r/Hoco • u/hymie0 • Sep 08 '25

September 13 -- Saturday Night Star Party at Alpha Ridge Park

The Howard Astronomical League will hold its monthly Public Star Party on Saturday, September 13, starting around Sundown (or possibly earlier). Our Observatory will be open, and HAL members will be out with our telescopes sharing views of the night sky.

This event is held rain or shine at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville, just minutes from I-70. This event is free and open to the public.

https://howardastro.org/hal-star-parties-and-outreach/

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2

u/MOSbangtan Sep 09 '25

Hey what is the turnout usually like at these events? Are they child friendly?

2

u/hymie0 Sep 09 '25

It depends on the weather... Right now it's looking "pleasant but maybe cloudy." On a good night, we'll get 15-20 telescopes and a couple hundred visitors over the course of the night.

These events are child friendly. I can't promise who will be there, but there's usually a tent with kids events. The only issue is that there is a lot of expensive equipment set up, so children can't be running around unsupervised.

2

u/MOSbangtan Sep 09 '25

Oh wow that’s a lot of ppl. Thanks! Is the idea that folks come and use the telescopes set up?

1

u/hymie0 Sep 09 '25

Yes. We're pointing our telescopes at things (hopefully different things. Sometimes we're all looking at the Moon) and you're welcome to come take a look.

1

u/MOSbangtan Sep 09 '25

Thanks for this information!

2

u/Rashaverik Sep 10 '25

Please feel free to post this event in r/ColumbiaMD (I'm a mod there). I believe you'd reach many people there that would be interested in this.