April 2026 Star Party

Enjoy the early Spring constellations away from the bright lights of the towns and cities in our area! The night will be dark - perfect for star gazing. Bring your own telescopes and binoculars or use those provided by our members. A telescope is not required.

Gemini and Leo will be dominating the night sky, and Bootes will have risen before the evening ends. "Galaxy Season", and views of galaxies like M51 or the famous Leo Triplet should be possible both through the eyepiece and on a screen.

You must RSVP with your car's make, model, and license plate number at least one day beforehand. This info is required by and sent to the State Park authorities because we are there after park hours. If you attend without being on the list and the police show up, the consequences can include revocation of our permit for after hours use.

If you have not been to one of our star parties before then please review our guide to star party etiquette.

A forecast of the viewing conditions can be found on the Astrospheric Sky Forecast. It shows various viewing conditions (cloud cover, transparency, darkness) as well as temperature, wind, etc. If you scroll down the page you'll find additional useful info such as sunset timing, position of the planets, and more.

Note: Early Spring viewing conditions can be very clear - but also colder than you realize. Since you will be standing around looking at the stars for a while you may feel even colder than otherwise when outdoors. Dress warmly and consider bringing extra layers in case you get colder as the night goes on.

For further information, text or call Tim Denman at 845-245-5483 or Jack Chastain at 845-430-6851.

Featured Image Credit: Michael Goldstein, an MHAA member since 2023, practices Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA), real time astro-imaging, which he frequently demonstrates at Star Parties.