Physics & Astronomy

Society Star Parties Dates September 18th 8-11 The Summer Milky Way  CANCELED October 16th 7:30-11 Jupiter and the Superior Planets November 13th 7-11 Andromeda January 15th 6-10 The Winter Sky February 12th 7-10 Mars March 12th 8-11 Saturn and the Virgo Cluster What to Expect Lots of telescopes big and small Happy sounding silhouettes in the dark Gasps, Ahhhhhhs, and Wows! Food, cold, amazing sights Before you Arrive Dress warm! Bring extra warm clothing Plan for cold (Getting the hint?) Bring binoculars or a telescope if you have them Snacks (what more do we need to say?) A significant other (Because the stars are awfully romantic...)

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Concerning the Cold

• Cold weather is best for stargazing. Cold generally brings steady skies and really cold means no clouds! Even summer star parties get very cold! In general, dress twice as warm as you normally would dress for cold weather. Remember that you'll be outside for a couple of hours, so wear layers.

Tips for surviving frigid star parties

• Wear a winter hat
  
• Wear a coat (or multiple coats) that come below your buttocks and cinch up. This keeps cold air from coming up from beneath and helps you stay surprisingly warm
  
• Change clothes before coming - change even your underclothes. The slight perspiration from the day on these will make you cold despite any other measures you take.
  
• Don't wear cotton close to your skin, when you perspire cotton will make you colder. Synthetic fabrics and wool are your friends in cold weather!
  
• Wool socks. (Enough said.)
   

Star Party Locations

Big Springs Park

Directions:
Travel up Provo Canyon. Turn right at Vivian Park. Travel through Vivian park approximately 3.3 miles. Turn right into Big Springs Park. Travel through the park to the upper parking lot.

Click here for a Google map of the site.
 

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Dark Sky Sites

The Astronomical Society has a Google map of dark sky locations near Provo. See the link below for access. Also, please feel free to submit new locations.

Dark Sky Sites of Central Utah - BYU Astronomical Society




View Larger Map


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Observation Challenges

The Astronomical Society has a series of observation challenges intended to help newcomers to the hobby of astronomy become experience amateur astronomers. These challenges are comprised of five levels of increasing difficulty. Each level is designed to be accessible using telescopes within an amateur's capabilities. Society members who complete each level and keep a record of their observations qualify for special awards.

PDFs of the observation challenges are available below, as well as the society observation log book, called the NightLog. Printed copies of the NightLog are available to club members free of charge. Printed copies are available to non-club members for $7. Please contact Nicholas Herrick for more information.

BYU Observation Program Pamphlet (.pdf)  Click Here to Download
BYU NightLog and Observation Program (.pdf)  Click Here to Download