Attending the Oregon Star Party is the perfect opportunity to observe the night sky! In order to encourage observing at the Oregon Star Party, we develop five different observing programs each year, each with its award certificate and pin. Anyone registered for the star party is eligible to participate.

Please note,

A major objective of the lists is to provide interesting and rewarding objects for attendees to find, observe, and enjoy. The intent is to support a wide range of people with different observing experience, interests, and equipment.
This year, we hope the lists help facilitate that a little better. On all but the Astrophotography list (which primarily uses the others to source objects), the lists are now organized by object type, and in estimated order of difficulty in each type, so observers can choose from their interests and desired challenge level within the list. There are significantly more objects on each list than are required to earn an award, providing some flexibility to the observer.
Also, since there has been a trend toward more automation in recent years, Jnow coordinates (where things are in the sky currently) have been added to the lists in addition to the original J2000 coordinates (where things are at the J2000 epoch used for current star charts).

if you were working a list from last year (or prior) and didn’t finish – don’t worry, It’s okay to finish it up (or even start it if it looks like fun) this year and get your pin. We have plenty of pins from recent prior years, and will do our best to locate ones from years back if we can. Each list (except typically beginner) tends to vary significantly from year to year – and each has an interesting set of objects to observe. Feel free to try whatever looks most interesting to you. Keep in mind time-of-year will affect visibility i.e. some July/August objects may not be visible in June and planets/comets/asteroids are in completely different locations each year.

Observing Program Rules

We hope the lists give observers opportunities to experience the enjoyment of observing a wide variety of things the night sky. But, if you are interested in earning observing pins by participating in the observing program, there are some rules to be followed.

All observations must be made at Indian Trail Spring during the 5 nights of Oregon Star Party. This year, we encourage everyone to describe and sketch each of the objects into the Observer Log Sheet. A blank log sheet is available below to download and print. It will also be included in the OSP Observer Guide. A limited quantity will also be in the Information Tent.
If you prefer, you may instead use your own log book, or sheets, paper or electronic, to record your observations. Observations may be carried over to the next year if you did not complete them in one year, but they must be made at Indian Trail Spring during OSP.

An observation record must include:

Your Name
Date of Observation
Time of Observation
Sky condition (ideally seeing, transparency and limiting magnitude)
Equipment used for observing or photographing
Magnification used while observing the object
A description of the object
For intermediate and advanced lists, , a sketch with more detailed description is very strongly encouraged. The direction N or direction of drift (W) is also important in many cases to help with verification (object against background, and double star orientation as examples).
Proof of OSP registration

To help people enjoy what our skies have to offer here at OSP, and provide some initial guidance for observers, Brian Hatley and James Still (current and past Observing Program coordinators) have put together a guide for the observing program to help familiarize new participants (and interested others) with guidance on recording and sketching observations, explaining conditions and how they impact observing, and providing some equipment guidance (including eyes) and observing techniques.

Below are descriptions of each list and a link for the PDF of the objects.
These will also come in your registration packet upon arrival at OSP when you check in at the registration tent.

OSP First Observing List

OSP First Observing List

This list is intended to introduce newcomers to OSP. Items include views of day and night sky object types through multiple instruments, introduction to services and amenities at the event, experiencing speaker events, and meeting some of the people that help make it all happen.

Don’t have a telescope of binoculars? Don’t worry! There are mentoring sessions you can sign up for Wed-Fri nights (that’s one of the items!). There is also Bernie’s telescope park where you can use the mentoring telescopes first-come, first-served after mentoring sessions are complete around 11:30 (check with the information tent to confirm). Many folks tend to enjoy sharing views through their equipment as well, so that’s another option – but do ask politely, and understand they could be concentrating on a different specific activity at the moment.

This year, the committee is planning unique signage for folks that are interested in sharing views to support this (or in general). Check at the information tent for what these signs or lights look like, and how availability will be indicated.

To get your pin, you will need to accomplish at least 9 of the 11 tasks, and must include items 10 and 11. Observed items should be described sufficiently to identify what you saw, and also sketched/drawn if that’s a listed criteria. Sketch can be as simple or complex as you like… idea is to capture what you see. It may surprise you how much more you may take in by observing with the objective of capturing with a sketch.

When finished, bring your record of observations to the Observing Program table next to the Information Tent to receive your pin. Please check the information tent for updates on when the Observing Program table will be staffed, and where it is going to be for the next session. Typically it will be manned later in the afternoon.

2026 First Observing List

Binocular List

Binocular List (“Binoc” on pin)

Although a telescope provides brighter and higher magnification views of deep-sky objects, binoculars offer several advantages. They provide a much wider field of view, which enhances the views of many objects and makes locating them easier. They are also much more portable and require little or no setup. Many objects in the list below are easily visible in binoculars of all sizes. You may notice many of these are also on other lists – this is intentional. You’ll find a whole different feel looking at something with a much wider field of view and using both eyes. There is a sense of context – seeing where these objects sit relative to nearby objects. While you are encouraged to try them all – to receive the Binocular Observer pin you must observe and record at least 14 of the listed objects while you are here at OSP. As an added reference, each object’s page number in the popular Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas (PSA) is listed as well (or where it would be, if not actually included).

Since there are observers of many levels at OSP, this list contains simple to find/see objects, along with some more challenging ones, but with many more items than are needed for an award. This allows beginners to work on the list and earn an award, but provides additional binocular-oriented targets for more advanced observers looking for more of a challenge.

Go-to mounts are not permitted for the Binocular List award. You may get assistance in locating objects on star charts or in the sky, but you must locate them yourself with your binoculars. Looking through mounted binoculars, in which someone else has sighted the object for you, is not acceptable. Object sketches are highly recommended but they are not necessary if you provide a good description of each object and what you saw.

2026 Binocular Observing List

Showpiece List (former know as the Beginner List)

Showpiece List (“L1” on pin – meaning Level 1)

A great way to enjoy the unique beauty of the dark skies at Oregon Star Party (OSP) is to view bright deep sky objects, colorful double stars, and planets through a telescope. The objects listed are easily visible in most telescopes, and many can also be seen in binoculars. They are among the brightest showpiece objects in the sky.

While you encouraged to try them all – to receive the Showpiece List observer pin you must observe and record at least 12 of the objects listed below while you are here at OSP. As an added reference each object’s page number in the popular Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas (PSA) is listed as well (or where it would be, if not actually included – like planets).

Most of the objects listed below are visible between sunset and midnight during the star party. All are visible before astronomical dawn. The ShowpieceList award is intended for visual observing. Go-to telescopes and image enhancers (photography) are not permitted for the Showpiece List award. You may get assistance in locating objects on star charts or in the sky, but you must locate them yourself with your telescope. Looking through a telescope, in which someone else has sighted the object for you, is not acceptable. Object sketches are a bonus but they are not necessary if you provide a good description of each object.

2026 Showpiece Observing List

Intermediate List

Intermediate List (“L2” on pin – meaning Level 2)

Again this year we have a large number of objects on the list to try. They are intended to be interesting, but for the most part not repeat items in recent prior lists. They do leverage lists from many years ago, with a few exceptions. There is a wide variety of objects to choose from, including double and multiple stars, carbon stars, and a possible nova! There’s also a wide assortment of open and globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Some are fairly challenging, others somewhat easier to find but hopefully just as interesting and rewarding to see. This year there is also a galaxy cluster, and a cluster of open clusters, with some significantly more challenging add-ons for the interested. (Perhaps a test-run for an observer considering “graduating” to the Advanced List.)

Jnow coordinates have been added this year to support pointing with digital (or analog) setting circles. J2000 coordinates are retained as well which reference recent start charts for more visually-oriented location methods. Also, the list is grouped by object type. Within those, the objects are ordered relative to their estimated difficulty level.

A separate document is provided on the website with finder charts for the comet and three asteroids, to encourage more observers to attempt them. The asteroids need to be observed hours or perhaps a day apart to confirm the observation. 2-3 sketches recommended. Then you can “blink compare” your sketches and see which dot jumps. We’ll have a few copies of this on-site as well. Other hints may be added as well. Check in the info tent, we intend to have a few copies of this onsite.

An important note – also shown in the table. The dimmer objects on the list may actually not be quite as dim as the magnitude suggests. Magnitudes estimates vary from source to source, and tool to tool, depending on bandwidths and filters used in calculation. The tool used consistently throughout the OSP lists tends to estimate on the high (dim) side. In some cases, other sources show 1-2 magnitudes brighter (for the really dim stuff). Others agree with it. The message? If you are looking to stretch your equipment and observing skills, don’t let a “maybe too dim” number discourage you. It may actually be just in reach – especially with averted vision, shrouding, etc. Give it a try.

Though you are encouraged to try them all, to receive the OSP Intermediate list observer pin you must observe and record at least 16 of the listed objects while you are here at OSP. A short description of each object is required and object sketches are strongly encouraged. Sketch double stars noting West (drift direction) or North.(Recommended for all sketches for verification). Visual observations are encouraged but goto and image enhancers are permitted at OSP for the Intermediate List award. Each objects page number in the popular Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas (PSA) is listed as well (or where it would be, if not actually included).

2026 Intermediate Observing List

Advanced List

Advanced List (L3 on pin – meaning Level 3)

This year OSP is transitioning to new contributors for the Advanced List. To honor some of the best of the past, we are revisiting some of the most interesting items from lists as far back as 2006. Items range from daytime Venus, to dim galaxy clusters, to galaxy internal features, to globulars orbiting M31. The selection goals were that the object be significantly challenging (perhaps not quite as extreme as some), and also interesting and rewarding to find and see.

As this an advanced list, prior preparation and research is highly recommended for success. A separate “guidance” document is provided on the website with pages from prior lists that had object guidance (typically from Howard Banich). Note that the required criteria for this year is noted in the list table, not the guidance pages (they may be different). Other guidance be added for some of the earlier items that did not have this, as well as a finder chart for Pluto. We’ll have a few copies of this on-site as well.

An important note – also shown in the table. Just like on the Intermediate List, the dimmer objects on the list may actually not be quite as dim as the magnitude suggests. Magnitude estimates vary from source to source, and tool to tool, depending on what portion of the spectrum was used for the calculation in the source. The tool used consistently throughout the OSP lists tends to estimate on the high (dim) side. In some cases, other sources show 1-2 magnitudes brighter (for the really dim stuff). Others agree with it. The message? If you are looking to stretch your equipment and observing skill, don’t let a “maybe too dim” number discourage you. It may actually be just in reach – especially with averted vision, shrouding, etc. Give it a try.

Though you are encouraged to try them all, to receive the OSP Advanced list observer pin you must observe and record at least 10 of the 20 listed objects/group combinations while you are here at OSP as described in detail in the list table. A detailed sketch or a detailed description of each object is required in order to validate your observations. Includes background stars/objects or detailed description as appropriate so your observations can be validated. Include equipment used, date, time and sketch orientation (N or W). If you work on Pluto, it needs to be observed multiple times, a day or so apart to confirm the observation. Two to three sketches are recommended. Then you can “blink compare” your sketches and see which dot jumps. Just like Tombaugh did.

Visual observations are encouraged, but goto and image enhancers are permitted at OSP for the Advanced List award. Consistent with the other lists, each objects page number in the popular Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas (PSA) is listed as well (or where it would be, if not actually included). Very few of these objects are shown in the PSA, but it can give good context of the area around the object which can be helpful for visual object location.

2026 Advance Observing List Instructions & Objects

2026 Advanced Observing List

Astrophotography List

Astrophotography List (“Photo” on pin)

Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky.

The easiest way to start is to capture wide views of the night sky with an ordinary DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses. Such equipment affords a wide field of view, making easy work of imaging constellations, meteors, the Milky Way, and much more.Point-and-shoot cameras and newer cell phones can also capture the sky remarkably well.Some of the latest cell phones are surprisingly capable – often even in automatic modes, and especially in manual and pro modes. You might be surprised just how well that phone in your pocket can capture many objects in the night sky. (There are even means to piggyback them onto eyepieces – manual focus typically needed for that.)

Next levels include tracking mounts for the camera, or camera views through tracking telescopes. From there it progresses through various levels all the way to purpose-made astro-imaging telescopes, mounts, cameras, systems and software that rival some observatories.

Since astrophotographers at OSP range from people who are pointing a camera at the night sky for the first time, to people using tracking telescopes or mounts, to people with very sophisticated tracking and imaging systems with extreme capability, the list approach leverages the other lists. To accommodate this better without creating many more lists, we are providing a few starter items here, then leveraging the other four lists for the remainder.

For typical camera lenses and cell phones, if you are just starting out, the Binocular List is a great place to begin as things there tend to be larger. A number of Showpiece items can also be captured pretty easily. As equipment capability is increased, Intermediate and Advanced list items are easily in reach – enabled by accurate tracking, advanced sensors and longer or stacked exposures.

To complete this list, you many choose from the five items shown and/or any of the items in the other four lists to suit your desired challenge level – and do more if you like!Individual beginner and binocular list objects count as a single item. Intermediate list objects count as two. Advanced list objects (must meet full criteria for an object) count as three.

To receive the award pin this year you must photograph at least 10items, (counting items per the rules above) while you are at OSP.

When finished, bring your record of observations and images to the Observing Program table next to the Information Tent to receive your pin. Please check the information tent for updates on when the Observing Program table will be staffed, and where it is going to be for the next session. Typically it will be manned later in the afternoon.

Finally, with your permission, OSP would like to display the images on the website for everyone to see!

The astrophotography list can be downloaded here:

2026 Astrophotography Observing List

Observing Program and Lists