Star party
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A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers. Local star parties may be one night affairs, but larger events can last up to a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants. Many regional star parties are now held annually and are an important part of the hobby of amateur astronomy. Typically a dark sky site away from light pollution is chosen as a location. Participants bring telescopes of all sizes and spend the nights observing astronomical objects such as planets, comets, stars, and deep sky objects together. Astrophotography and CCD imaging are also very popular. At larger star parties, lectures, swap meets, exhibitions of home-built telescopes, contests, tours, raffles, and other similar activities are common. Commercial vendors selling a variety of astronomical equipment may also be present. As with any other hobbyist gathering, there is much camaraderie and discussion of various aspects of the hobby at any star party.
Some of the leading regional star parties include:
- Stellafane (Vermont)
- RTMC Astronomy Expo (California)
- Texas Star Party
- Nebraska Star Party (http://www.nebraskastarparty.org)
- Mid Atlantic Star Party (http://www.masp.org) (North Carolina)
- Winter Star Party (Florida)
- Oregon Star Party
See also
External Links
- Astronomy Event Calendar at Sky and Telescope Website (http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/calendar/)