HAL Star Parties & Outreach Schedules
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HAL Star Parties and OutreachHAL's public star parties at Alpha Ridge Park (normally held from March through October or early November except this year where everything is currently on hold due to the coronavirus) feature a relaxed, casual atmosphere where club members, other amateur astronomers from the area, and the public are all welcome to come and enjoy the wonders of the night sky. For detailed information about our star party viewing site and driving directions, click on this Alpha Ridge-View Sites link. While most HAL Outreach events also happen during the warmer months, there are occasional winter events depending on what astronomical events may occur during that time. These include solar observations, comets, meteor showers, etc. The tables below indicate which events are open to the Public at no charge and which are for Members Only. HAL also holds impromptu for members and their immediate guests that can happen almost any night of the year. Impromptus are never covered here on the HAL website. See below for more information. |
Past 2020 Event Reports here
HAL Star Party Schedule
HAL's 2020 Star Parties are on hold until further notice
Outreach & Solar Observation Events (on hold due to coronavirus) |
| As a part of our mission to encourage public interest in astronomy, the space sciences, and STEM education, HAL is sponsoring or co-sponsoring the following events (but not this year!). If there is a separate webpage with more information there will be an active link in the Event column, below. Click on bold, gold underlined future events for more information and on past events for full reports and/or event photographs. |
| Event | Co-Sponsor | Where | When | Host |
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A Great Place To Begin an Adventure in AstronomyHAL members bring all sorts of observing equipment: telescopes of all shapes and sizes, binoculars, solar viewers, and astro-photography and video setups. If you would like a look through our equipment, or if you just bought a telescope and would like some help with it, or even if you are just thinking about getting one and want to check a few out before buying - star parties are the perfect place to get your feet wet.What Will We Be Looking At?Observing targets really cover the full range of celestial treasures including the Sun, the Moon, the planets, double stars, deep sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters, and even orbiting satellites and the space station.Details... details...Starting time is usually sundown and ending time is officially at 11pm, although on nice evenings members often keep the park open a little later. There is plenty of parking at both parks (directions) and folks can arrive at anytime. Star parties are held twice each month, March to November, on Saturdays, and are scheduled around the lunar calendar - so check the HAL Calendar for upcoming dates.Before You Head OutIf you are not sure if the weather is cooperating, check the top of the home page for the latest news. If you are on the Howardastro Yahoogroups list also check for notification e-mails there. Be sure to bring an extra layer or two of clothes just in case temperatures drop more than you expect. You can't have fun if you're cold! For public star parties the show goes on - rain or shine. If the weather is cloudy or worse, the observatory will still be open and presentations will be provided on our large flat panel screen.What is Expected Of You At A Public Star Party?Absolutely nothing. Whether you own a telescope or not, we encourage folks of all ages to come on out, bring your friends and family, and let us share with you the beauties of one of our most precious natural resources - the night sky - in Howard County's very own public parks. HAL's amateur astronomers come from all walks of life and have a wide range of astronomy experience. We all share a passion for the sky's most stunning sights and love nothing more than to share those sights with others. Impromptu Sessions at Alpha Ridge or Carrs Mill
HAL members are fortunate to have access to both Alpha
Ridge and Carrs Mill parks. When select members
with gate keys plan to open up one of the parks, they
post an e-mail on the Members Only "HAL_Impromptu" e-mail group so
that others may join. Gate keyholders are encouraged
to post the e-mail announcement as early as possible prior to the viewing session. When first joining HAL, all members are Opted-in to the impromptu notification list which is set up using a Google Group called hal_impromptu. Existing members that are not interested can log into their HAL accounts and Opt-Out. You can either reply to an existing impromptu list e-mail or initiate a new one using e-mail address hal_impromptu@googlegroups.com. If you are an opted-in HAL Member but not a gate keyholder and want to attend impromptu viewing sessions, keep your eyes peeled for e-mail announcements.
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2020/2021 Regional Star Parties & Astro Events
Regional Star Party Info (Last updated on 7/10/2020) |
Clear Sky Clock (click for full CSC) |
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| Winter Star Party WSP FacebookPage Feb 8-14, 2021 Southern Cross Astronomical Society Camp Wesumkee on Scout Key, Florida |
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| Chaos Spring Star Party Staunton River State Park TBD 2021 Near Scottsburg, Virginia |
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| Texas Star Party (2020 CANCELED) TSP Facebook Page TBD 2021 Astronomical League Southwest Region Prude Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas |
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| Virgo Cluster Star Party (No Frills) (2020 CANCELED) TBD 2021 Susquehannock State Park 1880 Park Dr, Drumore, PA 17518 |
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| The Cherry Springs Star Party (2020 CANCELED) Cherry Springs Facebook Page TBD 2021 The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg Cherry Springs State Park near Coudersport, PA |
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| Green Bank Star Quest and Conference (2020 CANCELED) GBSQ Facebook Page June 10-10, 2021 National Radio Astronomy Observatory Greenbank, WV |
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| Stellafane Convention 2020 CANCELED Stellafane Facebook August 5-8, 2021 Springfield, VT Telescope Makers Annual Convention |
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| RAC Summer Star Party (2020 CANCELED) TBD 2021 Rockland Astronomy Club and Sky & Telescope Peppermint Park Camping Resort (in the Berkshires) Plainfield, Massachusetts, United States |
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| NOVAC AHSP (2020 CANCELED) NOVAC Facebook (Closed Site -You Will Need to Join) Aug 20-24, 2021 Spruce Knob Mountain Center, WV |
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| NEAF Sept. 12-13, 2020 Rockland Astronomy Club and Sky & Telescope Rockland Community College, Suffern, New York |
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| York Co Star Party (Registration Open for 100 Attendees) Sept 16-20, 2020 York County, PA Astronomical Society Susquehannock State Park 1880 Park Dr., Drumore, PA |
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| Black Forest Star Party (2020 CANCELED) BFSP Facebook TBD 2021 Central Pennsylvania Observers Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, PA |
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| Chaos Fall Star Party Staunton River State Park 2020 Date or Cancelation not yet announced Near Scottsburg, Virginia |
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