8:00 am - 11:55 pm

A beautiful dark sky, glistening White Sand dunes and visits to two outstanding national observatories await you at the Ninth Annual White Sands Star Party.

Hosted by the White Sands National Monument, The Astronomical Society of Las Cruces, NM, the Alamogordo Astronomy Club and The New Mexico Museum of Space History. The White Sands Star Party will provide its attendees ample chances to view the heavens, and take advantage of several astronomical opportunities in the Alamogordo - White Sands area.

The purpose of the White Sands Star Party is to raise funding for ProjectAstro New Mexico. The star party allows participants the special opportunity to take advantage of one the nation's premier national parks as well as share our passion of observational astronomy with the general public. Only registered participants of the White Sands Star Party are offered the opportunity to "camp" at White Sands National Monument.

Now Available!
Downloadable WSSP IX Registration Form (PDF)

As well as the Liability Release:

Downloadable Libility Release Form (PDF)

White Sands Star Party IX
SCHEDULE

Saturday, September 27, 2008
8:00 a.m.-Noon ... Late registration: Tombaugh IMAX ® Dome Theater, N.M. Museum of Space History.
No registrations can be taken at White Sands National Monument.
11am to 5pm........ IMAX Movie shown every hour (see handout for specific titles): Tombaugh IMAX ¨ Dome Theater.
11:00 a.m.-4 p.m. Mini Workshops presented every half-hour at Monument Visitor's Center Main Meeting Room.
11:00 - 11.30 How the Stars Got their Names………..Phil Simpson
11:30 - 12:00 Deprived of Darkness – You can help preserve our dark skies …. Carol Rehder
12:00 - 12:30 Comet Chasing: got scope? Have Fun! ….Greg Crinklaw
12:30 - 1:00 Your first Telescope (or your youngster’s) – Build it …Nils Allen
1:00 - 1:30 Break/ Catch-up Time
1:30 - 2:00 Planetary Astronomy – The Latest New Discoveries …Fred Pilcher
2:00 - 2:30 Photometry- Doing Real Science ….Fred Pilcher
2:30 - 3:00 Adaptive Optics in Amateur Astronomy? …Jerry Gaber
3:00 - 3:30 Astro-Image Processing – Selective Sharpening and Noise Reduction …Dave Dockery
3:30 - 4:00 Imaging with HyperStar: Now Widefield! …Rich Richins
5:00 p.m. ............. Children's astronomy activities.. Open to the public.
6:00 p.m. ............. Pizza party. Free to registered star party participants. Door prize drawings at this event. Must be present to win.
7:30 p.m. ............ "Star Party Etiquette," A general presentation for the public. Amphitheater.
7:45-8:45 p.m. .... Guest Speaker: Amphitheater. General public invited to attend.
8:55 p.m. ............ Red cellophane filter hand-out at entry to observing area
9:00 p.m. ............ "Tour of the Night Sky" constellation talk. Amphitheater.
9:00 p.m. ............ Observing session begins. This session is open to the public.
11:00 p.m. .......... Park closes to general public.
11:30 p.m. ........... Non-camping participants assemble at gate for exit from park.
Midnight. ............ Park closes for all non-camping Star Party participants. No exit from park until 7:00 a.m.