RAC Press Releases

New York Based Astronomy Club Announces Dates for It’s 23rd Annual Summer Star Party
10-Day Observing Event is the Longest Star Party in the United States and Is Being Held July 25 – August 3rd, 2014 in the Berkshire Mountains of Northwestern Massachusetts, Known for It’s Pristine Dark Skies.

Suffern, New York, June 12, 2014 – Rockland Astronomy Club, Inc. (RAC), a non-profit astronomy education and outreach organization, announced the dates for it’s well-known observing and camping vacation, the Summer Star Party (SSP). The annual event is in it’s 23rd year and is now held at the Peppermint Park Camping Resort, Plainfield, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains. SSP2014 is open to both club members and the general public. It is ideal for dark sky observing, astrophotography as well as solar observing. Attendees may come for a few days, or stay all ten.

SSP is designed to meet the needs of astronomy enthusiasts, including individuals, families, seasoned astro-photographers, and beginners. The location is specially fitted-out for this event with all red lights, clean power supplies and a warming and refreshment tent, to allow for maximum enjoyment and viewing of the area’s pristine dark skies and arching Milky Way. The facilities and camping grounds include on-site food service, free WI-FI, an in-ground swimming pool and hot tub, new kid’s playground, and lodge with fireplace for relaxation. There are numerous picturesque local attractions to occupy attendees during the daylight hours, and non-campers can choose from many available lodging options.

There are numerous picturesque local attractions to occupy attendees during the daylight hours, and non-campers can choose from many available lodging options. SSP is sponsored by Sky & Telescope magazine, which hosts a live guided sky tour as well as observing and equipment oriented lectures by speakers, including the S&T Senior Editor Alan MacRobert and the renowned optical designer Al Nagler, among others.

SSP Manager and longtime RAC Board Member Jose Alvira recently stated: “The Rockland Astronomy Club Is striving to make the Summer Star Party more memorable each year by arranging for such new features as an opening festival with live music and a beautiful sky lantern launch at sunset, as well as other extras such as a superb chicken barbecue, free raffle tickets, unlimited coffee every night and free daily continental breakfast. This year we’ll be setting up an 80” LED TV for daytime lectures and a daily astronomy matinee, plus we’ll have classic sci-fi movies on the 10-foot screen in our club tent theater on non-observing nights. We also provide activities for children and wonderful astronomy prizes.”

The Rockland Astronomy Club, Inc., founded in 1958, is one of the East Coast’s premiere astronomy clubs and non-profit astronomy education organizations. In addition to SSP, the club hosts many lec- tures, workshops, star parties, planetarium shows, children’s programs, and science and astronomy events, including the famous Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), the Northeast Astro Imaging Con- ference (NEAIC), and the Children’s Space & Astronomy Fair (CSAF). For further information about the Summer Star Party and the club, please visit the RAC web site: www. rocklandastronomy.com.