The Street Astronomer’s Guide to Idaho Astronomical Resources

Easy Star Gazing
The Street Astronomer holds Easy Star Gazing presentations at several locations in the Treasure Valley during March, June, September, and December.

Easy Star Gazing Notes
An online copy of the Easy Star Gazing class and links is available at nearsys.com/easy

Idaho Skies Radio Program
Radio Boise (89.9 FM Caldwell/Boise and 93.5 FM Garden City) presents a regularly scheduled astronomy program at the following times
Tuesday at 3:30 PM
Wednesday at 3:30 PM
Thursday at 7:30 PM
Friday at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM
Sunday at 8:30 PM
 
Follow Idaho Skies tweets at www.twitter.com/Idahoskies

The Idaho Skies blog is located at http://idahoskies.blogspot.com

Monthly Star Maps
Free stars maps are available online at http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html
(Click the Northern Hemisphere PDF file in the left column

Idaho Astronomy Clubs
Boise Astronomical Society (BAS)
Boise’s astronomy club meets on the second Friday of the month at the Discovery Center of Idaho.  Meetings begin at 7:00 PM, except for July, December, and an annual planetarium meeting which are a members only event. http://www.boiseastro.org

Idaho Falls Astronomical Society (IFAS)
Idaho Falls’ astronomy club meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Skyline Activity Center, 1575 N. Skyline Dr. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM.
http://www.ifastro.org/

Magic Valley Astronomical Society (MVAS)
Twin Falls’ astronomy club meets on the second Saturday of the month at the Herrett Center, College of southern Idaho.  Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are followed by a public star party upstairs. http://www.mvastro.org

Palouse Astronomical Society (PAS)
Northern Idaho’s astronomy club meets the first Thursday of the month. Locations change, so consult their calendar at, http://palouseastro.org/

Idaho Observatories
Bruneau Dunes Observatory
Idaho’s largest public observatory is located at the Bruneau Dunes State Park. The observatory is open from early April to Mid October. Observatory sessions are preceded by a presentation in the Steele Reese Center. http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneau-dunes

BYU-Idaho Observatory
The campus generally opens its observatory on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:00 PM to 10:00PM (weather and school schedules permitting). http://www.byui.edu/physics/resources/non-majors/observatory

Centennial Observatory
The observatory at the College of Southern Idaho is open for free star parties one hour after sunset (weather permitting) on the second Saturday of the month and on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from November through February. http://herrett.csi.edu/astronomy/observatory/index.asp

Planetariums
BYU-Idaho Planetarium
Weekly planetarium shows are presented on campus in Rexburg every Thursday (school schedule permitting). The door opens at 6:30 PM and the presentation begins at 7:00 PM. The planetarium is located in the Romney Science Building, room 107. http://www.byui.edu/planetarium

Faulkner Planetarium
The Faulkner Planetarium is the largest planetarium in Idaho. Shows are presented Tuesday through Saturday in the summer and Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday the rest of the year. In addition, the planetarium hosts astronomy talks on Fridays in odd months. The planetarium is located at the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls. http://herrett.csi.edu/astronomy/planetarium/index.asp

Whittenberger Planetarium
The College of Idaho planetarium is opened to the public the first and third Wednesday of the month, school calendar permitting. The door opens at 6:45 PM and the show begins at 7:00 PM. The college is located in Caldwell.  http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/planetarium

Star Parties
Craters of the Moon Star Party
The Magic Valley and Idaho Falls Astronomical Societies jointly hosts an annual star party at the Craters of the Moon National Monument every summer. Consult their webpages for the schedule.  

Idaho Star Party
The Boise Astronomical Society hosts an annual public star party every later summer at Bruneau Dunes State Park. An admission fee is charged for the star party and it is opened to the public. Check the Boise Astronomical Society’s webpage for the schedule.