Click on AZ for the All-Arizona Star Party Site Map

Arizona City is the site of the annual All-Arizona Star Party. The observing field is located midway between Phoenix and Tucson, west of Interstate 10. The sky conditions are reasonably good, almost matching those of the Vekol Road site. The site offers the right combination of dark skies, good visibility and temperate nights that will encourage you to stay up well past your bedtime! There are the predictable glows from Phoenix and Tucson, but not much else to complain about. The nearby cotton fields make this another very dusty place, especially when stirred up by 50 to 100 arriving astronomers. Most of the flora is small creosote bushes, so horizons are very low. It is important to note that this site is on private land. This is a primitive site - so if you need something you'll have to bring it with you! Porta-Potties will be available on site. Attendees are welcome to camp overnight at AASP.
To get to the site of the All-AZ Star Party: Take I-10 to Exit 200, Sunland Gin Road. Take this road south (a right turn if coming from Phoenix, a left turn if coming from Tucson). Note: this is the closest place for gas and food after leaving the interstate. The paved road continues for 17 miles, then it turns sharply to the west (right). Continue west for 4 miles. The main road turns south (left) just past the "Silverbell Estates" sign. Continue south for 3 miles past the sign, the road veers off to the west (right). Continue on the road for another 5 miles, where it passes through a gate. Take an immediate left after the gate, and continue for 0.7 miles. Take the next right on a road that leads into an open field. Just follow the signs along the road into the observing field. If you must leave early, please park toward the north end of the field. Likewise, if you are spending the night, park to the south. Click here for a printable map.

Waiting for darkness and clear skies in 2004

Friday 16 October
12:00 pm  --  Hospitality tent set up
5:00  pm  --   Potluck Get-Together under the hospitality tent
7:00 pm  --  Lights Out and Observe

Saturday 17 October
8:00 am - 10:00 am  --  Coffee and muffins
5:00 pm  --  Dinner under hospitality tent ($5)
5:00 pm  --  Drawing for prizes
7:00 pm  --  Lights Out and Observe
Hospitality tent open all night

Sunday 18 October
7:00 am  --  Coffee and muffins
Departures
 

Map showing the general location of the observing site

        Friday  16  October             

Moonrise	04:56 AM
Begin astronomical twilight	05:11
Sunrise	06:34
Moon transit	10:55
Sun transit	12:14
Moonset	16:46
Sunset	17:53
End astronomical twilight	19:16

Phase of the Moon on 16 October: waning crescent with 2% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated

        Saturday  17  October                 

Moonrise	06:02
Begin astronomical twilight	05:12
Sunrise	06:35
Moon transit	11:44
Sun transit	12:13
Moonset	17:19
Sunset	17:52
End astronomical twilight	19:15

Phase of the Moon on 17 October: 0% of Monn's disk illuminated
New Moon on 17 October at 10:34 PM

On the observing field in 2001

This map is a small excerpt (195 miles wide x 230 miles high) from the The World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness. The cross marks the location of the All-Arizona Star Party (Farnsworth Ranch). This site is classified as '3' on the Bortle scale, defined as having low light domes (10 to 15 degrees) on the horizon, M33 easy with averted vision, M15 is naked eye, Milky way shows bulge into Ophiuchus. Limiting magnitude 6.6 to 7.0. Sky brightness is 21.5 to 21.3 mags per square arcsecond.

Download Registration Form & Liability Waiver

Attendance at the 2009 All-Arizona Star Party is contingent upon your agreement to the terms in the following public disclosure:

In consideration of my attendance at the 2009 All-Arizona Star Party to be held at Farnsworth Ranch, south of Arizona City, Arizona, on October 16 through October 17, 2009, I agree to hold harmless the East Valley Astronomy Club, members of the Farnsworth family, and any employees, principals, agents, officers or members thereof, from any claims, liabilities, losses, demands, causes of action, suits and expenses (including attorney fees), which may directly or indirectly be connected to the All-Arizona Star Party and/or my presence on the premises of Farnsworth Ranch and related areas.

For more information please contact:
EVAC Event Coordinator

Special thanks to Ray Farnsworth for the use of his property!
© 2009 EVAC, all rights reserved.
Page last updated on 17 August 2009

Looking forward to seeing you there under clear skies!