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How to Host a Stargazing Party

Stargazing, Viewing Party

Balmy summer nights are the perfect opportunity to get together with fellow stargazing enthusiasts and family for a stargazing party, also know as star parties. Hosting a star party of your own gives you the chance to learn about the constellations, share knowledge and pick up new viewing techniques from friends and amateur stargazers.

A well planned stargazing party is both fun and educational, make sure activities are planned so that experienced stargazers and those new to the hobby have plenty of opportunities to interact. Remember that even a well planned party can be uneventful in the viewing department because of poor visibility, so it is important to have other activities and encourage more socialization. Here are some tips for planning your own stargazing party.

When To Host Your Stargazing Party

Deciding when to host your party is half the fun of hosting a stargazing party. Consult star charts and sky watch websites to determine what planets, meteor showers, or if the Milky Way is visible. You can also check NASA’s website to find out when the International Space Station is flying over your town.

Planning your party during a specific celestial event gives your guests extra viewing opportunities when stars and constellations are too difficult for everyone to locate. Remember to keep in mind the phase of the moon on the day of your party, a full moon means more light in the sky but also allows you to vies the moon’s surface. Whereas a crescent moon phase is the ideal time to view constellations and other objects that are harder to view with interfering light.

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Where To Host Your Stargazing Party

The most convenient place to host your party is outside your home, but it is not always the best. In order to gain the best viewing conditions you need to remove yourself from as much light pollution as possible.

If it is possible to have the viewing in your backyard without too much light interfering with your observations, plan your party there. Otherwise, look around in your neighborhood for safe areas away from sources of light, make sure you gain permission to use both public and private locations.

What To Provide At Your Party

If you are hosting a stargazing party with experienced astronomers they will most likely bring several of their own pieces of equipment and gear that they prefer to view with. In these instances it is necessary to provide just the bare necessities. If you are in a location where you want to provide light snacks and refreshments remember to bring all the supplies that you will need to store and cleanup. Have a few chairs and blankets handy for those who choose to do some eyeball viewing. Provide extra star charts or wheels, astronomy guidebooks, flashlights, binoculars and extra batteries for those who would like to use them.

When you have a mixed party, or a party with more amateur stargazers than experienced ones, you will need to provide more supplies and gear to help your guests out. Take the time to determine which constellations will be visible in the sky the night of your party and provide cards or other guides that illustrate the design of each grouping of stars,

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Here is a great idea to make viewing constellations easier for those new to stargazing. Place four tables in each point of a compass point; north, south, east and west. Determine which constellations are visible in each direction of the night sky and place cards and other information about those constellations on each table. A fifth table can be placed in the middle for those constellations that appear directly overhead.

If you own your own telescope for viewing set it up to allow your guests the chance to catch a glimpse of one of the more maagnificent celestial bodies. There is also the possibility of renting a telescope, but this is only worth it if someone is able to correctly use it and capable at locating objects in the sky. Plenty of star charts, binoculars, and flashlights are a must.

No matter what, keep in mind that even the best planned star parties are meant to share knowledge about the stars and constellations you are outside to view. So, even if you do not have the best conditions on the night of your party don’t let that stop you from sharing stories and interesting facts with those you invite.

Happy stargazing!