PARTY WITH THE STARS
COMFORT — Kendall County Friends of the Night Sky, Boerne Kendall County Dark Sky Group and Singing Water Vineyards will cast their eyes to the heavens Friday to host a Star Party.
The vineyard where the event is being held is at 316 Mill Dam Road.
After gates open at 6:30 p.m., Night Sky amateur astronomers will offer opportunities for stargazing, including a “constellation tour” utilizing a variety of mobile phone apps to help participants become familiar with star configurations the ancients grouped into warriors, animals and other designs.
“The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas,” quipped Edward L. Rogers, KCFNS steering committee member, in reference to the iconic 1942 song “Deep in the Heart of Texas.”
He added this will be a “new moon/no moon” night, with Saturn at peak brightness and on its closest approach to Earth.
Venus will be visible low in the western sky during twilight shortly after sunset, likely “appearing as a shining, brilliant evening star,” Rogers said.
Rogers said Singing Waters offers a family-friendly venue for the event, with the program beginning at sunset at 7:11 p.m. and kicked off by a Hill Country Alliance Dark Sky Preservation slide show.
Local 4-H members of the Boerne/Kendall County Dark Sky Work Group will show attendees how to make a home’s outdoor lighting dark sky/ neighbor friendly.
The Dark Sky Initiative in Boerne and Kendall County seeks to enforce dark sky-friendly lighting rules, requiring downward- directed fixtures, pole height limits and photometric lighting plans for new developments, to minimize light pollution in the county and region.
Rogers urged attendees to bring red-light flashlights to prevent interference with telescopes.
The Draconid meteor shower will reach its peak that evening, best viewed in the early evening as the radiant point in the constellation Draco sits high in the northern sky, organizers said.
“Because there’s no moonlight to interfere, observers should catch slow- moving, bright shooting stars,” Rogers said. “Come join in to help us preserve the ‘Best Little Night Sky Towns in Texas.’”
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