19 replies to this topic

[Rich56]

I know that all star parties have the occasional great sky, yet which US star party has the most consistently great skies?

Thanks!

Edited by Rich56, 19 March 2025 - 12:59 PM.

[cjarvis64]

I'd be looking for one southwest... perhaps the okie-tex star party.

Edited by cjarvis64, 19 March 2025 - 01:11 PM.

[petert913]

Surprisingly, the Oregon Star Party is almost always clear at that time of year.  Unless there are wildfires.  Bortle 1-2

[lkannard]

Okie-Tex. Great true Bortal 1 night skies.

[Illinois]

Good to know about Okie-Tex! What about Nebraska Star Party! Pretty dark sky! 

[bunyon]

I don't know of any that NEVER cloud out. NSP had a couple of cloudy nights last year. I've read about washed out TSPs and OTSPs. 

 

There's always a chance for clouds.

[harpo80]

Good to know about Okie-Tex! What about Nebraska Star Party! Pretty dark sky! 

100% of my NSP times, one out of one, was excellent, very dark skies, with just one cloudy night.

 

Excited to get to OTSP this year too.  I hear nothing but greatness.

 

TSP was very dark and clear when I went, but it's been a minute (1985-88).

Edited by harpo80, 20 March 2025 - 08:25 PM.

[George N]

There used to be a 'chart' somewhere 'out there' on the web with SQM/Bortle estimates and short-term climate expectations for each of the 'major' star parties during the typical 'window' for that event, but I couldn't find it using either Google or Google Gemini AI.

 

However - an ambitious person could put together such with the info on Clear Sky Chart (CSC) - with maybe a reference to other data on sites. It would be a very helpful thing to have here on CN. I'm not sure where you would get a 'seeing' estimate since that is often reported by individuals.

 

I did find two nice lists of USA star parties (beyond Sky & Tel's events list - which mixes in non-observing affairs too) - but neither have sky darkness/seeing/weather conditions. Still, a good place to pick the list most CN Members would want to see. Here: https://www.go-astro...tar-parties.htm  ...... and Here: https://nightskytour.../2025festivals/

Edited by George N, 21 March 2025 - 10:45 AM.

[Boyd Levet]

The Oregon Star Party is located quite near the northern edge of the massive IDS massive dark sky region in the Oregon high desert.  Largest dark sky region in the world.

[Boyd Levet]

Surprisingly, the Oregon Star Party is almost always clear at that time of year.  Unless there are wildfires.  Bortle 1-2

No surprise.  2/3s of Oregon, the area East of the Cascade range, is high desert.  Average precipitation is below 10" for the communities there (Bend, Prineville, Sisters)  Some even drier (Burns, etc.)  Our home at Sisters is the same as Tucson, Az.  

[Keith Rivich]

I have been to 25 or so TSP's and the number of completely busted nights is quite low. Hopefully when I retire here in a few years I can make the star party rounds. We'll see...

[Rich56]

Thanks for your responses everyone!

Sounds like Okie-Tex is the hotspot.

 

Anyone care to share their impressions of Okie-Tex skies?

[edwincjones]

I went camping at BlackMesaStatePark during the Okie-Tex SP and the skies were fantastic,

the next year I went to Okie-Tex and the skies were fair to poor. This was in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

 

edj

Edited by edwincjones, 23 March 2025 - 05:37 AM.

[JimMo]

It was dark at Oki-Tex SP. Very dark.  

[Starhunter249]

Nebraska Star Party is pretty dark, definitely near bortle one. It was not the darkest skies I have remembered past but pretty close. I beleive it might be due to my older eyes, stars are not as pin point focused and bright compared to my past younger navy days. I had pilot vision then. Nebraska star party has one new problem. There is a radio tower with a large bright white lighted beacon that destroys your night vision. So that was also going against dark adaption last year. The beacon was fixed for only one night, where it slow pulses a red light.

 

I have been in bortle 2 skies in Missouri that appeared darker because of being surrounded by trees which blocks out all ground light sources. Stars were very bright. The milky way galaxy was magnificent. You can just make out the nebulous region in Cygnus where the north american nebula resides naked eye. That's generally my test for excellent sky conditions.

 

I am planning to skip NSP this summer and spend my vacation time at the Okie-Tex star party in September. Should have a good comparison between both star parties. I like the Nebraska star party, mostly meeting other people. Also, the sand hills of Nebraska are spectacular to see. Feels like your on another planet. The near horizon to horizon views of the sky is also big draw for me. However, the NSP is at the mercy of U.S. cellular's cell Tower lights. 

 

Happy dark sky hunting!

[vsteblina]

Logan Valley Star Party in Oregon.

 

Not a formal star party, but the few totally dark skies left in the US are in eastern Oregon and Nevada north of Area 51.

[Blastroid]

Thanks for your responses everyone!

Sounds like Okie-Tex is the hotspot.

 

Anyone care to share their impressions of Okie-Tex skies?

Attending for my first Okie Tex last year and 10 nights of perfect skies. So this year the odds are not in my favor I am guessing. Skies are so good no light filters will needed. Hope to see you in 2025

 

Here is a time-lapse I did last year that can show the night sky transition:

https://www.youtube....h?v=jHifVdzzsDg

[oldphotonm]

I've been to Okie-Tex 25 times in a row and can count on one hand (with no thumb) busted weeks and still have a finger left over.

OT can be a challenge if you don't have an RV or you don't like to astro-camp as there are a very limited number of accommodations at the SP and in the area. TSP is a better bet in this regard as there are more choices for thems that prefer a private bed and shower.

 

TSP is also a great SP (been to 9 or 10 of those, most recently in '23) but with all the drilling to the north and NE, the sky darkness has suffered a bit.

 

I think all of the suggestions here are good, you should give all of them a try if you can!

[kfiscus]

Nebraska Star Party is pretty dark, definitely near bortle one. It was not the darkest skies I have remembered past but pretty close. I beleive it might be due to my older eyes, stars are not as pin point focused and bright compared to my past younger navy days. I had pilot vision then. Nebraska star party has one new problem. There is a radio tower with a large bright white lighted beacon that destroys your night vision. So that was also going against dark adaption last year. The beacon was fixed for only one night, where it slow pulses a red light.

 

I have been in bortle 2 skies in Missouri that appeared darker because of being surrounded by trees which blocks out all ground light sources. Stars were very bright. The milky way galaxy was magnificent. You can just make out the nebulous region in Cygnus where the north american nebula resides naked eye. That's generally my test for excellent sky conditions.

 

I am planning to skip NSP this summer and spend my vacation time at the Okie-Tex star party in September. Should have a good comparison between both star parties. I like the Nebraska star party, mostly meeting other people. Also, the sand hills of Nebraska are spectacular to see. Feels like your on another planet. The near horizon to horizon views of the sky is also big draw for me. However, the NSP is at the mercy of U.S. cellular's cell Tower lights. 

 

Happy dark sky hunting!

The NSP people are monitoring that light (locals are keeping them informed).  Fingers crossed.  Check the 2025 NSP thread in this sub forum for current info.

Edited by kfiscus, 06 April 2025 - 07:50 PM.

[Bob W4]

The Nebraska Star Party is so dark that the milky way will cast a shadow.  I saw for myself by holding my hand about 6-8" above my tan colored pants.  There was an unmistakable penumbral type shadow cast.  I confirmed it by turning my hand away, and the shadow reappeared again as I turned the back of my hand facing the milky way.

Hopefully, that pesky blinking white light atop the cell phone tower is fixed for this year's event.