Many RASC Centres either sponsor or actively participate in Star Parties throughout the year. A Star Party is an overnight excursion to a suitable dark sky site where you will meet many other astronomers, have an opportunity to compare notes on equipment, listen to informative talks, and share a dark sky experience.
Confirmed events for 2018:
| RASC Centre(s) | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | Kouchibouguac Spring Star Gaze | ? |
| Calgary | Alberta Star B-Q | Jul 13–15 |
| New Brunswick | Mt. Carleton Star Party | July 13-15 |
|
Okanagan |
Mt. Kobau Star Party | Aug 4–12 |
| Saskatchewan | Sask. Summer Star Party | Aug 8–13 |
| St. John's | Butter Pot Star Party | Aug 17–19 |
| Halifax | Nova East Star Party | Aug 10–13 |
| New Brunswick | Camping & Observing Weekend | Aug 10–12 |
| Yukon | Yukon Star Party | Aug 24–25 |
| Winnipeg | Riding Mountain NP Dark Sky Weekend | Aug 31–Sep 3 |
| New Brunswick | Fundy Park Star Party | Aug 31–Sep 1 |
| Kitchener-Waterloo | Fall Equinox Star Party | ? |
| Edmonton | Northern Prairie Star Party | Sep 4–9 |
| Winnipeg | Spruce Woods Star Party | Sep 6–9 |
| Victoria | RASCals Star Party | Sep 7–9 |
| Calgary | Alberta Star Party | Sep 7–9 |
| Vancouver | Summer Star Quest | Sep 8–16 |
| Kingston, Belleville | Fall'n'Stars | Sep 7–9 |
| New Brunswick | Kouchibouguac Fall Star Gaze | Sep 14–15 |
Here is the detailed list of current star parties organized by RASC Centres:
RASC Belleville & Kingston Centres
Fall ‘n’ Stars
Date: Friday, September 7 – Sunday, September 9, 2018
Description: Annual gathering of amateur astronomers in Thomasburg Ontario.
Website: http://rascbelleville.ca/fallnstars/
RASC Calgary Centre
The Great Alberta Star-B-Q
Date: Jul 13 – 15, 2018
Description: The RASC Calgary Centre beckons you West and North of light polluted urban skies to bask in hot summer days and gaze away warm quiet nights at The Great Alberta Star-B-Q.
Website: http://calgary.rasc.ca/starbq.htm
The Alberta Star Party
Date: Friday, September 7 – Sunday, September 9, 2018
Description: We look forward to you joining us for some good times and great viewing under wonderfully dark skies of the Starland.
Website: http://calgary.rasc.ca/asp.htm
RASC Edmonton Centre
Northern Prairie Star Party
Date: Tuesday, September 4 – Sunday, September 9, 2018
Description: Join us for an unforgettable autumn weekend under the stars at the annual Northern Prairie Star Party at Black Nugget Lake Campground. Bring your telescope and your sense of wonder for stargazing under seriously dark skies (Bortle Scale 3).
Website: https://edmontonrasc.com/northern-prairie-star-party/
RASC Halifax Centre
Nova East
Date: Friday, Friday, August 10 – Monday August 13, 2018
Description: Nova East was originally established as the camping and observing weekend for the Halifax Centre, and has grown to include participants from many other astronomy clubs in the Atlantic region, and a number of attendees from the northeastern United States as well.
Website: http://halifax.rasc.ca/ne/
RASC Calgary Centre
2018 RASC General Assembly
Date: Friday, June 28th – Monday, July 3rd, 2018
Description: The Calgary Centre of the RASC is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 59th General Assembly. Join us in Calgary.
Website: https://www.rasc.ca/ga2018
RASC New Brunswick Centre
Kouchibouguac Spring Star Fest
Date: Friday, ?
Description: Member and public observing, information outreach at one of our Dark Sky Preserves.
Website: rascnb.ca
Camping & Observing Weekend (COW) Summer Star Gaze
Date: Friday, August 10 – Sunday August 12, 2018
Description: Member and public observing, information outreach as well as a RASC group supper.
Website: rascnb.ca
Mt. Carleton Star Party
Date: Friday, July 13 - Saturday, July 14, 2018
Description: Member and public observing at one of our Dark Sky Preserves.
Website: https://rascnb.ca/event/mount-carleton-2018-star-party/
Fundy National Park Star Gaze
Date: Friday, August 31 – Saturday, September 1, 2018
Description: Member and public observing, information outreach as well as a RASC group supper.
Website: rascnb.ca
Kouchibouguac Fall Star Gaze
Date: Friday, September 14 – Sunday September 16, 2018
Description: Member and public observing, information outreach at one of our Dark Sky Preserves.
Website: rascnb.ca
RASC Saskatoon and Regina Centres
Saskatchewan Summer Star Party
Date: Wednesday, August 8 – Sunday, August 13, 2018
Description: Join us for a wonderful weekend of observing and daytime events at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and Dark Sky Preserve in south-west Saskatchewan.
Website: http://www.usask.ca/rasc/starparty.html
RASC Okanagan Centre
Date: Saturday, August 4 – Saturday, August 12, 2018
Description: The 35th Annual MKSP runs 8 nights on the sage-and-fir scented summit of Mt. Kobau, near Osoyoos, BC. Dark sky observing, guest talks, a popular door prize draw and great astro-fellowshipping characterize this warm-spirited event. Last year’s wildfire on the mountain did not affect the star party site or any of our plans for the future, but affords a rare chance for attendees to get an up-close look at a recovering forest on the road to the summit.
Website: http://www.mksp.ca/
RASC St. John’s Centre
Butter Pot Star Party
Date: Friday, August 17 – Sunday, August 19, 2018
Description: The public is invited to joing the St. John’s Centre RASC and Butter Pot Provincial Park to meet under dark skies for the 2018 Butter Pot Star Party!
Website: Butter Pot Star Party
RASC Vancouver Centre
Summer Star Quest
Date: Saturday, September 8 – Sunday September 16, 2018
Description: Merritt, BC. Organized by the Merritt Astronomical Society with significant participation by RASC Vancouver Centre.
Website: www.merrittastronomical.com
RASC Victoria Centre
RASCals Star Party
Date: Friday, September 7 – Sunday, September 9, 2018
Description: Held in Central Saanich. A fun and easy-going camping and observing weekend which the whole family can enjoy.
Website (needs update): victoria.rasc.ca/events/rascals-star-party
RASC Winnipeg Centre
Riiding Mountain NP Dark Sky Weekend
Date: Friday, August 31 – Monday, September 3, 2018
Description: We’re turning off the lights for this event! Join Parks Canada and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada for a weekend full of activities under the star filled skies of Riding Mountain. Learn about the Milky Way from the pros, look up at Anishinabe constellations, view the sky with binoculars, and party under the stars.
Website: www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/mb/riding/activ/activites-events
Spruce Woods Star Party
Date: Thursday, September 6 – Sunday, September 9, 2018
Description: Come enjoy the dark skies of Spruce Woods and spend a long weekend with
astronomy enthusiasts of all walks of life!
Website: winnipeg.rasc.ca/spruce-woods-star-party
RASC Yukon Centre
Yukon Star Party
Date: Friday, August 24 – Saturday August 25, 2018
Description Grand Opening of Yukon's first astronomical observatory
Website: www.yukonastronomy.com