The Manitoulin Star Party takes place this coming weekend, Aug. 8 - 12 at Gordon's Park Eco Resort located at 18777 Hwy 6 on Manitoulin Island, just 13 minutes from the South Baymouth ChiCheemaun Ferry Dock.
The star party is a gathering of amateur and professional astronomers who camp and observe the night skies from the dark sky preserve at the park. The location is known as being the darkest site in the Province of Ontario, free from all sources of light pollution, offering 360 degree viewing, a 7.5+ magnitude and extremly dark skies.  It is expected to attract astronomers from throughout the Province, the upper United States and European visitors to Manitoulin Island from abroad.
The weekend highlights the Perseids Meteor Showers which peaks through the night of Aug. 12. Astronomers can expect anywhere from 80 - 100 meteors per hour, with the best viewing after 2 a.m. when the moon finally sets.
The party starts Friday evening with a Campfire Wine and Cheese Welcome Reception, followed by an Information sharing session. Immediately following and open to the curious public, is the Public Observing Sessions with Laser Guided Sky Tours with local Island astronomy expert, John Albers.
Saturdays activities include a presentation by Island Educator Heather Theijsmeijer who is also Education Coordinator of the Canadian Astronomical Society on "Canadian Skies: Canadian Science".  Immediately following is a social Barbecue Turkey Pot Luck Supper. At 8 p.m., participants will gather for Tayoob Sattaur from the Toronto RASC, when he presents his session on "Types of Nebulae".
On Sunday, there is a Question and Answer Forum, Show and Tell, Swap Meet, Mini Putt Challenge and a guided hike on the prehistoric fossil reef in the park with Algoma University Professor, Invertebrate Paleontologist and Sault Ste Marie Astronomy Club President, Sharron Valli.
Participants can expect to see the Milky Way, Cassiopeia, Summer Triangle, Andromeda, Cygnus, Sorpios, the Big Dipper, Double Stars and many deep dark sky objects. Guests bring their tents, sleeping bags, and telescopes and set up in the fields and meadows of the dark sky preserve.  The dark sky sanctuary offers an on site observatory, 360 degree viewing, extrememly dark skies with a 7.5+ magnitude and absolutely no light pollution.
Guests not staying overnight are welcome to attend the Public Observing Sessions and Laser Guided Sky Tours being held on Friday and Saturday evening.  These sessions start at 8:45 p.m. and include an orientation into astronomy, a review of whats in the summer sky, viewing through telescopes and with binnoculars, and a laser guided sky tour of the night sky.
For information on the Manitoulin Star Party or the Public Observing Sessions contact Gordon's Park at 705-859-2470, via email [email protected] or visit our website at www.gordonspark.com .
