Star party

Local star parties may be one-night affairs, but larger events can last a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants.

Large regional star parties are held annually and are an important part of the hobby of amateur astronomy.

At larger star parties, lectures, swap meets, exhibitions of home-built telescopes, contests, tours, raffles, and other similar activities are common.

The idea of a star party is not new and allegedly goes back at least as far as George III of the United Kingdom, who was passionately interested in astronomy and mathematics.

[1][2] On nights when poor weather blocked the view of the real stars and planets, attendants are said to have hung paper lanterns marked with drawings in the trees around the royal palace to provide something else for the King and his guests to spot through their telescopes.