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  Star parties consist of dozens to hundreds of people camping out with telescopes gazing at the heavens. They occur on weekends near a new moon each month. This lias of star parties has been updated for 2007.
  Tell us about your star party
 
January

Deep South Texas Stargaze
Jan 17- 21
Escondido Ranch, Kingsville, TX

This star party is held at the Escondido Ranch, McMullen County, near Freer TX.

 
 
 
February

Winter Star Party
Feb 12-18 2007

Camp Wesumkee, West Summerland Key, FL

The Winter Star Party is one of the premiere star parties in the country and is held in one of the southernmost dark sky sites in the contiguous United States, affording views of Eta carina, the Southern Cross, Omega Centauri, Centaurus "A", and some of the most beautiful views of the planets that you will ever see. The seeing here is incredible, allowing you to see detail on planets like Jupiter and Saturn that you have ever seen before.

Cedar Key Star Party
Feb. 11th-17th, 2007
Cedar Key, Florida

This star party is held at Cedar Key which is about 50 miles southwest of Gainesville on the gulf coast. The Cheifland Astronomy Village is about 20 min away.

Orange Blossum Star Party
Feb 14-18, 2007
Alafia River State Park in Lithia, Florida


A star party hosted by the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club, Inc., the Orange Blossom Special Star Party 2007 (OBS) will be held at the Alafia River State Park in Lithia, Florida. The park is Southeast of Tampa and the skies are dark enough for deep sky observing.

Wagman Winterfest
Feb. 24, 2007

Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory near Russellton, Pa

Wagman Winterfest is the annual winter star party sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh Inc.
 
 
March

Kisatchie Star Party
March 14 - 18, 2007
Kisatchie National Forest, LA


The Baton Rouge Astronomical Society invites you once again to join out star party in the pine covered hills of central Louisiana for a few nights stargazing and socializing. Our observing site in the Kisatchie National Forest has gained the reputation at THE place to be in Louisiana if you want the darkest skies possible. So sweep last year's bugs out of your tent, shake out those missing socks from your sleeping bag, and start perfecting your top secret recipes to share with the rest of us at the 7th annual Kisatchie Star Party!

Tennessee Spring Star Party
March 16-18, 2007
Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville , TN


This star party is sponsored by Cumberland Astronomical Society, Astronomy in the Parks Society, Dyer Observatory (Vanderbilt), andf Fall Creek Falls State Park
 
 
April

Southern New Mexico Star Party
Apr. 17 - 22, 2007
City of Rocks State Park, NM


The National Public Observatory, in conjunction with New Mexico State Parks, will host the Southern New Mexico Star Party at City of Rocks State Park. The four-day event will be held during the second annual National Dark Sky Week.

Mid-South Star Gaze
April 11-14, 2007
Rainwater Observatory, French Camp, Mississippi

The Mid-South Star Gaze is the annual star party held at Rainwater Observatory in April. It is a weekend gathering of amateur astronomers who come to share, listen to outside speakers, and observe together.

NEAF Astronomy Show
April 28-29, 2007
Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY


The Rockland Astronomy Club and Sky & Telescope magazine invite you to the East Coast's largest annual astronomy trade show, NEAF, now in its 14th year. The venue is Rockland Community College (RCC) in Suffern. Highlights include vendor exhibits, talks by leading amateur and professional astronomers, workshops for beginners and advanced hobbyists, door prizes, Starlab planetarium shows, and activities for children. Don Urban, 73 Haring St., Closter, NJ 07624-1709.
 
 
May

Texas Star Party
May 13 - 20, 2007
Near Fort Davis, Texas


The Southwest Region of the Astronomical League presents the 27th annual Texas Star Party at Prude Ranch near Fort Davis in the Davis Mountains. Activities include a full week of observing and astrophotography, invited talks, raffles, swap tables, and daytime tours of nearby McDonald Observatory. Facilities include cabins, bunkhouses, and RV hookups. The 3,500-acre ranch also offers swimming, horseback riding, tennis and hiking. It is located a day’s trip away from Carlsbad Caverns and other national parks.

Desert Sunset Star Party
May 4 - 8, 2007

The Desert Sunset Star Party, hosted by Chart Markers and More and the Arizona State Park Department, will be held at the Kartchner Cavern State Park near Benson.

Cherry Springs Star Party
March 17-20, 2007
Cherry Springs, PA


Held at the same location as the famous Black Forest Star Party.
 
 
June

Lowell Star Party
June


The Lowell Star Party is presented by Lowell Observatory. Observing, tours, multimedia presentations, and great prizes in the cool mountain country of northern Arizona.

Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival -
June 1 - June 4


Sponsored by National Park Service in partnership with the Salt Lake Astronomical Society, this event is for the public and newcomer to astronomy, and it is not a traditional star party. Those wishing to bring their telescopes must contact the park in advance and sign up as volunteers. Presentations by rangers, astronomy workshops, solar viewing, and guest speakers followed by telescope viewing under Southern Utah Skies - the darkest in the Southwest. Event is geared toward the whole family, great daytime activities too. Plan ahead for lodging and be prepared - elevation is 8000 feet!

Grand Canyon Star Party
June 9-16 2007


Make plans now to join us at the 15th Grand Canyon Star Party. This event is a little different than most because it is a public event. What better way to impress a newcomer to astronomy than with a view thru your telescope from just about the darkest skies in the US. The crowds thin early though, and you are left to test the limits of your telescope from the rim of the Canyon.

Rocky Mountain Star Stare
June 14-17, 2007
Pike National Forest, CO


For over two decades, astronomers from across the U.S. and around the world have been gathering each summer in the mountains west of Colorado Springs. What draws them here each year? Dark skies. Not just dark skies, but dark skies with amazing transparency. These gazers of the stars are enjoying Rocky Mountain Star Stare!

Almost Heaven Star Party
June 2007
Spruce Knob, WV


Held at Spruce Knob in West Virginia which is one of the darkest spots east of the Mississippi.

Jersey StarQuest
June 3 - 5


Sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton, the 14th annual Jersey StarQuest convention will be held at the Hope Conference and Renewal Center in Hope. The registration deadline is June 12th.
 
 
July

Nebraska Star Party
July 15th to 20th


The 10th Annual Nebraska Star Party will be held at Merritt Reservoir, 27 miles south of Valentine, Nebraska. NSP has established itself as the premier summer dark-skies star party. In addition to excellent skies, Merritt Reservoir and the surrounding area offers many daytime activities for the entire family.

The Mason Dixon Star Party
July 6 - July 10


The York County Astronomical Society's 14th annual Mason Dixon Star Party
is scheduled for Friday evening May 30th, through Sunday June 1st.
This event will be held at the Codorus State Park, near Hanover, PA.
 
 
August

Table Mountain Star Party
Aug 4 - 6


The Table Mountain Star Party is an annual gathering of people interested in astronomy and its many related topics. Most people attending are amateur astronomers who enjoy the great viewing which the mountain provides

Oregon Star Party
August 16-19 2007


The Oregon Star Party operates under a Special Use Permit on the Ochoco National Forest. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. The site is located on primitive and undeveloped Forest Service land, approximately one hour’s traveling time east of Prineville, Oregon, which is the nearest location for medical facilities, supplies, and gas.

Central Texas Star Party
Aug
Eagle Eye Observatory
Canyon of the Eagles Lodge and Nature Park
Lake Buchanan, Texas


The Central Texas Star Party (CTSP), hosted by the Austin Astronomical Society, will have an observing challenge, door prizes, camaraderie, and skies filled with the Summer Milky Way. The program includes observing, featured speaker, an observing challenge and a pot-luck meal. There will be drawing for super prizes including optical accessories and passes to the McDonald Observatory in the famous clear skies of West Texas.
 
 
September

Black Forrest Star Party
Fri-Sat September 2 - 4


The Black Forest Star Party is an annual dark-sky amateur astronomy observing event hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Observers (CPO). Held every year since 1999, the BFSP generally spans a weekend in the late summer or early fall in Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania.

Calstar
Sept
Paso Robles, CA

The annual CalStar California Star Party, hosted by the San Jose Astronomical Association during September or October has been in operation since 2000. It is one of California's premier amateur stargazing events, a definite must-attend event, not to be missed by anyone interested in astronomy.  This is a very relaxed, friendly, non-commercial amateur astronomy event.

It is held at the South Shore area (Monterey County Parks) of Lake San Antonio, about a 35-minute drive from Paso Robles through very dry and picturesque ranch country.

LVAAS Megga Meet
Fri-Sun September ??
Lenhartsville, PA


MEGAMEET is a PA regional amateur club observing event sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society. MEGAMEET will take place at the 1600 foot summit of Pulpit Rock on Blue Mountain, north of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles west of Allentown.

White Sands Star Party
Sep ???


The White Sands National Monument will serve as the official host for the two nights of dark sky observing. Area 19 of the dunes will serve as the site for the White Sands Star Party. Come share your interest in astronomy on the evenings of September 26 & 27th.

Enchanted Skies Star Party

Socorro, NM

The Enchanted Skies Star Party offers several exciting features, including a unique opportunity for a night of observing at an elevation of 10,000 feet. We'll continue our decade-long tradition of presenting outstanding lectures by leading professional and amateur astronomers, and of course, we'll once again gather at Socorro County's Pound Ranch for a night of great food, Southwestern entertainment and excellent, dark-sky observing.

Astroblast
Sep ?-?, 2007
Franklin, PA


ASTROBLAST is an annual event, first held in June 1994, by the Oil Region Astronomical Society. Our organization is blessed with a remote "dark sky" site located far from the light pollution of large urban areas. The event is held in a large field surrounding our observatory in the Lockwood Campground at Venango County's Two Mile Run Park, near Franklin, Pennsylvania.
 
 
October

Stella Della Valley Star Party
October 15-17
Ottsville, PA


Organized by the Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association Stella Della Valley will again be held at Camp Onas, near Ottsville, PA. This site in northern Bucks County offers some of the darkest skies remaining in the Philadelphia and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area.

South Jersey Star Party
Sep 17-19


The 2004 South Jersey Star Party will be held at Belleplain State Forest, Cape May County, NJ September 17-19, 2004. Belleplain is located just outside of the Borough of Woodbine. It is one of the best dark sky sites in the region! The Jersey Cape also offers a number of tourism venues, from antique shops and restaurants to the local birding and beach attractions.

Okie-Tex Star Party
Oct 6 - 14th , 2007
Camp Billy Joe, near Kenton, OK


Offering some of the darkest skies anywhere in the Southwest

Mid-Atlantic Star Party
October
Near Robbins, NC

MASP is located in the "Dark Park" South of Robbins, NC. This is about halfway between Raleigh and Charlotte and halfway between Winston-Salem and Fayetteville. The skies at the site are just about as dark as they can get in the Eastern US. The location affords views of many deep-sky objects including the Milky Way, some of the southern sky objects. good planetary views as well as great observing of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
 
 
November
We have no star parties listed for Nivember 2007 yet.
 
 
 
 
December
 
 
 
 
   
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