Planning to Attend OSP

• Bring everything you will need for camping in central Oregon, OSP is an hour's drive from Prineville. Days are often hot, with night's temperatures ranging from mild to cold.
• OSP is an hour's drive from Prineville. Plan to fill your car's gas tank before leaving Prineville.
• You will need approximately one gallon of water per person per day in the central Oregon mountains. Fill your water tanks or jugs before leaving Prineville.
• Before leaving home please cover white lights in car and RV interiors, and bring red flashlights. One blast of white light ruins night vision and it takes about 30 minutes to recover (and you will not be popular with fellow astronomers). OSP is totally dark after sunset with only the faint red glow from dim red flashlights. The milky way provides enough light for walking around once your eyes become dark adapted.
• Camping at OSP is fairly dense so bring enough equipment for your family but try to minimize the square footage your campsite will consume.
• The soil at OSP is clay, dusty and rocky with some pines and small bushes. You might want to consider using outdoor carpet in your camping area and around your telescope to minimize dust.
• OSP is at 5000 feet on a mountaintop, so exposure to the sun in the daytime is an issue. Bring sunscreen, hats, awnings, space blankets to protect yourself and our telescope from the sun.
• Bring plenty of warm clothing and use layering as the evening progresses. At OSP 2008 on Saturday evening around midnight, the temperature dropped below freezing, so be prepared.

Camping

• The forest service requires camping be limited to the areas along the tree line on the north side of Forest Service road 800, or along the graveled parts of FS roads 800 and 802. All vehicles must be parked within 100 feet of the road. You can set up a tent in the viewing areas but you cannot park in the viewing areas.
• All RVs other than tent trailers, van conversions, and pick-up campers must be within 100 feet of the FS 800 or 802 roads.
• The nearest RV waste water dump is at the Crook County RV Park on the road to Prineville.
• While OSP scheduled activities are Thursday through Sunday, many people come early and/or stay late to enjoy the darkest skies in the region. Please note: if you arrive early and park in an area we need for OSP operations we will ask you to move.
• Morning Quiet Hours - Astronomers are usually up all night and sometimes sleep in the morning or early evening. Please refrain from any loud noise or talking before 10:30am.
• Pets are allowed at OSP as long as they do not cause any threat to others or interfere with quiet hours. Pets must be on a leash and under owner control at all times on site.
• NOTE: Green lasers are prohibited at OSP. The only exception is for Dave Powell during his scheduled talks.

US Forest Service

• The Forest Service permit for OSP is from Monday through Sunday, if you are onsite outside of these days you are entirely on your own. All OSP attendees must follow Forest Service rules.
• The Forest Service controls the generator policy and is subject to change at the last minute. Please check here for the latest information.
• No open fires are allowed anywhere on site at OSP.
• Charcoal Briquettes are not allowed anywhere on site at OSP.
• Only propane or white gas stoves are permitted as long as they are off the ground and not a danger to the surrounding area.
• Smoking is permitted only inside a vehicle or on the graveled 800 or 802 roads. Smoking materials must be disposed of in a fireproof container or inside your vehicle's ashtray.
• The Forest Service requires that each vehicle must carry 1) a shovel, 2) an ax, 3) 5 gallons of water reserved for fire suppression.
• The most current fire infomration may be found at - http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/conditions/fires.shtml
• The OSP Staff reserves the right to ask any attendee to leave if they are deemed to be in violation of US Forest Service regulations.
• "In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimininating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportun ity provider and employer."

Food

Mary's Chuckwagon

• Mary provides breakfast and lunch menus including burgers, chicken sandwiches, sodas, snacks, desserts (the cobbler is yummy) and other goodies. Mary's also has ice which is subject to availability. Mary will begin serving Wednesday afternoon and continue through Sunday morning. Cash only, please.
• If you pre-registered, ordered and paid for Star Dinners, your meal tickets will be in your registration packet at the Registration Tent. Star Dinners may be purchased at the Registration Tent or at Mary's Chuckwagon subject to availability.

Shawna's Espresso Blast

• Shawna offers hot drinks including: Mocha, Latte, Cappuccino, Chai and Hot Tea.
• Shawna also offers cold drinks including: Iced Mocha, Iced Latte, Mocha Ice Rage, Italian Soda, Touraco and Iced Teas, and Fruit Tea Smoothies.
• Shawna will begin serving Wednesday afternoon and continue through Sunday morning. Cash only, please.

Amenities

• OK's Cascade Mobile Showers - OK's 18-wheel shower truck will be at OSP again this year with hot showers. You can purchase shower tickets at pre-registration or on-site at the Registration Tent. The shower truck will be available beginning Thursday morning and run through Saturday morning until the water tank is empty. No refunds will be given for shower tickets.
• Porta Potties - OSP has Porta Potties throughout the camping areas, arriving Monday pm through Sunday.
• Trash - A large trash container is available on the 800 road by the Shower Truck. Please deposit trash and garbage during the week or when you leave OSP.
• Recycling bins are available for water bottles and cans in and around the Activities Tent.
• Water - In general, you need to bring your own water to OSP, one gallon per person per day. Mary's has ice and soft drinks available. Volunteers also have water available during their shifts. It is very important to stay hydrated at OSP's dry desert environment.

Oregon Star Party Clear Sky Clock

OSP Site Map

It is STRONGLY recommended that you NOT use your GPS Navigation system with the GPS coordinates below to travel to OSP. Our driving instructions are very accurate and use the best roads possible to get to OSP.

Note: This map is NOT to scale

Additional Maps

This map is to scale (96kb)

Google Maps Aerial View

360° panorama photo