Mid Atlantic Star Party


The Mid Atlantic Star Party was an annual regional gathering of amateur astronomers held each fall around October near Robbins, North Carolina.

History

First held in 1995, MASP is located in one of the darkest spots along the eastern U.S. coast and is the largest annual gathering of amateur astronomers between Vermont's Stellafane and Florida's Winter Star Party.

Modern times

With attendance usually numbering in the hundreds, MASP was held at the Occoneechee Council Boy Scout camp for the first decade of operation before scheduling conflicts forced a site change.
The star party has become a focus of the town of Robbins' economic and cultural planning process and has spurred the creation of a regional "dark park" to control light pollution.