UPDATE: May 25, 2026

Registration for NPSP 2026 is now open!! Click HERE to get to the REGISTRATION FORM.

Join us for unforgettable autumn nights under the stars, enriching and interesting daytime workshops and presentations, and time to learn and talk with other amateur astronomers at the annual Northern Prairie Star Party (NPSP) at Black Nugget Lake Park campground.

NPSP 2026 will run from Tuesday, September 8 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, with most of our group activities planned for Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12. It is being held at the Black Nugget Lake Park campground located about an hour’s drive southeast of Edmonton. The campground is also the location of our Black Nugget Lake Observatory. Bring your sense of wonder for stargazing under seriously dark skies (Bortle Scale 3).

Planning is well underway. Preliminary information on speakers, registration opening day, T-shirts, programming and volunteering appears below – as well as in the current issue of RASC Edmonton Centre’s newsletter, Stardust. We will add more information as it becomes available.

For the detailed report on last year’s 2025 NPSP, see https://edmontonrasc.com/stardust/stardust202510.pdf

For more information, please talk with one of the members of the NPSP Planning Team or email npstarfest@shaw.ca.

REGISTRATION

Click HERE to go to the NPSP Registration Form. The form addresses all aspects of the event including attendee fees, campsite reservations, T-shirt orders and signing up to volunteer.

ALL those planning to attend NPSP – whether you are coming out only during the day for the Friday and Saturday programs or camping for up to five nights – PLEASE REGISTER EARLY. This will assist us immensely with our planning and help ensure that you get the campsite you want.

When you submit your registration, you will receive an invoice detailing your fees, payable on receipt. Payment can be made by e-transfer.

The final deadline for registering (attendees, campsite and T-shirt) and payment is Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

CAMPING

RASC Edmonton Centre has booked the northern part of the Black Nugget Lake Park campground for use by star party event attendees from Tuesday, September 8 at 4 PM to noon on Sunday, September 13, 2026. This includes sites 58 to 75 and Group Site 9.

Campsites will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. With a limited number of sites with power, we encourage NPSP attendees wishing to camp overnight to book as soon as possible. Here is a link to the campground website that provides general information about the campground https://www.beaver.ab.ca/tourism/campgrounds/black-nugget-lake site map that is posted on the reservation site of Black Nugget Lake Park. To get a better idea of what the sites are like, click on https://letscamp.ca/camps/black-nugget-lake/sites/search and enter a sample date. The NPSP registration form includes the camping details and will ask you to provide two choices.

SCHEDULE AND GROUND RULES

The NPSP Schedule and Ground Rules will be published soon.

FRIDAY WORKSHOPS

1 – 3 P.M.: Astroimaging: From Start to Finish

In response to feedback received from last year’s attendees, we are organizing a workshop by RASC members who use a variety of astronomy and photographic equipment to capture various types of celestial objects – and employ different image processing techniques. More details will be available soon.

4 P.M.: Clayton Knoll – Green Laser Certification

This one-hour session is designed for outreach volunteers who wish to take the course or are renewing their certification (required every three years). Limited to 12 participants. The workshop addresses the regulatory and safety aspects governing the use of green laser pointers. Please let NPSP organizers know that you wish to be put on the list.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON SPEAKERS

We will have three presentations on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12 at 1:30, 2:40 and 4 P.M. More details will be posted shortly.

1:30 P.M.: Dr. Brian Martin, RASC Edmonton Member and Professor Emeritus, Physics and Astronomy, The King’s University, Edmonton, Alberta will be comparing the science portrayed in three great science fiction books with what the James Webb Space Telescope is currently revealing.

2:40 P.M.: Dr Yangyang Shen, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, University of Alberta will speak on “Auroras: Their History, Nature, Physical Drivers, and Space Weather Impacts.”

4 P.M.: Geoff Robertson, long-time RASC Edmonton Centre member and executive volunteer will discuss the Artemis II mission – the historical background, the mission and possible next steps.

T-SHIRTS

The 2026 NPSP T-shirt, designed by Rick Bramm, celebrates the successful 2026 Artemis II lunar flyby mission that took place from April 1 to 10, 2026. The T-shirt features a background comprised of the Orion constellation with the mythical Orion the Hunter holding the Orion spacecraft and the iconic Artemis II crew photo of the far side of the Moon. We are confirming prices and will have that information when the registration opens.

DOOR PRIZES AND GRAND PRIZE DRAW

Immediately after the Saturday afternoon speakers, door prizes will be awarded to participants through a random draw. The Grand Prize will also be awarded at this time.

NPSP BBQ AND GROUP PHOTO

One of our traditions at the NPSP is the ever-popular annual BBQ. We feature quality beef burgers (with vegetarian option), hot dogs, salads, desserts and beverages. Following the meal, we will gather for a group photo to commemorate the event.

PLANET AND DEEP SKY OBJECT VIEWING AT BLACK NUGGET LAKE OBSERVATORY

The Black Nugget Lake Observatory (BNLO), located at Group Site 9 at the Black Nugget Lake Campground, will be open to NPSP participants, depending on the weather. The BNLO is home to the Unyk-Drew Telescope, a custom-built Newtonian telescope featuring a 32″ mirror. It is the largest telescopes in western Canada available to the public for viewing the night sky. Also available is the Barry Arnold Memorial Telescope which sports an 18″ mirror, also capable of incredible views of deep sky objects.

SHOP AND SWAP

Back by popular demand, we will host a Swap and Shop in the Event Tent on Saturday morning, from 10:30 to noon. You are welcome to bring any useable astronomy-related items you would like to trade or sell. Tables will be available for you to display your items. Please remove any left-over items and take them with you by noon.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER

The NPSP is a completely volunteer-run event, and your participation makes it happen! Many of you have indicated that you are interested and able to put in some volunteer time at NPSP. Thank you! Volunteer tasks include attending the north gate, helping at the Registration Table, setting up chairs in the Event Tent, helping at the BBQ, and more. Shifts usually last between one and two hours. We will be sending out a draft roster before the event to give you notice of when and what we have assigned you to do.

ABOUT THE BLACK NUGGET LAKE PARK CAMPGROUND

The campground is a privately-run campsite located one hour’s drive southeast of Edmonton. RASC Edmonton Centre has booked the northern part of the campground for use by star party event attendees for use during the entire event. Daytime activities abound – the site is on a major fall migration flyway and offers exceptional birding opportunities. Lakeshore campsites are available, with canoeing and fishing at your doorstep. Access to the site is entirely by paved road, making this an easy way to join fellow amateur astronomers for some autumn observing at a convenient dark sky site.

LOOKING AHEAD

NPSP 2027 is tentatively scheduled for September 21 – 26, 2027.

Check this page again for updates. For more information, please contact the Northern Prairie Star Party Planning Team at npstarfest@shaw.ca.