Name: The Hatchery Star Party
Start: 2026-04-18T21:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-04-18T23:00:00-07:00
Location: Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery

This is WVAC's flagship event. This event is for the whole community; members and non-members; those just curious and advanced amateurs. No registration is required, come on out and show up.
Have a telescope but don't know how to use it? or want some pointers? this is an opportunity to get to know your telescope.
No telescope? No problem! Astronomy is for sharing. Members will have red lanterns below their telescope. Come on up and see what we are looking at. Every member will have a different telescope and looking at something else. The secret password is "Whatchya Looking at?" This is a place for exploration of the curious and answering any questions you have from deep cosmic questions to what type of telescope you should get.
Have a telescope and know what your doing? Great! Come on out and meet our members. This is an event for astronomers of the community. This event allows all of us to connect to one another and to our cosmos.
Every person will be greeted by a WVAC member so new-comers know where to start and how the event works. Come on out and we can all enjoy the stars together in a comfortable environment.
Where:
We all will park at the USFWS Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Parking Lot just outside of the gate. The gate will be half closed, but please do not drive beyond the gate. Unless prior permission from staff and club, say if you have a telescope to set up.
The Telescope Area is just beyond the main building, about 50 yards from the parking lot. Walk beyond the gates and follow that main roadway straight until you see our red illuminated light sign board.
Registration:
No registration is required. No need to sign up, just come on out and show up. Stay as long as you would like. But please arrive on time, so we can start introductions and explain how the event works.
While the event is free, donations are gladly accepted. All donations go to Friends of the Hatchery non-profit organization where they will use the proceeds to install a Sky Quality Meter to quantify light pollution growth.
Other Information:
During the program, please avoid the use of white light, red lensed lights are allowed. White lights are allowed for emergency use.
Please dress appropriately for the weather and possible wind; insect repellant may be necessary.
Bathrooms will be made available on nights that USFWS staff is available in the main building.
Star Party is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Cancellations will be posted on our Events Calendar on Wenatcheevalleystars.org
Parking Area: https://www.google.com/maps/place/47%C2%B033%2730.5%22N+120%C2%B040%2733.6%22W/@47.558458,-120.6766357,176m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m12!1m7!3m6!1s0x549a4e7ca2b0b7a5:0xbde2b8fdbc790a69!2sLeavenworth+National+Fish+Hatchery!8m2!3d47.5589037!4d-120.6748406!16s%2Fm%2F06_hz7z!3m3!8m2!3d47.558458!4d-120.675992?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Telescope Area:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/47%C2%B033%2730.0%22N+120%C2%B040%2723.2%22W/@47.558332,-120.6737577,176m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d47.558332!4d-120.673114!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D