Our Star Parties are open to anyone interested in the night sky. You do not need to be a WVAC member or have a telescope to attend star parties. There is no charge to attend. We ask that you read the Disclaimer below. We also have a set of etiquette that we ask participants to understand and follow at the star parties.
Join Us
Please join us with or without a telescope for a few hours under a dark sky. Please before sunset to avoid disturbing others and to see where to park. We have also made a list of things you consider bringing to make the star party an enjoyable experience.
Information about a star party is sent out by email on the Wednesday before the party. On the day of the event a Go/No-Go decision is made, and an email notification is sent out (normally by 4:00 PM) based on the weather conditions. The status is also be updated on our website. Here is the Contact Form if you want to be added to this Star Party Notification List.
The next scheduled Star Party is Saturday June 17, 2023. (Sunset at 7:41 pm)
Current Star-Party Status: NOGO
Remaining Star Party dates (subject to change), New Moon dates, and information on the Star Party location are below:
Star Party
- June 17
- July 8
- July 15
- August 5
- August 12
- September 9
- September 16
- October 7
- October 14
- November 4
- November 11
- December 2
- December 9
New Moon
- June 17
- July 17
- August 16
- September 14
- October 14
- November 13
- December 12
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, July 29, 2026
- July 2026 - Private Observing Event - 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, September 14, 2026
- September 2026 - International Observe the Moon Night - Peoria Main Public Library at Centennial Plaza - 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, September 19, 2026
- September 2026 - International Observe the Moon Night - Surprise Asante Library - 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, September 22, 2026
- September 2026 - International Observe the Moon Night - Peoria Sunrise Mountain Library - 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm, October 20, 2026
- October 2026 - Moon and Star Party at the Georgia T. Lord Library in Goodyear
Star Party Location
Our viewing location is close to the Northwest Valley and easy to get to on paved roads. It provides a fairly dark sky for astronomical viewing and has proved to be an excellent site for our purposes. The star party site is on Arizona State Trust Land and the state requires everyone to have a State Land Use Permit.
Star Party Liability Disclaimer
The West Valley Astronomy Club (WVAC) is not responsible for the property or liability of any star party participant, nor will the club be held liable for their actions or possessions. WVAC is not responsible for any vehicular damage, theft, or mechanical difficulties that may occur while attending a star party. WVAC recommends when attending events at our star party site, which is on Arizona State Trust Land, that you obtain a State Land Use Permit. WVAC also strongly recommends adherence to the doctrine of ‘safety in numbers’ when it comes to remote observing sites. In the interest of safety it is recommended that you don’t go to remote sites alone and that someone knows where you have gone each time you go out observing.
