Star Parties

Droop Mountain Star Party
September 22, 2023 ~ 8:00 PM
Free to the public

The Watoga State Park Foundation is the host for a dark sky Star Party to be conducted at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park on Friday, September 22, 2023.  Anyone is welcome to meet at the Droop Mountain Tower at 8:00 pm. Amateur astronomers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss various aspects of the night sky. Telescopes for viewing will be stationed at the Droop Mountain Tower area. Please feel free to bring your telescope or binoculars.

Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park provides a great opportunity for open sky viewing. September 22, 2023 is also International Astronomy Day. This fall date celebrates not only astronomy, but more importantly encourages the general public, astronomy amateur and professionals to look up worldwide at the sky from planet earth.

Each library in Pocahontas County has an Astronomy back pack available for check out, plus one is available at Watoga State Park for registered guests. This display, showcasing the contents of the back pack, is from our September 2022 Star Party.

People spread out blankets on the ground and set up chairs to watch the sky at our September 2022 Star Party.  We all take turns at the telescopes.

West Virginia is home to three official Dark Sky Parks designated by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA): Watoga State Park, Calvin Price State Forest, and Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. The parks were given official Dark Sky status in October 2021.

**Sept 24th rain date
**Please check our Facebook page for up-to-the-minute changes
This photo was taken from the top of the Droop Mountain Battlefield tower, early at the September 2022 Star Party, by Peter Stephens, who was visiting from Acton, MA.
This moon photo was taken through the big telescope by Keith McMillion, at our star party. Our amateur astronomer consultants help calculate the appropriate date for an interesting star party. Moon position, planet alignment, etc are all considered when planning a date, and then we hope for clear weather.