Event Information

Who, What, Where, When and Why?
The two-day Crystal Coast Star Party is held each year usually during International Dark Sky Week.  The Star Party is co-hosted by Crystal Coast Stargazers, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, and Island Express Ferry Service.  All activities take place within the park (at the Lighthouse or on the mainland around the Visitor Center) or in the Education Hall of the Museum (right next door).  The Star Party is a chance for amateur astronomers and the general public to experience the night skies of an International Dark Sky Park.

What activities or presentations will be given and by whom?
Activities include a starlight cruise to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse each night. Separate reservations are required for the cruise. Registering for the star party is NOT a reservation for the cruise. Call for cruise reservations 252-728-7433. Cruise participants disembark at the lighthouse for a  laser tour of the night sky, usually conducted by either a club NASA Solar System Ambassador or a park ranger.  Bring a lawn chair, bug spray and a light jacket. Passengers requiring accessibility assistance should let reservationist know.

An observing area for astronomers with their telescopes is designated on the mainland side of the park including an area specifically for astrophotography.

Club members, and others that are interested, set up their telescopes for the public to stargaze both nights and remain until the starlight cruises return giving those ferry passengers the opportunity to also star gaze.

Astronomy activities/crafts are offered for children early Saturday afternoon and members set up for solar observing. 

The highlight of Saturday afternoon is a presentation by NASA personnel. Past speakers have been a space telescope astrophysicist and an Artemis engineer.

How much does the event cost?
There is no cost for Star Party activities, with the exception of  the tickets for the starlight cruise ferry to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.  Reservations for the starlight cruise can be made at 252-728-7433.

Observing

Can I camp and stay with my equipment? Tell me about the observing fields.
The observing field is behind and around the park’s Visitor Center.  There are several parking lots including the lot next door at the Museum.  Star Party astronomers will enter through the back gate of the Visitor Center area to unload equipment and then park in one of the afore mentioned parking lots.  The back gate will be coned off with no admittance after sun down to preserve the dark sky for our astronomers and astrophotographers.

Although there is no camping on the mainland side of the park, astronomers may remain by their telescopes all night.  There are two sets of bathrooms on the park’s mainland side open all night and are very close to the observing field.   Bring bug spray!

There are a few RV parking spaces at the Museum.  These spaces must be reserved in advance through the club.  There is no cost (although donations are always accepted).  There may not be hookups for power or water – come prepared.

There will be a food truck on site that stays open until 8:30 PM.  Seaside Café and Fish Hook Grill are located on the island.  All of these are owned by local people and serve local seafood, sandwiches and daily specials.

If I have a telescope, but don’t know how to use it, can someone help me?
Club members will be glad to work with you.  We encourage you to touch base with us before you arrive requesting help, so we can have someone available to work with you.

Additionally, one of our experienced astrophotographers is available to work with those requesting help with technique and equipment.

Can I have any light on the field?
No lights other than red lights after sun down.

Will there be power on the field?
Come prepared with your power tanks as there is no power on the observing field.  Power tanks can be charged in the park’s office and the Museum during the day.  We’ll have tags for your charger.

Our Area

What will the temperature be like?
Temperatures are usually mild in the spring on the coast.  However, come prepared with layers; often after dark it can cool down. This is especially true if you are taking the starlight cruise.

Aside from astronomy, what else is there to do?
Carteret County is a known tourism destination; we are a coastal area with beautiful beaches. Within the park and in the area, there are many walking trails. On Harkers Island, we encourage you to visit the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum to get a unique understanding of our Down East heritage.  Island Express Ferry Service offers day cruises to the lighthouse and Shackleford Banks where you can observe wildlife including the wild ponies that roam our banks.  Additionally, you are just a short drive to:

Beaufort and its many historical homes, tours of the Rachel Carson Reserve, and the North Carolina Maritime Museum;

Atlantic Beach — Fort Macon State Park with a restored pre-Civil War Fort;

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Who can I contact for more information?

Crystal Coast Stargazers
Vermadel Nienstedt
803-608-9713
vermadel@embarqmail.com

Cape Lookout National Seashore
Sabrina Godin
252-838-8906
sabrina_godin@nps.gov