What Is A Star Party?

A star party is simply an evening when the public is invited to observe the heavens with telescopes, binoculars and our own eyes. S.T.A.R.S. holds scheduled public stargazing evenings at dusk from May through October and may also host special events at other times of year for a comets, eclipses, meteor showers or the like.

Thanks to the unpredictable nature of the weather in our area, many of these public events are not graced with clear skies and no observing can be done. Needless to say, you should pay attention to the local weather conditions before leaving for the observatory. It is a good idea is to call the S.T.A.R.S. - LINE at: 716/386-7150 before leaving if there is any doubt as to the weather conditions. Unless the skies are at least partly cloudy, there will not be any observing.

What should you bring to make your evening more enjoyable? Always dress warmly! Even in the middle of summer temperatures often fall into the upper 40's, so make sure you bring a jacket and hat. Forget wearing shorts or you'll have a short, cold evening! Since many children get cold and tired early, you may want to bring a sleeping bag or blanket for them to sleep on while you are viewing. If you tire of standing quickly, you may want to bring a folding lawn chair to sit on while you enjoy stargazing. If it should happen to be a very warm evening, a healthy dose of your favorite insect repellent is a very good idea. If you have a set of binoculars, bring them along and we'll show you how amazingly well they work on the night sky. If you have a telescope with which you need help, please feel free to bring it too.

Star Party Etiquette: There are a few rules that we ask that you respect to ensure a safe and enjoyable evening for both yourself and our staff.
1) Please do not touch or move any telescope without the permission of the telescope operator.
2) Please do not use any white flashlights on or near the observing area since this will ruin people's dark adaptation.
3) Please be careful not to sweep the observing area with your car headlights or back-up lights as you leave.
4) By all means bring your children, but they must be supervised at all times since telescopes are expensive and privately owned.
5) It is not a good idea to bring pets, although guide animals are certainly welcome.
6) If you wish to listen music while observing, it must not be played at a volume objectionable to anyone nearby.
7) If you bring a telescope, please leave at least ten feet between you and the next telescope to ensure that people will be able to move around safely.
8) Since walking around in the dark is necessary, please be cautious and be aware that you are doing so at your own peril.
9) Be very careful when parking and walking around in the dark, assume no one can see you.

When you enjoy stargazing as much as we all do, it is just natural to want to band together with others who love getting out and observing the night sky. Being in a club environment is also a great way to speed you along in building your skills if you are a new observer. We strive above all else to make stargazing both fun and educational. We have a great group of people who are friendly and knowledgeable and simply have a ball enjoying the stars together. Here's the best part, S.T.A.R.S. is FREE! We believes that the stars should be free to anyone who has a love of the night sky. Listed below are just some of the reasons why you might want to belong to S.T.A.R.S.: