Star Party Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much do the star parties cost?

A.  Star parties are free to attend, but donations are appreciated. 

Q. Can I stay overnight?

A. If you wish to stay overnight in the cabins, bunkhouses, RV hookups and tent camping are available for a fee.  Contact 3riversranch@ttu.edu if you wish to stay over.

Q. May I bring my own telescopes?

A. Yes, absolutely.

Q. Can I do a private star party?

A. Yes, but there are additional fees for these.  Contact 3riversranch@ttu.edu to make arrangements.

Q. How are the dates for the public star parties chosen?

A. We choose the Saturday each month where we expect it to be darkest in the early evening.  We do this by lunar months, rather than calendar months, so occasionally, we will have star parties at the beginning and end of the same month.  We skip the coldest part of the year as these times are less desirable, and we can use them for some longer term maintenance issues.

Q. Who supports the star parties?

A.  The star parties are primarily supported by the Department of Physics & Astronomy and College of Arts and Sciences at Texas Tech University, with additional support from Angelo State University.

Other questions? Write to thomas.maccarone@ttu.edu