Amateur astronomers around the globe travel countless miles each year to gather and gaze at the stars. Huddled around telescopes, people gather at meadows, mesas and parking lots to enjoy celestial light shows in the evening sky.
This subculture has gained momentum, and new events -- called "star parties" -- are sprouting up worldwide.
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For anyone interested in viewing the wonders of the sky firsthand, star parties are the way to gain free access to telescopes (sometimes quite large telescopes) and to learn from others. These gatherings provide a much more convivial atmosphere than stargazing alone, and they help people learn about the sky and how to use a telescope.
Star-party basics
Most star parties are monthly events put on by local astronomy clubs. These groups publish a list of dates each year, with parties usually planned on the weekend closest to the new moon for that month. (The best time for observing faint objects is when the moon is not in the sky, or not visible during the period around the new moon phase.)
Star parties are social events, but leave the beer at home. A typical star party is a quiet affair, with people speaking in hushed tones while observing through various telescopes. Under a dark sky full of stars, it is considered bad star-party etiquette to speak loudly or play loud music.
To many astronomers there's even an element of reverence: At dark locations the sky is dotted with thousands of stars and its difficult not to feel in awe of the scale of creation. Under a sprawling canopy of stars, silence is a natural reaction.
Starry beginnings
From the beginning of time, humankind has been fascinated by the stars. Native Americans, for example, left many records of their astronomical observations: The Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming -- which features lines marking the location of sunrises, sunsets and the brightest stars -- dates to between 1400 and 1700 A.D.
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