About Us
About Us
The Oregon Star Party is private Non-Profit Corporation that plans and puts on the Oregon Star Party every August in the Ochoco Forest. We originally started as a committee within the Rose City Astronomers, but since 2000 the OSP has been a separate Non-Profit Corporation and our Officers and Committee members now are from different astronomy clubs across the US.
The OSP Board consists of:
President Chuck Dethloff
Vice-President Candace Pratt
Secretary Jenny Forrester
Treasurer Judy Dethloff
The OSP Director is Larry Godsey.
The OSP Committee members are Andy Phelps, Bernie Kuehn, Bill Jensen, Carolyn Nissen, Dareth Murray, Dave Powell, Greg Rohde, Herb Nissen, Howard Knytych, Jan Keiski, Jeff Henning, Jim Reilly, Jim Todd, John Harris, Ken Cone, Ken Hose, Lars Hedbor, Lisa Todd, Lorien Reilly, Mark Dakins, Matt Vartanian, Michael Rasmussen, Patton Echols, Rebecca Gee, Rob Guttridge, and Susie McClain.
The Board and Committee work year around to plan and put on this yearly event, which draws between 650 and 950 people from the US, Canada, and from around the world.
Because we hold our yearly outing in the wilds of the Ochoco National Forest we support the concept that you only take pictures and leave only footprints. We have been working with the USFS for the past 17 years in assuring that we leave the Star Party location better than we found it each year. The USFS provides us with advice and expertise in the sustainability of the Ochoco Forest. They also provide tours and speakers specializing in the forest sustainability while still providing for public use.
We support the IDA (International Dark Sky Association) in reducing the misuse of lighting. Light pollution is defined as any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste. It affects not only the night skies and astronomical viewing, but also misuse of lighting can impact both human and the ecosystem negatively.
We also support the "Clear Dark Sky Clock" produced by Antillo Danko. His program is a boon to astronomers everywhere and is of great value to predicting the dark sky conditions.