Night Owl Star Party - Experience Learning

Night Owl Star Party
May 23 – 27, 2025

Come to our Night Owl Star Party. Registration is limited to 100 guests. The focus of this event is firmly on the nightly observing, and providing an opportunity to share the wonders of the night sky. We look forward seeing you at Spruce Knob Mountain Center in May! During this event, our campus will be treated as a dark site after sun down, and only red lights will be permitted. Please plan accordingly if you plan to arrive after dark.

Fees

Car Camping Slot (under 14 feet in length): $40

RV Slot: $100

Adult Registrant: $70

Children under 12: Free

Meals: $42/day vegetarian options available

Registration fees cover one cohort, staying in one camping or RV slot. A single registration can have a maximum of 6 people.

Star Party Registration fees cover camping, water, shower/toilet/outhouse access for Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. You may opt in to the meal plan on a daily rate.

Activities

Our goal for this year’s Night Owl Star Party is to keep the event very simple and focused largely on the nightly observing.

As always, we encourage you to explore the area on your own. We will have trail maps available around the yurts. We feel like quiet time, nature observation, and forays around our campus are some of the best ways to spend daytime hours in these remote parts.

Food

Meals will be available at the NOSP if you’d prefer not to bring your own food. Alumni of previous star party events know that we have a track record of providing tasty meals that far exceed the fare available at most star parties. We will serve three hearty meals and coffee/tea and snacks throughout the day/night.

IF YOU ARE COOKING YOUR OWN MEALS: you must do all your cooking on a camp stove. No campfires will be allowed.

Breakfast 8 AM -9AM

Lunch 12PM-1PM

Dinner 6PM-7PM

Thursday

Soup and Salad

Spinach and Potato Soup, herb biscuits,

Bean salad, fresh salad and

dressings, Iced Tea

Mexican Night

Fajita chicken, sweet potato with black beans, rice, salsa, cilantro lime aioli, cabbage carrot slaw, cheese, sour cream, fresh greens, tortillas, corn chips, lime bars, iced tea

Friday

Biscuits and gravy, sausage, plain scrambled eggs, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, mini muffins, coffee, hot tea and OJ

BLTs

Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches served with chips, fruit, potato salad

American Night

Baked herb chicken, marinated tofu, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, fresh salad and dressings, chocolate chip cookies iced tea

Saturday

Veggie egg scramble, plain scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, mini muffins, coffee, hot tea and OJ

Chicken Sandwich and Veggie Burgers

Chicken sandwich, veggie burgers, chips, broccoli salad, potato wedges, fresh fruit, iced tea

Italian Night

Lasagna, garlic toast, fresh salad and dressings, sheet cake, iced tea

Sunday

Toasted Bagels with egg, sausage patty (veggie patty), cheese, fruit yogurt, oatmeal, muffins, coffee, hot tea, OJ

Chili

Veggie or beef chili served with sides of cheese, sour cream, chives and cornbread. Fresh salad and dressing

Grill Out

Hot dogs and hamburgers, black bean burgers served with potato salad, fresh salad, fries, Ice cream sundaes, iced tea

Monday

Pancakes, blueberry sauce, maple syrup, sausage, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, mini muffins, coffee, hot tea, OJ

**granola bars and fresh fruit will be available mid morning thru mid afternoon every day

Policies

Refunds – Refunds will not be offered except in extreme circumstances.

Common Sense – We expect NOSP attendees to exercise good judgement, courtesy, and common sense. We think you’ll find NOSP to be a warm, friendly event–and we’ll do our best to be flexible and accommodating whenever it’s possible to do so.

Problems – Don’t hesitate to contact Experience Learning staff on-site if a problem develops.

Alcohol – Alcoholic beverages are permitted at NOSP. The legal age for the consumption of alcohol in West Virginia is 21 years of age. Should you choose to consume or serve alcohol, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for conformance with West Virginia law. Please exercise good judgement, courtesy, and common sense.

Camping Area – No alterations of the site are allowed. This includes digging holes, cutting trees, etc.

Fire Safety Rules – Please make sure everyone in the camp is familiar with the use of fire safety devices in the camp and fire safety in general. No open fires or briquet cooking allowed. Only camp stoves will be permitted and only for cooking. Having a fire extinguisher nearby is highly recommended.

Garbage Disposal – As this is a remote location, no regular trash service is available. We’ll provide a garbage bag when you check in, and we ask that you take your campsite trash with you when you depart. Under no circumstances may garbage or refuse be burned.

Late Arrival – Attendees arriving after dark MUST NOT DRIVE VEHICLES past the designated late-arrival area near the entrance of Spruce Knob Mountain Center. Guests who arrive after dark are welcome to camp in the late-arrival area, or they may walk up the hill (about 0.85 mile) to the main campsites—but vehicles must remain in the late-arrival area until morning. We know it’s a pain, but it’s important for the safety and comfort of other guests. This has been a problem in past years, so we’ll take a break from our friendly tone to say this clearly: Guests who disregard this important instruction are likely to be denied access to NOSP without refund.

SKMC Emergency Contact Info – If you need to be contacted in an emergency, you cannot count on cellphone connections at SKMC, due to low cell tower density and mountain blockage. The best way to reach you is for a message to be sent to your email, and for you to connect periodically via Wi-fi in the vicinity of the main yurts.

Alternatively, we can be called at the SKMC landline phone 304 606 3233. The phone is not monitored 24/7. There will be an Experience Learning staff member on call at all times.

Spruce Knob Mountain Center
18 Woodlands Way
Circleville, WV
304-606-3233

Lights and Laser Pointers – This is a dark site. Since it is very easy to lose your dark adaption, the use of glow sticks or any source of white light is prohibited. Only low-powered, red-filtered flashlights are permitted in the observing areas. Many red headlamps and flashlights are far too bright for use in such a dark sky. If you discover that you have such a device and would like some help with filtering, just ask a member of the NOSP staff. We ask that participants not use laser pointers. They interfere with astrophotography, and can cause problems with dark adaptation for visual observers.

Astrophotographers: please remember that your computer screens and associated equipment emit a lot of light. Consider the needs of visual observers around you when filtering your equipment and shielding it from view. If you’d like to be placed in a field location where a bit of stray light won’t bother observers around you, please let our staff know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Cars now have many lights — courtesy lights — which cannot easily be disabled. Some automatically turn on when you simply approach or open a door. These are a particular problem on the observing fields where vehicles are adjacent to observers. It is your responsibility to cover lights you cannot disable with dark tape for the duration of NOSP.

No On-site Registration – There is no on-site registration or drop-in attendance at NOSP. All registration must be made and acknowledged before arrival. Anyone without a completed registration before heading for SKMC will not be admitted.
You may add activities on site, up to the capacity of the activity and up to the cutoff time set by the activity coordinator. Talk to the event coordinator on site.

Quiet Hours – Please be considerate of your neighbors and refrain from loud talking and playing loud music at all times.We’re asked about generators every year. We think that you’re probably safe running very quiet portable generators from noon until 7 PM, but the bottom line is that you’re responsible for being quiet enough not to annoy fellow attendees at all times.

Smoking Policies – There is no smoking permitted in any building or public tent (including, but not limited to, dorms, bath house, session tents, or meeting room). Even outdoors, if your neighbors are offended by cigar or cigarette smoke, you’re the one who will have to move.Please dispose of cigarette or cigar butts in a proper receptacle and be courteous of others when smoking in public areas. Dropping butts on the ground is dangerous and is not permitted.

FAQ

Accomodations

Can I camp and stay with my equipment? Tell me about the observing fields!

Spruce Knob is a rolling landscape, so we have designed the camping around the flattest areas. For this event unlike AHSP since it is for a small number of participants you will be able to car camp in all observing fields with your observing equipment. There will be limited RV spaces the same as AHSP since it requires out of the way flat space. These spots go quickly to be sure to register early.

The Observing Field is for those who wish to park at their campsite with a single car for each registration. The field will not be measured and marked off like AHSP since there should be more than enough space to spread out, but please be mindful of others around you. This is enough space for a good size tent, a car, and your astronomical gear for observing.

The RV Space is intended for RVs, other vehicles longer than 14′ and taller than 8′ (like a car-top tent). This distinction helps keep obstructions away from the main observing area.

What do I do for food and water?

You can either bring your own food and cook it on the mountain or sign up for the NOSP meal plan.

If you choose to bring your own food, you are responsible for supplying coolers, cooking, and dining equipment. You can always bring your food down to the yurt deck and eat with the group or enjoy it at your campsite.

Meals are provided on site in a cafeteria style, and you can choose to participate in any combination of them in full-day increments. Each meal day includes lunch and dinner and the following breakfast. For example, Thursday meals include lunch and dinner on Thursday, then breakfast on Friday.

More menu information will be forthcoming.

Coffee is provided all day each day.

Plenty of potable mountain well water is available from a pipe along the road between the observing fields. You can also fill up in the shower building or at the Main Yurt.

Can I have a campfire and cook my own meals?

You may not have a open campfire. You may, however, use self-contained stoves and chemical heating packs.

Are there bathrooms and showers?

Male and female bathrooms and shower rooms are located behind the yurts and are open 24 hours a day. NOSP participants should bring towels, toiletries, and shower shoes.

There are also portable toilets available in multiple locations on the camping field, and each is outfitted with a dispenser containing hand sanitizer.

We maintain a composting toilet (“No ‘P’ in the ‘ooper’, please!”) behind the Main Yurt. Novel use of colored bottle glass windows and solar night light.

How do I get around at the site?

SKMC is a large site. The distance between the camping area and the main yurt is approximately 1/4 mile. Please contact us if you have mobility concerns; we’ll do our best to answer your questions and arrange assistance if needed.

The use of personal vehicles on the site is restricted. Moving your vehicle is not permitted from 8 pm to 8 am except in the case of an emergency. At all other times, vehicles are allowed to enter and exit the site. However, traffic may not pass beyond the long-term parking area going toward the Yurt without permission from the NOSP Staff.

Some attendees have brought bicycles to the site to ride between the observing fields and the yurt/bathhouse. That works for us!

Is there phone, radio, or internet connectivity?

Cellular service is generally unavailable. SKMC is in a remote area, and also within the National Radio Quiet Zone surrounding the Green Bank Observatory. You should not expect your cell phone to have service. Other cell-based technologies like OnStar and cell-based navigation are also very unreliable. GPS and other satellite-based services are not affected and should operate normally.

Wifi-based Internet service will be limited to the deck around the outside of the Main Yurt so you can access the web, check your email.

Phone service is available in the yurts by contacting the EL event personnel. There is no charge for calls to destinations within the continental United States.

Event Information

Who? What? Where? When? And Why?

The Night Owl Star Party will be held Thursday-Sunday, May 18th-21st, 2023, at Experience Learning on Spruce Knob, WV. Spruce Knob is one of the premier dark-sky sites in the East! The open fields at our Spruce Knob Mountain Center provide an outstanding observing location as well as civilized amenities like hot showers, meal service and internet access. Directions are available on this webpage.

For GPS users:
SKMC Entrance	N 38° 40′ 25”	W 079° 34′ 11”
Center of Main Observing Field	N 38° 40′ 36”	W 079° 34′ 02”
Center of CCD Imaging Area	N 38° 41′ 10”	W 079° 33′ 45”
RV Area / Yurts	N 38° 41′ 00”	W 079° 33′ 26”

How much does this cost?

Scroll up on this page to see the Fees listing.

Is this event for me?

A truly dark sky is a sight that few get a chance to see. For amateur astronomers who are used to backyard astronomy in the light-polluted suburbs, the sky at Spruce Knob Mountain Center will be an experience that you won’t forget. While the trip takes some time, it will be worth it. However, if your idea of roughing it is a hotel that doesn’t offer turn-down service, you might want to pass. While the amenities at Spruce Knob Mountain Center make this far from a primitive site, camping is not for everyone. We recommend that you come prepared and have reasonable camping experience in order to fully enjoy NOSP.

If I have a telescope but don’t know how to use it is there someone who can help me?

NOSP is an observing event for most experienced observers and previous Star Party goers. Since this event isn’t being run by NOVAC it would be best to work out your telescope items and questions before this event.

What if I don’t have a telescope?

This is up you and the experience you expect to get out of this Star Party. You may not have a telescope but maybe you are a binocular observer or using are using a camera and naked eyes to observe. Unlike AHSP this event is less about sharing views with other attendees and more focused on solo observing opportunities. We would recommend a telescope or binoculars (or both) for this event to maximize observing for event for attendees.

What can I do during the day?

Check out nearby Spruce Knob Lake which offers boating, fishing, and hiking.
Enjoy the scenery, bring your camera and binoculars.
There are plenty of trails for hiking and biking.
Check out the Monongahela National Forest.
We will have internet connectivity at the main facility areas, so you won’t be entirely cut off from the world.

Check out NOVAC’s Local Attractions page for more ideas!

Will there be power available to recharge batteries?

There’s no power on the field, but you’re welcome to recharge batteries behind the kitchen yurt. We’ll have power strips available so you can plug your charger in. We have a daily shuttle service planned to help get your battery packs to and from the power.

The basic arrangements are along these lines:

You drop off your battery at a marked area in your observing field in the AM, and you mark with a provided tag or your own tag. Include your name and the field (color) you are on.
We bring the battery to the 110VAC power on tables near the main yurt.
You connect the battery to your charger
You disconnect when charging is complete, before dinner.
We return the battery to the original drop-off area.

As long as your battery lasts through the night, you should not have a problem. And on the topic of power, pay attention to having enough dew-prevention heaters, either electric or chemical.

Observing Conditions and Rules

Can I have any light on the field?

This is a dark site. Since it is very easy to lose your dark adaptation, the use of glow sticks or any source of white light is prohibited. Only low-powered, red-filtered flashlights are permitted in the observing areas.

The prohibition also covers white lights inside tents which might be visible on the field. Lights in cars (dome lights, door lights, etc.) which may come on remotely or automatically need to be covered or adequately filtered.

Laser pointers may not be used, as they interfere with observers doing astrophotography. There is one exception to this rule: we may conduct a “star tour” just after dark as part of the formal program using a laser pointer.

Will there be power on the field?

The observing fields will not have power available. However, we will be providing 110 VAC power at the Main Yurt Shed for the purpose of charging batteries on a first-come, first-served basis as capacity allows. You are encouraged to bring sufficient battery power to operate your equipment.

Many observers use deep-cycle marine batteries or the smaller lawn tractor variety. Portable 12 VDC power packs with reasonable capacity are easily available at stores such as Costco or Wal-Mart for under $75.

To operate AC equipment you can also pick up a 12 VDC to 110 VAC inverter.

We will assist attendees in transporting the batteries to the main yurt for recharging. Details will be provided on site.

Very quiet generators may be used if they are located far enough from others as to not disturb neighbors.

What will the temperature be like?

The observing field is 4300 feet above sea level. Expect a wide range of temperatures: heat during the day and quite rapid cooling after sunset! Temperatures can dip as low as the 30s.

Here’s a weather page for Spruce Knob.

Dress for cooler weather than in the lowlands. As usual, when observing, the key is to dress in layers.

Will the moon be an issue?

No. We plan NOSP over a new moon weekend.

Will there be observing during the day?

Actually, yes. Many astronomers have filters that allow observation of the Sun and we expect that several specialized hydrogen alpha scopes will be set up to observe amazing details like prominences and filaments.