HOWARD
ASTRONOMICAL
LEAGUE
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HAL Star Parties & Outreach Schedules, Regional Star Parties and Past Year Archives
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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
| 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
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| 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 |
Open for Practice |
Open for Practice |
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| July |
22 |
Members |
David Stein |
Open for Practice |
Open for Practice |
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| July |
29 |
Public |
Ed Crawford |
Jim Johnson |
Ken Everhart |
Celestial Searchers Star-B-Q 7PM |
| August |
19 |
Members |
Garry Ingle |
Open for Practice |
Open for Practice |
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| August |
26 |
Public |
Garry Ingle |
Joel Goodman |
Chas Rimpo |
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| September |
16 |
Members |
David Stein |
Open for Practice |
Open for Practice |
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| September |
30 |
Public |
Ed Crawford |
Mike Krauss |
James Stack |
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| October |
21 |
Members |
Garry Ingle |
Open for Practice |
Open for Practice |
Orionids |
| October |
28 |
Public |
Chas Rimpo |
Wayne Baggett |
Bob Savoy |
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| November |
11 |
Members |
James Stack |
Open for Practice |
Open for Practice |
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| 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.
| Family Nature Sphere Night |
RNC |
Robinson Nature Center, Green Roof |
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Joel Goodman |
| Yuri's Night |
RNC |
Robinson Nature Center, Green Roof |
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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. |
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 |
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Chaos Spring Star Party
Staunton River State Park
TBD 2018
Near Scottsburg, Virginia
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NEAF 2018
NEAF Facebook Page
TBD 2018
Rockland Astronomy Club and Sky & Telescope
Rockland Community College, Suffern, New York |
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Star Gaze XXV
TBD 2018
Delmarva Star Gazers
Trap Pond State Park
33587 Baldcypress
Laurel, DE |
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Texas Star Party 40 (2018)
TSP Facebook Page
May 6-13, 2018
Astronomical League Southwest Region
Prude Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas |
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York County Star Party
TBD 2018
York County, PA Astronomical Society
Shreveport North Airport
380 Kralltown Road
Wellsville, PA
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The Cherry Springs Star Party
Cherry Springs Facebook Page
TBD 2018
The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg
Cherry Springs State Park near Coudersport, PA |
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Green Bank Star Quest XIV
GBSQ Facebook Page
July 19-22, 2017
National
Radio Astronomy Observatory
Greenbank, WV |
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Stellafane Convention
July 15-23, 2017
Springfield, VT Telescope Makers Annual Convention |
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NOVAC AHSP 2017
NOVAC Facebook
July 21-25 2017 (Registration opens March 2017)
Spruce Knob, WV |
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Black Forest Star Party
Sept. 22-24, 2017
Central Pennsylvania Observers
Cherry Springs State Park,
Potter County, PA
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Chaos Fall Star Party
Staunton River State Park
Oct. 16-22, 2017
Near Scottsburg, Virginia
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© 1999-2017 Howard Astronomical League
All Rights Reserved
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