The author observes the 16 -inch Discovery telescope at Star Rocky Mountain from 2024. Credit: Molly Wakeling
The time under the dark skies is precious and for many of us, going out in those sites can be difficult. When we do it, we often end up observing on our own, or with some others intrepid in an observation session of the astronomy club. And sometimes that solitude is what we are looking for: only you and the sky.
But there is also a real joy in sharing the telescope with others, whether they are experts or rookie, and it is easier to be awake all night when you are with an enthusiastic crowd. There are many events organized throughout the country and all over the world that unite people under dark skies for a week or weekend of observation. These events are called Stella parties.
I often describe the stellar parties of my friends and collaborators as “partly convention of outdoor astronomy, partly summer camp for adults”. (Although children are also welcome to the star parties!) All the star parties I know involve the campsite to a certain extent. Many people bring their vans, campers, trailers and campers, although the curtain campsite and car is also common. The Texas Star Party has cabins with bunks and hotel rooms. Others are only on a campsite, such as Cherry Springs in Pennsylvania and Okie-Tex in Oklahoma. The campsite is part of the fun for me: the nights away from home in my welcoming trailer are rejuvenated. But if you are looking for more than a “glamping” experience, the feast of the night’s stars in southern California is in a resort in the desert with hotel rooms, swimming pools and a on -site restaurant. Some have an additional cost, while others have food trucks; It is also fun to grill some steaks or have a nice cold sandwich from the cooling device. I brought a backpack stove on the shoulder to the Hidden Hullow Star party in Ohio, my first star party in 2016, where I cooked grit, eggs and bacon in the shade of the dome that hosts Big Blue, the gigantic 36 -inch reflector of the club.
The heart of each star party is looking late observing with old and old friends, hunting for goals that are difficult to achieve from home and linger on your favorite objects. Almost all the stars party that I encountered were happy to share their view of the telescope, which is a real delight when someone brings a great juicy dob! I saw the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) through a 36 -inch at the Texas Star Party one year and was breathtaking. One of my favorite things to do at a stellar party is wandering in the main observation field. Especially in major events such as the Texas Star Party, the air is electric with the excitement of observing under dark skies. Once I saw Omega Centauri, a huge globular group for the southern hemisphere that is located just 12th above the southern hills around Fort Davis, Texas, through 6 -inch binoculars!
Stella festivals are not only alive at night, however. Daytime activities may include presentations and seminars of amateur astronomers, NASA scientists and Green Bank Radio Observatory and the occasional astronaut – Don Pettit has held an excellent speech at the 2017 Texas Star Party to “joke” with microgravity experiments on board the ISS that has turned into scientific research. Since star festivals are often in the middle of nowhere, there is usually a series of outdoor activities to participate in, such as excursions and birdwatching. (There is a large overlap between astronomers and amateur birdwatcher.) There is also a lot of socialization; I often sit in the main building or curtain and chat with people while I work for the processing of images on my laptop.
I spend most of my holiday days at Star Party, socializing with other amateur astronomers and astroimagists from all over the world and absorb the light of the stars against a black sky. There is nothing better that you look at a vast and sumptuous Milky Way, captures a shooting star every few hours and enjoying drinks and conversations with other Stargiers between admiring our favorite clusters, galaxies and nebulae through high quality telescopes.
So what are you waiting for? Find a stellar party near you and remember why you fell in love with astronomy in the first place: https://www.go-stronomy.com/star-parties.htm. See you there!
