Star parties are a wonderful way to get acquainted with the night sky.  Seeing the wonders of the universe first-hand is an invaluable experience for both young and old alike. 

A star party is simply a group of people that get together to view the cosmos through telescopes, binoculars and with the naked eye.

When planning a star party, here are some suggestions to consider:

• Consider planning a star party in conjunction with another school/organizational event or on a science night.
• If the star party is connected to a school event or a youth-based organization, students or members should consider inviting parents to enjoy the fun.
• Star parties may be planned to correlate with subjects students have been studying, such as planets, stars, and deep space objects.
• Make sure to plan your star party on a clear night in a dark spot to enjoy the most visibility. 
• Make sure to reference a star chart prior to planning your event.  This will help identify celestial objects available for viewing.

How to set up a star party:

• Get to the star party location about a half hour prior to dark in order to set up telescopes.
• Make sure the location is free of sprinklers and bright lights.
• If you want to plan a star party but do not have access to your own telescope, contact a local astronomy club or astronomy department at a local college. Many are willing to volunteer their time and telescopes.

Examples of star parties:

Preparing for sky viewing at the First Annual Sierra La Rana, TX Star Party.

Alpine Star Party, Sierra La Rana, Texas, USA - 24 April, 2009

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"Nancy and I had a great time at the Sierra La Rana astronomy site. With such dark sky available in Alpine, a dedicated observing area to the Deep South is a valuable asset to observers and photographers alike. Having been a northern New Mexico resident for 20 years, I am still amazed how these skies reveal fainter stars. Transparency and atmospheric stability are fantastic. Alpine Texas is indeed a special place and jewels like this site indeed make it sparkle."

 - Tom Ladig

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