The 2025 Iowa Star Party

The 2025 Iowa Star Party will be held October 16th to October 19th at Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids, IA, hosted by Ames Area Amateur Astronomers and co-sponsored by the Des Moines Astronomical Society. Join us for a weekend of dark skies, stargazing, and conversation. Whiterock Conservancy is blessed with some of the darkest skies in Iowa because of its location away from city lights. It is a great place for amateur astronomers in the Midwest to set up their telescopes and enjoy the night sky. It is also a fun place for recreation. Daytime activities available include canoeing, hiking, and birdwatching. Public Night - Saturday, October 18th at 5:30 p.m.. Participants in the Iowa Star Party don't want to keep the wonders of the night sky to themselves. They are also excited about sharing them with the public. There will be a free public viewing on Saturday, October 5th, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Whiterock Conservancy Star Field. The sun sets at about 6:00 p.m.. Civil Twilight ends at 6:30 p.m., and Astronomical Twilight ends at 7:30 p.m.. Following a brief introduction to the night sky, members of the public are invited to explore various telescopes. If the weather is clear, visitors will have the chance to see galaxies, nebulas, & Stars millions of light-years away, as well as some of the planets in our cosmic backyard, the solar system. All ages are welcome, and we recommend wearing appropriate attire for the weather, as well as bringing a blanket if the weather is cool.