When and where Starfest is held
Not yet announced. Its usual timing is august new moon; the darkest weekend that fits is July 30 - August 1, 2027.
Starfest is held at River Place Park near Ayton, Ontario, Canada, each year at about the same time (august new moon). It is organized by North York Astronomical Association. Live page lists the location as Hanover.
Dates here are planning estimates from the Moon, not announced dates. Confirm with the organizer before you book.
How dark the sky gets at Starfest
Computed for the night of July 31, 2027 at the observing field, in local time.
Astronomical darkness
5.2 hours, 10:51 pm to 4:09 am
Moon
2% lit; 5.2 hours of dark sky with the Moon down
Milky Way core
rises to 17° at best from this latitude
Southern limit
stars to declination -46° clear the horizon
Elevation
about 330 m (1,080 ft)
At latitude 44.1°N, every star north of declination -46° rises here at some time of year. That puts Omega Centauri, at −47°, within reach low in the south. The Milky Way core in Sagittarius tops out 17° above the southern horizon.
| Twilight | Evening | Morning |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset and sunrise | 8:49 pm | 6:11 am |
| Nautical twilight (Sun 12° down) | 10:03 pm | 4:57 am |
| Astronomical darkness (Sun 18° down) | 10:51 pm | 4:09 am |
What you can see from Ayton on the party night
Highest altitude each showpiece reaches between the end of evening twilight and the start of morning twilight that night. Dimmed rows are out of reach from this latitude or this season; that is the case for choosing a party farther south.
| Object | What it is | Highest | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milky Way core | The bright star clouds of Sagittarius | 17° | 10:29 pm |
| Omega Centauri | The biggest globular cluster in the sky | - | never rises here |
| Southern Cross | Crux, the smallest constellation | - | never rises here |
| Carina Nebula | Eta Carinae and its nebula | - | never rises here |
| Large Magellanic Cloud | A satellite galaxy of the Milky Way | - | never rises here |
| Andromeda Galaxy | M31, the nearest big galaxy | 82° | 4:49 am |
| Hercules Cluster | M13, the showpiece northern globular | 79° | 10:09 pm |
| Orion Nebula | M42, the brightest nebula | - | up only in daylight this season |
| Pleiades | M45, the Seven Sisters | 41° | 4:49 am |
Planets in the night sky
Where River Place Park is
River Place Park, near Ayton, Ontario. Coordinates 44.060°N, 80.950°W (approximate).
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open the larger map · Directions. Arrive before dark: headlights on the field ruin everyone's night vision.
Camping and lodging at Starfest
Campground. Book early; on-site spaces at popular parties fill months ahead.
Nights at 330 m
Expect dew; bring heaters or shields for optics
Red light only
White flashlights and phone screens stay off on the field
No telescope needed
Owners share views; binoculars and a chair go a long way
Star parties near Starfest
| Star party | Near | Distance | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Star Gaze | Gladwin, Michigan | 283 km (176 mi) | September new moon |
| Black Forest Star Party | Coudersport, Pennsylvania | 369 km (229 mi) | September |
| Cherry Springs Star Party | Coudersport, Pennsylvania | 369 km (229 mi) | June, near new moon |
| Almost Heaven Star Party | Riverton, West Virginia | 608 km (378 mi) | New-moon weekend in August |
| Green Bank Star Quest | Green Bank, West Virginia | 633 km (393 mi) | Summer |
Starfest record
Every value in the star parties dataset for Starfest
| ID | 45 |
|---|---|
| Name | Starfest |
| Slug | starfest |
| PageURL | star-parties/starfest.htm |
| Country | Canada |
| Region | Ontario |
| NearTown | Ayton |
| Site | River Place Park |
| Lat | 44.06 |
| Lon | -80.95 |
| CoordCheck | approx |
| Elevation_m | 330 |
| Organizer | North York Astronomical Association |
| Founded | |
| TypicalMonths | 8 |
| TypicalTiming | August new moon |
| NextStart | |
| NextEnd | |
| DateStatus | Not yet announced |
| Lodging | Campground |
| DarkSkyPlace | |
| Website | http://www.nyaa.ca/ |
| ImageKey | starfest |
| Note | Live page lists the location as Hanover. |
| Source | Legacy star-parties.htm; organizer website |
From the site's star parties dataset (starparties_q426). Sky conditions computed with Astronomy Engine for the field's coordinates.