Events

Staunton River 2024 Fall Star Party registration opened

Sunday, July 21, 2024

The Staunton River 2024 Fall Star Party is set for September 30 to October 6, with registration now open. Entry fees are $110 for the week and $60 for the weekend. Register via PayPal or mail. Attendees can expect clear skies and exciting presentations. Future star party dates for 2025 have also been announced.

Staunton River is set to host its 2024 Fall Star Party from September 30th to October 6th. Registration is now open, with entry fees set at $110 for the full week and $60 for the weekend (Thursday through Sunday). These fees are per astronomer.

Participants can register through PayPal, either via the event’s website or directly through PayPal using the email stauntonriverstarparty@gmail.com. Registrants are asked to include their name as it should appear on their name tag and provide the names and number of accompanying guests to ensure an accurate head count for the park.

Staunton River 2024 Fall Star Party registration has opened

For those preferring to register by mail, checks can be sent to:

CHAOS SRSP
P.O. Box 3001
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Despite a challenging weather forecast at the last spring star party, attendees experienced clear skies every night, allowing for at least two hours of observation each night. Organizers are hopeful for a repeat of this success.

Anyone interested in giving a talk at the event is encouraged to reach out to the organizers to arrange it.

Star party dates for 2024 & 2025

Fall 2024: September 30 - October 6, 2024
Spring 2025: March 24 - 30, 2025
Fall 2025: October 20 - 26, 2025

Organizers are looking forward to another successful gathering and are eager to welcome participants this fall.

Star Party speakers

Star Party speakers deliver their presentations on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons.

Ladye Jane Vickers and Kristin Hendershot – “Women in Astronomy”

Doug Lively and Michael Keefe

Solar System Smack Down: Mars vs. Venus

Michael Keefe and Doug Lively, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors

This presentation compares and contrasts various parameters of Mars and Venus, focusing on which planet might be a better option for eventual colonization. The Earth, the third planet from the Sun, orbits between these two rocky planets, providing a unique perspective for discussion.

Hollywood Science vs. Real Science: Asteroid Disaster Movies

Michael Keefe and Doug Lively, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors

This session examines the "Hollywood science" depicted in asteroid disaster movies such as Armageddon and Deep Impact, comparing it to real scientific knowledge and understanding.

Dark sky classification

The star party takes place at Staunton River State Park, Virginia's first international dark sky park, located in Halifax County near Scottsburg and approximately 30 miles east of South Boston, Virginia. The GPS coordinates for the park are 36° 41′ 46″ N latitude and 78° 41′ 06.9″ W longitude.

The area is classified as a blue zone on light pollution maps, as indicated by the map from the Dark Site Finder website. As an IDA-certified dark sky park, Staunton River State Park collaborates with local governments and businesses to preserve and enhance the dark skies in the area.