CANCELLED: Saturday June 1 – Free Public Star Party at Pinnacle Mountain State Park – 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM

Tonight’s Event has been cancelled due to clouds.

The star party is a sky viewing event hosted by the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society along with Pinnacle Mountain State Park. It is held on the parking lot of the old visitor center, now known as the River View Center (not at the new visitor center.) Visit with the telescope volunteers as they share views of interesting stars, galaxies and nebula in the night sky.

   Bring a red flashlight if you have one to use in the viewing area. The red light will not disturb everyone’s night vision as a white flashlight does. Dress warmer than you think, the nighttime air can get a chill in it. 

   The moon will not be out this night so we have a chance to see constellations and deep sky objects. We’ll be looking for bright man made objects that cross the sky too.

   This event is the last Star Party scheduled for Pinnacle Mountain in 2024. The next public star gazing event will be August 31st at the soccer fields on Hwy 300, not far from Pinnacle Mountain, and you can get information about that event at the new visitor center later this summer. When you come to the park you will see that the old visitor center is now being offered for lease, and the future of star parties at this location is uncertain.

   With the recent unsettled weather our state has experienced, CAAS will cancel the star party if the sky is completely overcast (telescopes can’t see through clouds) and or if it is raining, or if a severe weather alert is active. Please be sky aware.     See you under the stars!

National Astronomy Day, May 18, 2024

May 18 is National Astronomy Day and the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society invites you to come out to Pinnacle Mountain State Park at the Visitor’s Center for an afternoon and evening of celebration! Starting at 2PM we will have activities for everyone to enjoy. If the weather is cloudy we will use a shorter schedule, 2PM – 8PM. It’s all free and all family fun. Come out and explore your cosmos!
 

Bubbles

Star gazing

Presentations

Star gazing

Stomp rockets

Star gazing

Saturday April 27 – Free Public Star Party at Pinnacle Mountain State Park – 7:50 PM to 10:30 PM

Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Star Party April 27, 2024

Schedule of Events
River View Center (aka Old Visitors Center)

Sunset: 7:52 pm
Moonrise: 11:59 pm (85% waning gibbous)                                        

6:30 to 8:30 pm  – Volunteers set up: Binoculars, Telescopes, EAA

Indoor programs while waiting for dark:
7:50 pm – Stories and Pictures from Eclipse Day – Carl & Darcy
8:10 pm – What’s Up in the Sky Tonight – Rocky
Outdoors:
Bubbles on the parking lot while daylight
8:30 – 10:30 pm- Constellation tour (Rocky) and Telescope viewing begins when the sky gets dark enough. 
10:30 pm – Activities end.

Star Party Etiquette:
   Red or amber flashlights only should be used. These colors help preserve our dark vision and white flashlights should have a red cover over them. No flashing lights on shoes or clothes please.
   Be mindful of the volunteer’s telescopes. Please do not bring dogs on a leash into the telescope area.
   Dress for cool weather, the night is cooler than you think.
Outdoor activities will be cancelled in case of rain. 
Telescopes are like our eyes, they can’t see through clouds.

Coordinator: Bill Sanders
Central Arkansas Astronomical Society