Entrance by prior registration ONLY! Tickets are NOT available for sale at the gate.

Visit the WSP News Alerts Web Page for the latest news about the upcoming 30th Annual WSP

Please read the WSP Notices Web Page for additional information from the WSP Director

Get set for The Winter Star Party!  The 30th Annual Winter Star Party is scheduled for February 24 - March 2, 2014 on "Scout Key" in the Florida Keys. Astrophotographers and amateur astronomers often bring their families from across the U.S. and around the globe to make it a truly international event. Southern winter skies are a real treat for our Canadian and northern friends!

This special 6 day long "Stellar Star Party" includes vendors promoting their latest products for amateur astronomy, nationally recognized guest speakers, a popular "Kids Kamp", mirror-grinding lessons, the ever popular door prize giveaway on Friday afternoon and much more! Registration / information kits will be mailed out in early September 2013. Take advantage of early registration. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets can be transferred to someone else if your plans change (please notify the WSP Registrars if a ticket is transferred).

Click Here to See a Time Lapse "Movie" of the 2009 WSP!

The Berm Panoramic (Click on image above to download a 200KB high resolution copy) Photography by Arthur Mullis Post Processed with Panoramic Factory V5.2

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The ANNUAL WINTER STAR PARTY

Established in 1984, the Annual WINTER STAR PARTY is held in the Florida Keys, and hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS), Inc., of Miami, Florida.

During a new moon week each February, up to 650 amateur astronomers from around the world travel to the warm subtropics of the Florida Keys to enjoy nightly observing in 360º of clear steady night skies, exchange information and advice on the hobby, meet SCAS members and distinguished guest speakers, shop for astronomical equipment from the finest vendors in the country, participate in photo contests & workshops, go sightseeing in the "Conch Republic", and record the awesome beauty sparkling in the southern night skies.

To Register: Please contact the Winter Star Party Registrars (Chuck & Judy Broward) at registrars@scas.org or call 352-373-7527 if you have any questions about registration. The 2014 WSP Registration Notification materials will be sent out in early September 2013.

Travel: Getting to the WSP is easy. From the Miami International Airport, it's 45 minutes on the Florida Turnpike south, followed by two hours on scenic Highway US-1 down the Florida Keys. Connecting flights to Key West are also available, reducing driving time to under an hour.

We advise you NOT to make non-refundable travel plans until you have received confirmation of your registration.

Where to Stay: The Girl Scout Campground has plenty of room for tent camping and a limited amount of room for RVs (see registration form for prices). Chickee bunks are also available. Each chickee sleeps six. The campground has showers and clean bathrooms, but this is not a resort and facilities are rustic.

If you prefer to stay off-site, there are several hotels on neighboring Keys (look for accommodations in Big Pine or Marathon).

Remember, the WSP is held during the peak of tourist season in the Keys, so reserve as soon as possible after you receive confirmation (AKA WSP Ticket) of your attendance. For information on area accommodations and recreational activities, call 1-800-FLA-KEYS or see The Official Florida Keys web site .

RV INFO:  There are NO electrical, water, or sewer hookups for RVs. Please plan to be self-contained upon entry to the camp. RV's will be pre-assigned to an "entry group" and should enter the camp on Feb. 24, 2014 no earlier than and no later than the time period in the registration packet received. Once parked, RV's cannot be moved before the end of the event (Sunday morning, Mar 2, 2014). Maximum RV capacity is 26 units for Camp Wesumkee. Dump stations are available at Bahia Honda Beach State Park and Sunshine Key RV Resort on the way to Marathon. Both locations charge a fee (about $15) to use their dump stations.

Parking Before and During the WSP: The waiting line for entry into Camp Wesumkee on Scout Key forms at 6am on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. Please be aware that Monroe County Ordinance prohibits overnight camping alongside US-1 through the Florida Keys.

If you are not staying at The Winter Star Party campsite, and wish to leave after 7pm (gate closing time for vehicle traffic) each night, you must park your vehicle along US-1 and walk into the camp for nighttime observing. The Southern Cross Astronomical Society and Winter Star Party are concerned for your safety and therefore would like to remind you of the following:

• Please be aware that the posted speed limit on US-1 in front of the campsite is 55 mph.
• Please park on the same side of the road as the camp (south side of the road). This keeps you from having to cross this very busy highway at night! If you are traveling southbound from Marathon, you can turn around at the boat ramp on the right side BEFORE you cross the bridge to Big Pine Key, or you can cross the bridge to Big Pine Key and make the left hand turn into the "Big Pine Key Fish Camp" and then turn around to come back over the bridge to West Summerland Key.
• For your safety and of those around you we request that you park away from the road edge allowing ample room for opening doors and walking along the roadside shoulder.
• More so, we suggest that you walk between the cars and the campsite fence-line whenever possible. This keeps the parked vehicles between you and the traffic on US-1.

Vehicles that are parked on the ‘Berm’ must be parked elsewhere well before sunset. This step is taken in consideration of the neighbors in the ‘Valley of the Dobs’ to allow them their sunset and southern object viewing. We request that everyone with vehicles parked on the ‘Berm’ to remove them by 6:00 pm.

VENDORS:You will be able to buy everything astronomical from T-shirts to telescopes. Be sure to check out the bargains! Check out the list of vendors attending the 2014 WSP by selecting the Vendors Link in the menu bar. You can also see a list of vendors and exhibitors from the 2013 WSP on the same page.

 

SPEAKERS: Once again, an outstanding lineup of speakers will educate and entertain you in the air-conditioned Wheelhouse. A Guest Speaker Schedule will be posted on the schedule of events web page, accessible by selecting the Speakers Link in the menu bar, and at the Wheelhouse and will also be included in your welcome package.

 

ACTIVITIES: A Swap Meet will be held during the 29th Annual Winter Star Party. Bring your "astronomical trash" and take home a treasure! Hands-on activities will be provided for children on a daily basis.