax on people who don't understand math - Snorkler
|
Leo1
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/07/06
Posts: 917
Loc: Central Kentucky, USA
|
|
Quote:
I'm sure you meant to say Alaska, since Alaskans could split their state in two and leave Texas as the third largest state And when the sun sets above the Arctic Circle in September, it doesn't come up again until March. That's right, they have a six month long night!
They have a six month long day too 
--------------------
Celestron NexStar 8i
Celestron 9.25 XLT CPC
Celestron Onyx 80EDF Piggy-backed on the CPC
JMI EV2CM Motor Focuser
Astro-Tech 2inch Diagonal
TeleVue 13mm Nagler 6
Televue 11mm Nagler 6
Stardust Observing Chair
TMB 9mm Planetary
TMB 3.2 Planetary
JMI Wheeley w/5 inch wheels
Kendrick Dew Remover Model VI
|
snorkler
Aperture Aficionado
Reged: 10/11/04
Posts: 8266
Loc: Bay Area, California
|
|
That's when they move to their winter cabins in Antarctica
--------------------
Lotteries are a tax on people who don't understand math - Snorkler
|
vegasmo
member
Reged: 07/20/06
Posts: 65
Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|
Where and when are the star parties in Vegas. (And I'm not talking about the Rio or Palms)Haha
--------------------
12" Meade Lightbridge
|
arczeneb
super member
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 185
Loc: henderson, nevada
|
|
Quote:
Where and when are the star parties in Vegas. (And I'm not talking about the Rio or Palms)Haha
If you mean Las Vegas,NV and not Las Vegas,NM then here is the local events
20th Annual Cathedral Gorge Star Party, Sept 22-23
Spring Fling Cathedral Gorge Star Party--May
Grand Canyon Star Party--North Rim--June
Death Valley Star Party--January
Temple Bar Messier Marathon--March
Arizona Star Party--September
Colorado Star Stare--October, Blythe
Gathering of Friends (refractor group)--Joshua Tree NP, October/April
Others by the Vegas Group
Teutonia Peak, Mohave Preserve
Valley of FIre State Park
Even though we are awash with the Vegas lights we do get out. Go to the Vegas site for more information. Las Vegas Astronomical Society
--------------------
C102 (Vixen) 80's
8" Porta ball
Unistar Basic/GiroIII
Meade AR6
Stellarvue NHII
|
Skylook123
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 3966
Loc: Tucson, AZ
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Where and when are the star parties in Vegas. (And I'm not talking about the Rio or Palms)Haha
If you mean Las Vegas,NV and not Las Vegas,NM then here is the local events
.
.
.
Arizona Star Party--September
.
.
.
According to the East Valley Astronomy Club's web site, EVAC the 2006 All-Arizona Star Party is October 20/21.
Another one to add is the All-Arizona Messier Marathon, hosted by the Saguaro Astronomy Club, SAC in March.
Plus the South Rim element of the Grand Canyon Star Party in June.
--------------------
Jim
A Bad Night With A Telescope
Beats A Good Night Doing Anything Else
Tectron 18" Truss Dob/Sky Commander DSCs, "Derrick"
Meade 10" LX-5 SCT/Atlas-G "Ol' Blue Eye"
Orion 90mm refractor,
Meade 10" Starfinder Newt/JMI NGCMax DSCs,
Celestron 10x50 Ultima Pro
|
vegasmo
member
Reged: 07/20/06
Posts: 65
Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|
Thanks for all of the location and dates...
--------------------
12" Meade Lightbridge
|
Rollo
sage
Reged: 08/16/06
Posts: 293
Loc: Clearwater, Fl.
|
|
We have a big fall starparty in Cheifland Fl. in Nov. About 300 to 400 people show from all over the country. Its a great time!!!  
--------------------
Rollo
20in. F4.3 Starstructure Dob
9x63 Celestron Ultima Binos
|
Art Bianconi
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/06/06
Posts: 4659
Loc: Delaware River Valley, New Jer...
|
|
The Delmarva Star Gazers are hosting their annual "No Frills" star party at Tuckahoe State Park, Maryland, starting next Friday the 22nd through Tuesday, the 26th.
They get consistently great weather.
--------------------
“Everything is on its way to somewhere. . . . . everything!"
____________________ George Malley (John Travolta)
________________________ "Phenomenon"
|
Art Bianconi
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/06/06
Posts: 4659
Loc: Delaware River Valley, New Jer...
|
|
I would love to see a well maintained schedule of star parties, all on one page, that lists the date, location, hosting club, relative darkness and links to their web site.
Does such a thing exist?
I'm organizing a Star Party this Fall here in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and would love to be able to promote it.
Art
--------------------
“Everything is on its way to somewhere. . . . . everything!"
____________________ George Malley (John Travolta)
________________________ "Phenomenon"
|
Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16397
Loc: Brooker, FL
|
|
How about this or this?
--------------------
N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
|
desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30019
Loc: Tucson, AZ
|
|
This thread has been added to the "Best Of" Beginner's thread.
--------------------
Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
|
wheel O cheese
member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 13
Loc: Southend sea front-----England
|
|
I'm starting to think im the only person who is not from the USA around here! Anyway----if u live in essex, england there's a great one in hockly. pm me if u want to find out more!!!!
Edited by wheel O cheese (06/28/07 02:42 PM)
|
Jerry Moore
sage
Reged: 05/23/06
Posts: 311
|
|
There is a Valley of the Fires State Park in NV? We have one here in NM also that host star parties. In southeast NM, we host the White Sands Star Party at the White Sands National Monument. It will be October 5-6 this year.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 