Event

An annual event hosting students and teachers from Osaka, Japan, for a Star Party while they are staying in Little Rock

 

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Time: 7:15 p.m. - 9 p.m. Central

Location: Pinnacle Mountain State Park
11901 Pinnacle Valley Road
Little Rock, AR 72223

Information for Visitors

Location Details

Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Pinnacle Mountain is a day-use park dedicated to environmental education, outdoor recreation, and preservation. Located just west of Little Rock, this natural environment of 2,000 acres was set aside in 1977 as Arkansas's first state park adjoining a major metropolitan area. The park features a rich diversity of natural habitat, from high upland peaks to bottomlands along the Big Maumelle River and Little Maumelle River, for park visitors to experience. And, here among this natural diversity park interpreters and volunteers help visitors and students understand man's relationship to the environment.

Notes:
Please contact us at info@caasastro.org if you need further information.

Event Report

Comments and anecdotes about the event:
Hosted at the (new) Pinnacle Mountain State Park visitor center, the early evening was completely clouded with low expectations for stargazing. The high school students had just arrived from Osaka, Japan the night before and had given a cultural exchange talk to a local elementary school earlier in the day. With Osaka’s sky being so bright with lights the students were hoping to get a good look at the sky. As sunset fell, Darrell Heath and Bruce showed demonstrations of the size of the galaxy and the solar system. With much help from the group’s interpreter, Darcy Howard gave a presentation about the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society and compared the similar latitudes of Osaka and Little Rock, noting that our skies would appear the same. Fortunately (!) gaps opened in the clouds. Bill Sanders, Carl Freyaldenhoven and Darcy set up their telescopes, and the students were able to see bright Jupiter and moons, Mars, and the constellation Orion.
Photo From Japanese Students
Japanese students from Osaka, Japan visit Pinnacle Mountain State Park for an evening star party with the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society. Photo by park interpreter Matt Friant.