As the sun sets, Star Party visitors gather at Blue Hole Park. PHOTO BY ELI COHEN
Visitors experience the Wimberley’s night sky at a Blue Hole Star Party. PHOTO BY ELI COHEN
Star Party at Blue Hole
It is called a Star Party, and there will be plenty of stars – far too many to count – on display at this Saturday’s Blue Hole event.
However, the name “Star Party” is a bit of a misnomer, says Jamie Kinscherff, Outreach Coordinator for the Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee (WVDSC).
“Stars are not really the only star of the evening,” Kinscherff says. “We are also going to see the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn. Also, several constellations, which are made up of stars, of course. We’ll see some star clusters and probably one of the nebulas.”
The popular Blue Hole Star Party is a frequent presentation of Blue Hole Park, in cooperation with the Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee and the Texas State Astronomy Club.
“The Dark Sky Committee sees this as a community-building event and an educational opportunity,” says Kinscherff. “Many people, especially young people, will be looking at the sky through a telescope for the first time. And this reminds people that Wimberley is an official International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) designated Dark Sky Community, one of only six in Texas, dedicated to keeping the night sky visible for everyone.”
Several telescopes will be set up, and star guides from the TXST club and other sources will be on hand to help explain what each telescope is showing. The celestial subjects in each telescope usually change during the evening, so there will be plenty of heavenly bodies to observe.
The last Blue Hole Star Party was in April. Early weather forecasts for Saturday are promising.
Sunset Saturday is just before 7 p.m., but it is not dark for another hour. Star Party activities start at 7:30 p.m. on the soccer field. Visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs or ground blankets; many come early and bring a picnic or snacks.
Parking is by the basketball court and all around the Upper Recreation Loop (which circles the soccer fields). If you arrive after dark, please keep car lights low and avoid shining them on the soccer field. The park will supply red cellophane to put over flashlights to protect night vision, or bring your own, red-covered flashlights if you have them. Blue Hole Regional Park is part of the City of Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department.