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Contact: Nate Toering, 252-838-8909
HARKERS ISLAND, NC – Cape Lookout National Seashore, in collaboration with the Crystal Coast Stargazers, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Island Express Ferry Service, invite you to Discover the Night at the Crystal Coast Star Party 2024. Events will be held on Friday May 3rd and Saturday May 4th 2024. Cape Lookout National Seashore is a certified International Dark Sky Park, a certification which identifies it as having particularly great night sky viewing opportunities. The Crystal Coast Star Party provides a variety of opportunities for visitors to connect with their dark skies. Except for the cost of ferry transportation for the Starlight Cruise, all Star Party activities are free to the public.
Make plans to spend an evening celebrating exceptional-quality night skies at the first Atlantic coastal Dark Sky Park!
Registration is open now at: https://ccgazers.com/crystal-coast-star-party/
Public Stargazing & Astrophotography:
Starting at 8:00 P.M. on both Friday and Saturday, the Crystal Coast Stargazers will have telescopes set up for visitor viewing opportunities. Visitors are also welcome to bring personal telescopes. All telescopes should set up before sunset (no later than 7:30 P.M.) This year, an area will be established within the telescope viewing area for astrophotography.
Visitors entering the telescope and astrophotography areas should not use white lights as they will spoil night viewing and ruin photographs. Red lights are encouraged, and loaner red lights can be provided by the National Park Service at no cost. While there is no camping on the visitor center grounds, attendees may stay with their telescopes throughout the night. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, bug spray, and other comfort items.
Astronomy Events for Kids:
While all events are child friendly, there will be hands-on astronomy activities, coordinated by State Park Ranger Paul Terry and the Crystal Coast Stargazers on Saturday, May 4th at 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Harkers Island Visitor Center.
Guest Speakers:
The Star Party will include programs each afternoon at 4:00 P.M. in the Education Hall of Core Sound Waterfowl Museum.
On Friday May 3rd at 4:00 P.M., Robert Harrison, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, will host an ASIAIR Astrophotography Workshop. ASIAIR is a software system that makes the first steps into astrophotography straightforward and exciting for all experience levels.
On Saturday May 4th at 4:00 P.M., Ray Lundquist, NASA System Engineer for the Artemis Mission, presents “Returning to the Moon – Preparing for Mars”. He will share some of the results of the many NASA missions he has worked on, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from NASA.
Starlight Cruises:
On both Friday and Saturday night, Island Express Ferry Service (the park’s authorized passenger ferry service concessionaire) will offer visitors the chance to experience a starlight cruise, accompanied by a NASA Solar System Ambassador, who will provide a laser-pointed presentation of the night sky from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse area. Each night, the ferry departs the Harkers Island Visitor Center at 7:30 P.M. and returns from the lighthouse dock at 9:00 P.M. for an arrival back to Harkers Island by 9:30 P.M. Reservations for this cruise must be made in advance. For reservations and ticket prices, call Island Express Ferry Service at 252-728-7433.
For more information on astronomy at Cape Lookout, go to: https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/astronomy-night.htm.
For more information on Cape Lookout National Seashore as an International Dark Sky Park, go to: https://www.nps.gov/calo/learn/management/international-dark-sky-park.htm.
Last updated: February 26, 2024