For at least the last three decades, the Las Vegas Astronomical Society (LVAS) has presented the Death Valley Star Party (DVSP) to provide amateur astronomers and the public to view the dark skies of the Death Valley National Park.

The original DVSP was mostly an ad hoc affair, with astronomers and the public parking on the Furnace Creek Airport aircraft parking area. Notice was given on the website and a poster in the local hotel lobby. For the most park, the National Park Service (NPS) was not aware of or not interested in our event.

Some dozens of years ago, a couple of rangers came out to the airfield to check over their aircraft and found us there. That was the last time we were allowed to use the airport.

Fortunately, new management at Xanterra (owner of The Ranch and The Inn, now the Oasis Resort) was interested in having us provide a star party event, twice a year, on their property. We used the golf course driving range, set well away from what little lighting the Xanterra property had.

Due to the limited area, LVAS had to manage the event much closer, limiting the number of astronomers. The public, for the most part, could walk from the campgrounds to the event.

Almost a decade back, the Xanterra property went through a reconstruction phase, rebuiding some of the property and adding new buildings for commercial and hotel projects. There was also a management turnover, and they suddenly had no interest in star parties.

After a few years of unsatisfying events working with the NPS, they created their Death Valley Dark Sky Festival (DVDSV), and asked LVAS to provide the star party for the event. After a couple of years of using the overflow are for the Sunset Campground as our telescope field, the NPS decided to try using the airport area once again. With one event under our belt, and one blown away by torrential winds, we are once again headed out to the Furnace Creek Airport for DVSP.

So come out and join us for what is usually two good nights of dark skies.

https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/darkskyfestival.htm