in Jackson, WY, as hosted by the Jackson (Hole) Astronomy Club

    As many of you already know, due to the extremely dark skies we can have here, this can be an excellent and very unusual service to have as an option during your group's visit.

    We will provide 2 (or more) amateur astronomers, 2 (or more) telescopes and/or tripod mounted binoculars, for at least 2 hours of observing on one night of your group's visit.  Our amateur astronomy club members are well versed with the sky and can show and describe most of the significant features that can be viewed during a summer here.  We will be available for these star parties between May and October on a first come, first served basis.  (As we have a core group of volunteers, it would be presumptuous to expect them to do more than can be reasonably expected.)  We have 6, 8, 10, 11 and 14-inch aperture telescopes and astronomical binoculars for these events.

    If cloudy skies or inclement weather should exist, we will try to provide another night during your visit, but this can't be promised.  To lock in a date, a $100. deposit is expected.  If your group cancels at least 3 days (72 hours) in advance, no fee will be charged.  Less than three days in advance and the deposit will be forfeited.  If we cannot set up for your group during their visit due to inclement weather, we will not charge a fee, but due to the fact that our people have blocked out their time to be available for the event, we hope the visitors will be understanding and pay us in whole or appropriate part for our making the effort that was canceled due to conditions beyond our control.  Some resorts in Jackson exact a 15% fee for arranging such events while others exact no fee.  If you make arrangements through the resort you'll be staying at during your visit, remuneration would be made in one of 3 ways.
    1.    You pay the resort, they extract 0-15% and then pay our club.
    2.    You pay our club and we send the resort any fee they require.
    3.    You pay us directly with no fee exacted.
In any case, you can speak with our rep or the resort's rep (Concierge) to ascertain their expectations.

    Our fee for this "star party" is $600. to $750., (for the actual cost, contact our star party liaison listed below) depending on the number of astronomers necessary to accomodate your group.  It is all inclusive, payable at the time of the star party, or appropriate gratuity if weather intervenes.  The two hours is for your group and nothing extra is charged for our setup or takedown (which often takes a hour or more for each).  If we go into a third hour, please add another $150.  However, most star parties begin after 9 or 9:30pm due to prior convention commitments, late dinners, and (sunset) darkness at this latitude, so continuing after midnight isn't likely.  If we're set up to go at the appointed time and a convention activity runs late, a request to stay longer can possibly be accommodated.  We are NOT a tax-exempt organization-501(c)3, just a local club.  These funds pay or reimburse our volunteer members for expenses, and some goes into our general fund for future telescope repairs, scholarships to local students, reimbursement of expenses for the event, or other worthy needs.
    FYI, we have done very successful star parties for the following entities: TNT Network, Forbes Magazine, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, several groups of doctors, Absolut Vodka, Univ. of Cincinnati, Discovery Channel, Jackson Hole High School, Murie Ranch, Teton Mtn. Lodge, Four Seasons Resort, Disney, Amgen Biotech, the Federal Reserve Band of Kansas City, Grand Teton National Park, Sonic, Nat'l Council of Family & Juvenile Court Judges, National Geographic, and numerous other convention groups, never with any complaint but rather with great compliments for the club's availability.

    We need to know a week in advance of the precise location desired for the event in case it needs to be visited for suitability and electrical access, and to determine if an alternate location needs to be chosen.  We also need to know the name and business of the group and the expected number of guests.  Groups over 150 can possibly be accommodated, but aren't encouraged and may require more astronomers than we have access to for an event.  One of our people will be available to provide an indoor presentation of 5-10 min. about the Jackson area sky conditions, what to expect to see outside, and to answer questions.  Then, we'll go outside and start things off with a laserlight tour of the constellations that all can see if conditions permit, for an orientation of what's in the sky and what to expect as we start observing in the telescopes.  Then, we'll proceed to show some of the more interesting sky objects depending on their availability from this latitude at that time of year, such as: the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, meteor showers, passing satellites, colorful stars, double stars, or galaxies.  We'll find an object in one or more telescopes, and show it to all interested before we move on to another object.

    Within reason, we'll take requests to view certain objects and welcome the assistance of anyone in your group who might be amateur astronomers themselves. (We can observe the sun [sunspots, etc.] if we're invited to come out before dark.  Please provide me with the name of a person to coordinate with in the visiting group.  We need to confirm your resort insurance (buildings insurance, liability, etc.) will cover at the event.  We need a location that will be away from Jackson's town lights but there are some limited in town possibilities.

    Please advise your party to dress warmly.  Even in the summer, it can get quite cool after the sun goes down.  Gloves are a most desirable item of apparel.  We'll have red flashlights to move in and out around the telescopes.  Your coordination with the facility where we'll set up, in providing some chairs outside, will also facilitate the comfort of your guests when not observing at the telescopes.  If your guests have children, they are welcome, but must be controlled by parents accordingly as the telescopes are fragile and valuable, although we'll certainly place them and protect them accordingly to avoid any potential problems.  (After doing this for 16 years - in 2010 - we've never had a scope knocked over or a guest accident.) If we are in a public area, we might have people stop by to observe that are not in the sponsoring group.  We won't refuse anyone the opportunity to look as we won't know who is or isn't in your group, but if you wish, you can have your group provide staff that can run interference as applicable.  You may post any signs or have the resort do so, to inhibit others as you deem necessary for a privately sponsored event.

    We love observing the night sky and hope you'll enjoy looking at it with us.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us well in advance. We have been doing this activity successfully now since 1994, without any complaints. Relative to other convention activities elsewhere, this is rather unique for the Jackson Hole area and most groups have been very excited about having this experience and remember the event with some awe.  Please call if you have any questions or if we can make any accommodation for your facility.

Thank you,

Walt Farmer, 307.733.2173 or 690.6909, or walt@jhastronomy.com
Star Party Coordinator, Jackson (Hole) Astronomy Club

Mel Tucker, 307.543.2424
Chair, Jackson (Hole) Astronomy Club