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HAL Star Parties & Outreach Schedules, Regional Star Parties and Past Year Archives

Scheduled Star Parties and Outreach	2013 Events
Impromptu Observing Sessions	2014 Events
Regional Star Parties and Astro Events	2015 Events
2012 Events	2016 Events

HAL Star Parties and Outreach

HAL's public star parties at Alpha Ridge Park (held from March through November) 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.

(Click link on bold, gold, underlined past dates for Event Reports)

2017 HAL Star Party Schedule

Month	Date	Invitees	Host	CTO	CTA or 2nd CTO	Views / Events / Guests
March	4	Public	Chris Miskiewicz	Mike Krauss	Ken Everhart	Tiger Den of Elkridge Cub Scout Pack 360
March	25	Member	Bob Provine	Mike Krauss	Chas Rimpo	Clouded Out
April	8	Public	Chris Miskiewicz	Jim Johnson	Paul Montanaro	Jupiter Opposition
April	22	Members	Eddie Crawford	Open for Practice	Open for Practice	Clouded Out
May	6	Public	Bob Savoy	Wayne Baggett	Paul Montanaro	Solar Walk Dedication Eta Aquarid Meteors
May	20	Members	Bob Provine	Wayne Baggett	Training Session	Clouded Out
June	3	Public	David Stein	Mike Krauss	Paul Montanaro	Dual Jupiter Transit
June	24	Members	Bob Provine	NA	NA	HALO Closed
July	22	Members	David Stein	NA	NA	Clouded Out
July	29	Public	Ed Crawford	Jim Johnson	Ken Everhart	Celestial Searchers Star-B-Q 7PM
August	19	Members	Garry Ingle	Avail. for Practice	Avail. for Practice
August	26	Public	Garry Ingle	Joel Goodman	Chas Rimpo
September	16	Members	David Stein	Avail. for Practice	Avail. for Practice
September	30	Public	Ed Crawford	Mike Krauss	James Stack
October	21	Members	Garry Ingle	Avail. for Practice	Avail. for Practice	Orionids
October	28	Public	Chas Rimpo	Wayne Baggett	Bob Savoy
November	11	Members	James Stack	Avail. for Practice	Avail. for Practice
November	18	Public	Chris Miskiewicz	Bob Savoy	Ken Everhart	Leonids
December	2	Public	Chas Rimpo	Jim Johnson	TBD	SuperMoon

2017 Outreach & Solar Observation Events

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. If there is a separate webpage with more information there will be an active link in the Event column, below.Check back frequently, more events are currently being scheduled, especially for solar observation.

All events below are are open to the Public. There is no charge to attend the HAL viewing sessions held outdoors at the Robinson Nature Center. However, if you wish to take advantage of other programs being held inside the Nature Center, there is usually a fee charged by the Nature Center.

There is never a charge for the HoCo Library events. Occasionally the library will have an indoors astronomy related program with limited space availability that is held in parallel with the outside observing. In those cases, advance registration may be required. Please inquire directly with the library for more information.

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

Family Nature Sphere Night RNC Robinson Nature Center, Green Roof

3/3/17
6:30-7:30PM

Joel Goodman

Yuri's Night RNC Robinson Nature Center, Green Roof

4/12/17
6-8:30PM

Joel Goodman

Greenfest - Solar Observing HCC The Quad by Burrell Galleria at Howard Community College
4/22/17
10:00AM-4PM

Bob Savoy

A Great Place To Begin an Adventure in Astronomy
HAL 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 Out
If 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
(For HAL Members and their guests only)

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.

2017-2018 Regional Star Parties & Astro Events

Regional Star Party Info (Last updated on 3/04/2017)	Clear Sky Clock (click for full CSC)
Winter Star Party 2018 WSP FacebookPage February 12-18, 2018 Southern Cross Astronomical Society Scout Key, Florida
Chaos Spring Star Party Staunton River State Park TBD 2018 Near Scottsburg, Virginia
NEAF 2018 NEAF Facebook Page TBD 2018 Rockland Astronomy Club and Sky & Telescope Rockland Community College, Suffern, New York
Star Gaze XXV TBD 2018 Delmarva Star Gazers Trap Pond State Park 33587 Baldcypress Laurel, DE
Texas Star Party 40 (2018) TSP Facebook Page May 6-13, 2018 Astronomical League Southwest Region Prude Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas
York County Star Party TBD 2018 York County, PA Astronomical Society Shreveport North Airport 380 Kralltown Road Wellsville, PA
The Cherry Springs Star Party Cherry Springs Facebook Page TBD 2018 The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg Cherry Springs State Park near Coudersport, PA
Green Bank Star Quest XIV GBSQ Facebook Page TBD 2018 National Radio Astronomy Observatory Greenbank, WV
Stellafane Convention TBD 2018 Springfield, VT Telescope Makers Annual Convention
NOVAC AHSP 2017 NOVAC Facebook TBD 2018 Spruce Knob, WV
Black Forest Star Party Sept. 22-24, 2017 Central Pennsylvania Observers Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, PA
Chaos Fall Star Party Staunton River State Park Oct. 16-22, 2017 Near Scottsburg, Virginia

HAL Star Parties & Outreach Schedules, Regional Star Parties and Past Year Archives

HAL Star Parties and Outreach

(Click link on bold, gold, underlined past dates for Event Reports)

2017 HAL Star Party Schedule

2017 Outreach & Solar Observation Events

A Great Place To Begin an Adventure in Astronomy

What Will We Be Looking At?

Details... details...

Before You Head Out

What is Expected Of You At A Public Star Party?

Impromptu Sessions at Alpha Ridge or Carrs Mill (For HAL Members and their guests only)

2017-2018 Regional Star Parties & Astro Events

Impromptu Sessions at Alpha Ridge or Carrs Mill
(For HAL Members and their guests only)