Registration open · AHSP 2026 · August 10–16 at Spruce Knob Mountain Center
Celebrating 20 Years 2006–2026
August 10–16, 2026 · Spruce Knob, WV

Almost Heaven Star Party

Celebrating 20 Years!

A week of dark skies, expert talks, and deep-sky observing at 4,400 ft in the Allegheny Mountains. The Mid-Atlantic's longest-running dedicated star party — now in its 20th year.

Mon Aug 10 — Sun Aug 16, 2026
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What you'll do

A week built for astronomers, from first-time observers to lifelong sky-hunters.

M45 Pleiades by Rick Trinnes

Observe deep-sky

Nebulae, galaxies, globular clusters — Spruce Knob's Bortle-2 skies reveal what's normally lost to light pollution.

Veil Nebula by James Stack

Talks & speakers

Featured speakers Friday and Saturday evenings in the Outside Yurt, plus hands-on sessions through the week.

AHSP prize raffle by Bob Traube

Raffle & swap

The annual prize raffle, the gear swap table, and plenty of walking-the-field time to peer through scopes you've only read about.

Sunset behind the yurt by Chris Lee

Community

Shared meals, bonfire conversations, and the quiet camaraderie of people who stay up all night together, every year.

The Venue

Spruce Knob Mountain Center — West Virginia's highest point, and one of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi.

Private campus, private road, 4,400 feet of elevation, and horizon-to-horizon clear sightlines. Lodging ranges from tent sites to heated yurts and cabins.

38.74° N · 79.44° W
Coordinates
Pendleton County, West Virginia — private campus on a private road.
4,400′
Elevation
Above most low-level haze and moisture.
Bortle 2
Sky darkness
Zodiacal light visible to the naked eye.
This year's program

Featured talks Friday & Saturday. Observing every clear night.

The full 2026 program builds on the traditions that make AHSP what it is — same activities as last year, new dates. Featured speakers at 6:45 pm Friday and Saturday in the Outside Yurt.

Fri · Aug 144:00 – 5:30 pm
Swap TableBring your astronomy, observing, and space-related items to sell. Transactions private between buyers and sellers.
Yurt Deck
Fri · Aug 146:45 pm
Featured Speaker — Friday EveningHeadline talk in the Outside Yurt. Speaker and topic announced closer to the event.
Outside Yurt
Fri · Aug 14~8:00 pm
Sky Tours at twilightGuided naked-eye sky tour near the registration tent, led by Skip Bird.
Observing fields
Sat · Aug 1510:30 am carpools
Green Bank Observatory behind-the-scenes tourLabs and control room — locations normally off-limits to the public. Optional overnight radio-astronomy program at GBO's 40-foot dish.
Off-site · Green Bank
Sat · Aug 156:45 pm
Featured Speaker — Saturday EveningHeadline talk in the Outside Yurt. Speaker and topic announced closer to the event.
Outside Yurt
Sun · Aug 16Before dinner
AHSP Raffle drawingBlue tickets with registration, red tickets at Registration and the Yurt Deck, yellow tickets for kids. Must be present to win.
Main Yurt

Also returning: Canoeing, Caving, Biking at Sweetwater Farms, Cass Scenic Railroad, Birdwatching, Back Ridge Observatory open house, Shared Solar Observing, Observing 201, Photo Gallery — Shoot & Show.

Latest updates

Fresh from the organizers.

Yurts at SKMC by Danielle Fahrenholz
April 2026 · Registration

Registration goes live

Early-bird pricing available through May. Lodging and meal packages are booking faster than last year — reserve your spot early.

Read more →
Dumbbell Nebula by George Doschek
March 2026 · Speakers

Speaker lineup announced

This year's talks lean toward practical astrophotography, Galactic structure, and amateur contributions to professional research.

Read more →
North America Nebula by John Sojka
February 2026 · Anniversary

20 years, in numbers

A look at two decades of AHSP — attendees, scopes, clouded-out nights, and the handful of alumni who've made every single year.

Read more →
Live conditions

Watching the sky before you arrive.

Weather · Spruce Knob

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Astronomy forecast · Astrospheric

Cloud cover, transparency, seeing, and darkness forecast for Spruce Knob · powered by astrospheric.com

Join the 20th.

See you under the stars.

Registration is open. Lodging, meals, and optional workshop add-ons are handled in one checkout. We'd love to see you at Spruce Knob this August.