The 2024 Iowa Star Party will be held October 3rd to October 6th at Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids, IA, hosted by Ames Area Amateur Astronomers and co-sponsored by the Des Moines Astronomical Society. Join us for a weekend of dark skies, stargazing and conversation.

Whiterock Conservancy is blessed with some of the darkest skies in Iowa because of its location away from city lights. It is a great place for amateur astronomers in the Midwest to set up their telescopes and enjoy the night skies. It is also a fun place for recreation. Daytime activities available include canoeing, hiking, and birdwatching. Registration for the Iowa Star Party is available now. You may complete the following form and use PayPal to complete the process, or simply print and mail the form: [Available Soon]

Guest Speaker

[To be announced]

Public Night - Saturday, October 5th at 5:30 PM

Participants in the Iowa Star Party don't want to keep the wonders of the night sky to themselves. They are also excited about sharing them with the public.

There will be free public viewing on Saturday, October 5th starting at 5:30 PM at the Whiterock Conservancy Star Field. Sun sets at about 6:00 PM. Civil Twilight ends at 6:30 PM, and Astronomical Twilight ends at 7:30 PM. After a short introduction to the night sky, members of the public are welcome to look through various telescopes. If the weather is clear, visitors will have the chance to see galaxies, nebulas and stars millions of light years away, as well as some of the planets in our cosmic backyard, the Solar System. All ages are welcome, and appropriate attire for the weather, as well as a blanket, are recommended. If weather is cool, participants should dress more warmly than they might think is needed, in order to maintain comfort.


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