Night sky enthusiasts of Western Canada and the northern United States are gearing up for the 26 Annual Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, set to commence tomorrow in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
The event is known as a gathering of amateur astronomers and stargazing enthusiasts and is put on by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
It's a unique opportunity for people to come together, share their passion for the cosmos, and enjoy the wonders of the night sky explained Les Dickson, the chair of the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party for 2023.
“Star parties in general are a get-together of amateur astronomers, usually on the weekend underneath the dark skies just for fellowship and good viewing of the night sky,”
The gathering will take place at the Meadows Campground in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
With hundreds of individuals expected to make the trip to Cypress Hills, the event promises a diverse range of daytime and nighttime activities
“We get together, about 300 people from Western Canada and some people from the northern United States, and we have a mixture of daytime events, including Barbeques, banquets, clinics and then overnight evening viewing, including a lot of people who do some very good astrophotography,” Dickson elaborated.
Registration is encouraged for the event, which officially opens its gates tomorrow and runs until Saturday, with Sunday dedicated to cleanup.
Attendees are encouraged to book in advance for tickets to the barbeque and banquet. However, those who wish to experience a taste of the event can opt for the one-day registration.
The cost of registration for one day is 20 dollars. For the whole event, registration for one person is 40 dollars, couples are 50 dollars, and families are 60 dollars.
The event welcomes participants of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned astronomers.
Families are also encouraged to join, with activities designed to engage all members.
Dickson emphasized that the event has evolved into more than just an astronomical gathering and has morphed into a sort of family reunion.
“It started out as a bit of a fundraising event for the two Royal Astronomical Society of Canada chapters, one in Saskatoon and one in Regina,” he explained. “I consider it a family reunion kind of event. We see people coming back year after year, probably 70 percent repeat attendees and some people have been to all previous 25-star parties.”
The event opens tomorrow evening, with the first scheduled event being a barbeque on Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, email sssp.sk@sasktel.net or call Les Dickson at 306-270-9184.
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