Heart of America Star Party

Embrace the Night Sky: A Great Experience for New and Experienced Stargazers

This year, we're excited to extend a warm welcome to beginners and aficionados alike. Whether you’re embarking on your astronomy journey or are already an avid and experienced observer, this event offers something special. Leave behind any worries about feeling overwhelmed – our engaging activities and workshops are for everyone to enjoy a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

The Heart of America Star Party is the ASKC’s largest annual event, hosted at our 40-acre Dark Sky Site (DSS), about 75 miles south of Kansas City.

Guest Speakers

Delve into captivating talks presented by knowledgeable guest speakers.

William “Bill” Wren has been fascinated by the night sky all his life. He earned degrees in Philosophy and Educational Psychology at the University of Texas. He audited courses in the Astronomy Department, and was an academic tutor for undergraduate students in astronomy.
In 1990, Bill started work at McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, Texas, as a Public Affairs Specialist and part-time researcher, leading a search for extra-galactic supernovae. He also helped design and build several unique telescopes, one of which is wheelchair accessible and dedicated for public use at the Observatory’s Visitors Center. He was the Commissioning Telescope Operator of the 10-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope.
Bill has long been actively involved in protecting the Observatory’s dark night skies, an endeavor that became his full-time responsibility. His greatest satisfaction during his career at McDonald came from conveying the wonders of the universe to the tens of thousands of people who visit the site each year. Bill retired in 2022 and relocated to his birthplace, Kansas City, Mo.

Dr. Paul Strycker attended University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate work and earned a PhD from New Mexico State University. He is currently a professor at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Dr Strycker's program will be on using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) methods for detecting changes in ground based video images of solar system objects. Techniques he developed were used to first detect an impact plume in a polar crater from NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) spacecraft.

Join us for:

🌌 Immerse yourself in a stunning dark sky environment with a 6.3 limiting magnitude (based on SQM-L averages).

🏞️ Enjoy ample space for tents, trailers, and RVs, with power hookups available on a first-come, first-served basis.

☔ Relax indoors if the weather takes a turn, with plenty of indoor space available.

🚿 Refresh with heated showers.

🏛️ Immerse yourself in a fun camp atmosphere.

🌳 Explore nearby nature preserves, perfect for bird watching and hiking enthusiasts.

🍔 Enjoy great food including "Star-B-Que" dinner on Saturday evening.

Not a Camper?

Convenient services and hotels are just a short drive away in Butler, MO. Services & hotels located in nearby Butler, MO (less than 30-minutes away) historic home of The Pennell hotel & restaurant.

Apparel:

Each year features uniquely designed apparel options. Our fashion designers have been hard at work and here is the 2024 design:

Don't miss out on this stellar opportunity to connect with fellow astronomy enthusiasts, learn from experts, and revel in the beauty of the cosmos. Join us at the Heart of America Star Party 2024 for an unforgettable celestial journey.

Book your spot now and let the universe inspire you!