Organizations have cancelled or rescheduled several star parties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cases, organizers are still in the process of making a decision on how and when to hold a given event. Here is an updated calendar of upcoming North American star parties and events, with a date for a final decision given when applicable.

Note: Updated weekly.

NameLocationOriginal DateStatusDecision Date
Northeast Astronomy Forum Suffern, NYApril 4 – 5Held online on April 4th. Rescheduled NEAF has also been canceled.Decided
International Dark Sky WeekEverywhereApril 19 – 26Held online and in your backyard. Look up!Decided
Midsouth StargazeFrench Camp, MSApril 22 – 25Canceled Decided
Southern Star 2020Little Switzerland, NCApril 23 – 26Canceled Decided
Michiana Star PartyVandalia, MIApril 24 – 26CanceledReschedule TBA
Astronomy DayEverywhereMay 2ndCanceledDecided
Texas Star PartyFort Davis, TXMay 17 – 24CanceledDecided
RASC General Assembly Vancouver, BC Canada June 5 – 7Held OnlineDecided
Bootleg Spring Star Party Harmon, ILJune 11 – 14To continue as planned
Grand Canyon Star Party Grand Canyon, AZJune 13 – 20Held onlineDecided
Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival Bryce Canyon National Park, UTJune 17 – 20CanceledDecided
Rocky Mountain Star StareGardner, COJune 13 – 20CanceledDecided
Cherry Springs Star PartyCoudersport, PAJune 18 – 21CanceledDecided
Wisconsin Observers Weekend Hartman Creek State Park, WIJune 18 – 20CanceledDecided
Golden State Star PartyBieber, CAJune 20 – 24CanceledDecided
ALCon 2020Albuquerque, NM July 16 – 18CanceledDecided
Nebraska Star Party Valentine, NEJuly 19 – 24CanceledDecided
Table Mountain Star PartyOroville, WAJuly 21 – 25CanceledDecided
Oregon Star PartyIndian Trail Spring, ORJuly 21 – 26CanceledDecided
Stellafane ConventionSpringfield, VTAugust 13 – 16CanceledDecided
Almost Heaven Star PartySpruce Knob, WVAugust 14 – 18CanceledDecided
Summer Star PartyPlainfield, MAAugust 14 – 23CanceledDecided
Merritt Star QuestLoon Lake, BCAugust 15 – 23CanceledDecided
Maine Astronomy RetreatWashington, MEAugust 16 – 22CanceledDecided
Northern Nights Star FestivalPalisade, NMAugust 18 – 23To continue as plannedFirst week in August
Saskatchewan Summer Star PartyMaple Creek, SKAugust 19 – 24CanceledDecided
StarfestAyton, ONAugust 20 – 23Canceled Postponed to August 2021
Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Dark Sky FestivalFort Smith, NWTAugust 20 – 23CanceledDecided
Northwoods StarfestFall Creek, WIAugust 21 – 23CanceledDecided
Connecticut River Valley Astronomers ConjunctionNorthfield, MASeptember 11 – 13CanceledDecided
Okie-Tex Star PartyKenton, OKSeptember 11 – 19CanceledDecided
Acadia Night Sky Festival Mount Desert Island, MESeptember 16 – 20CanceledDecided
Illinois Dark Skies Star PartyChandlerville, ILSeptember 17 – 19CanceledDecided
Bootleg Fall Star Party Harmon, ILSeptember 17 – 20To continue as planned
Idaho Star Party Bruneau Dunes State Park, IDSeptember 18 – 20Canceled Decided
Alberta Star Party Starland County, ABSeptember 18 – 20Held OnlineDecided
Black Forest Star Party Cherry Springs State Park, PASeptember 18 – 20CanceledDecided
Connecticut Star Party Goshen, CTSeptember 18 – 20CanceledDecided
Hidden Hollow Astronomy ConferenceMansfield, OHSeptember 18 – 20To continue as planned
Astronomy at the BeachIsland Lake State Recreation Area, MISeptember 25 – 26Held onlineDecided
International Observe the Moon NightEverywhere!September 26To continue as planned
NOVAC Star GazeC.M. Crockett Park, VAOctober 5Canceled Decided
Pennyrile StargazeDawson Springs, KYOctober 10 – 18To continue as planned
Enchanted Skies Star PartyMagdalena, NMOctober 13 – 18CanceledMay hold a small members-only event.
SJAC Fall Star PartyBelleplain State Forest, NJOctober 15 – 18CanceledDecided
Eastern Sierra Dark Sky FestivalMammoth Lakes, CAOctober 16 – 18To continue as planned
Jasper Dark Sky FestivalJasper National Park, AlbertaOctober 16 – 25To continue as planned
Deep South Star Gaze Sandy Hook, MSNovember 10 – 15To continue as planned
Death Valley Star PartyFurnace Creek Resort, CANovember 13 – 14CanceledDecided

Clear skies and happy star hunting!

Comments


Image of Jeff-Kopmanis

Jeff-Kopmanis

June 16, 2020 at 11:16 pm

As of June 11, 2020, the Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs has decided that the Astronomy at the Beach event, to be held September 25-26 will be held ONLINE for the safety of our member astronomers and the general public. Member clubs and contributors will be presenting an exciting mix of presenations, webinars and live demos. Watch the official Astronomy at the Beach site, https://www.glaac.org/astronomy-at-the-beach-2020/ for updates as details solidifies. We expect that a preliminary lineup will materialize by the end of July. We know that 2020 will be a very different event, but we are planning to make it a special event in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic.

-Jeff Kopmanis, Secretary, GLAAC

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Image of Jeff-Kopmanis

Jeff-Kopmanis

June 16, 2020 at 11:20 pm

To S&T editors: the published URL for this site from the magazine does not lead here.

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Image of Mike-Dennis

Mike-Dennis

July 28, 2020 at 10:55 am

The 2020 Okie-Tex Star Party, scheduled for September 11-19, has been cancelled due to the continuing COVID19 Pandemic. It will return on October 1-9, 2021.

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Image of astrogirl13

astrogirl13

September 17, 2020 at 12:11 pm

This is a practical question about running public observing sessions during the pandemic. For those that have decided to go ahead with their events, how are you managing public safety? E.g. if telescopes are set up, are members of the public invited to look through them? If so, what steps are taken to disinfect eyepieces between viewers? How are you managing social distancing in lines at the scopes? Given that we will likely be in this situation for the foreseeable future, I'm interested in seeing how we can move forward in a way that keeps everyone safe. Thank you!

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