Want to gaze at the Milky Way all night or peer into the eyepiece of a 12-inch telescope? Escape the city lights and head for the nearest big amateur nighttime gathering.

Every winter here in New England, my yard has snow cover more or less continuously from December through March.

So by the time summer rolls around, I am more than ready — not only for a little warmth, but also for the chance to join like-minded skywatchers at a regional star party or two. Sure, observing solo has its special rewards. I can commune with the universe in quiet contemplation. But I still love looking out over a field that's flush with telescopes of every size and description.

For northern skygazers, summertime is "star-party season." Chances are good that astronomy-club members in your area will be coaxing you to join them at a choice location far from the pall of urban light pollution, in order to to steep themselves in darkness for a few precious nights.

Snowdrifts notwithstanding, I'm doubly fortunate to live in New England. First, I'm just a few hours' drive from the Northeast Astronomy Forum, hosted each April by the Rockland Astronomy Club and co-sponsored by Sky & Telescope. NEAF has grown from modest beginnings in a Holiday Inn banquet room back in the early 1990s to what is arguably the largest showcase of astro-goodies on the planet. I always have to keep a close watch on my wallet!

Second is that I'm likewise not far from Springfield, Vermont. Each year more than 1,000 skywatchers make the pilgrimage to Breezy Hill on the town's outskirts for Stellafane, the granddaddy of all star parties. At Stellafane, which loosely translates as "shrine to the stars," the art of telescope making got its start in the 1920s, and backyard astronomers have flocked to this hallowed ground ever since.

Whether big or small, star parties often provide a tried-and-true mix of informal talks and activities during the day, followed by late-as-you-want observing at night. While some events still draw a contingent of serious astrophotographers (with red-light-only rules strictly enforced), most have morphed into family-friendly gatherings that put more emphasis on camaraderie and casual observing.

I've listed below a selection of major events to be held across North America in the months ahead. Also check out SkyandTelescope.com's more complete listing, which includes dozens of events with a link for each. Another important resource is NASA's Night Sky Network.

For the last word on star parties, visit S&T.com's Event Calendar. (Note to club officers: make sure your event is listed and up to date!)

Selected North American Star Parties in 2012
Event	Location	Dates
Astronomy Day (spring)	everywhere!	April 28
Texas Star Party	Fort Davis, TX	May 16-21
RTMC Astronomy Expo	Riverside, CA	May 24-28
Cherry Springs Star Party	Coudersport, PA	June 14-17
Grand Canyon Star Party	Grand Canyon, AZ	June 18-25
Golden State Star Party	Bieber, CA	July 18-22
Mason-Dixon Star Party	York, PA	July 18-22
Table Mountain Star Party	Ellensburg, WA	July 19-21
Oregon Star Party	Indian Trail Stpring, OR	Aug. 14-19
Stellafane Convention	Springfield, VT	Aug. 16-19
StarFest	Ayton, ON (Canada)	Aug. 16-19
Okie-Tex Star Party	Kenton, OK	Sep. 8-16
Peach State Star Gaze	Sharon, GA	Oct. 7-14
Astronomy Day (autumn)	everywhere!	Oct. 20
Chiefland Star Party	Chiefland, FL	Nov. 12-18
Chiefland Star Party	Chiefland, FL	Nov. 12-18