Astronomy is a fascinating and rewarding hobby. It allows us to see beautiful sights, such as misty whirlpool galaxies and glittering star clusters, and witness incredible events, such as meteor showers and eclipses. It gives us a unique sense of perspective, too. But unless you live in a community with an astronomical society that organizes regular observing nights, chances are you’ll spend a lot of time alone, looking at the night sky with just your neighbor’s cat or an insomniac cow for company.
Of course, that’s part of the appeal for some people. They enjoy gazing at the night sky by themselves, enjoying precious time on their own far from the noise and hubbub of their busy everyday life. I know I relish my special nights stargazing alone inside the ruins of the 800-year-old castle that overlooks my town here in northern England. I can spend hours up there without seeing another soul.
But what if you’re an isolated astronomer who wants to enjoy the beauty of the night sky with others?
Social media allows you to contact and interact with other skywatchers, but tapping away on Twitter or Facebook is no substitute for meeting someone face to face. Fortunately, there are organized events you can go to if you want to meet real people. These events are usually held at remote sites with minimal light pollution, such as campgrounds within national parks, and they offer astronomers a chance to enjoy the wonders of the heavens with others, all under a sky much darker than the one at home.
These events are called star parties.
What is a star party?
I know from personal experience that making the decision to go to your first Star Party can be a bit daunting. After all, it’s a giant leap into the unknown, like preparing to go to a new a school or start a new job. When I was pondering signing up for my first star party, I couldn’t help worrying: “Will I fit in?” Even as we drove onto the campsite, I wondered if I would be welcomed as a newcomer or made to feel like a stranger walking into a busy saloon bar as the piano player falls silent.
I needn’t have worried, and you don’t need to either. Star parties are run by enthusiasts who were once newcomers just like you, and they are very friendly. There are regular attendees, of course, and amateur astronomy has its cliques just like every other hobby or pastime. But event organizers really do welcome new people and work very hard to make everyone feel included in their events, so you won’t feel like an intruder at all.
Tip: Remember that everyone you will meet at a star party, no matter how experienced they are or how big their telescope is, was a nervous newcomer once!
So, what does going to a star party actually entail?
Because many star parties are held at remote locations with dark skies they usually — but not always — involve camping. But there is camping, and there is camping. You might be happy to spend a “back to basics” weekend in a tent or you might prefer to roll up in a mobile home or a caravan, bringing all the comforts of home with you.
Tip: While some star party sites have electrical power supply, shower blocks, lecture rooms, and kitchen facilities, others are essentially just a field. Make sure you check carefully which facilities are going to be available before you book a place at a star party so you don’t have a nasty surprise when you get there.
Also — and I know this might come as a shock — you might need to be able to survive for several hours or days without your mobile phone or a connection to the internet, depending on the star party’s location. This can either be very liberating or a nightmare.
If all this sounds too intense, there are star parties where you don’t have to camp. You can just visit some events without staying overnight. But you must check this before you go and respect any rules about arrival and departure times.
A beginner’s guide to star parties
Source: Trending Update Article
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