Fall’N’Stars is an annual gathering of amateur astronomers in Eastern Ontario, co-hosted by the RASC Kingston and RASC Belleville Centres. Held each September near the new moon, the event offers a rustic weekend of stargazing, astronomy presentations, and social events at a dark sky location in Prince Edward County.
The event brings together amateur astronomers from across the region for deep sky observing, astrophotography, and sharing equipment and techniques in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Rain or shine — alternative indoor programming is planned for inclement weather.
Fall’N’Stars 2026
- When: September 2026 (near the new moon)
- Where: Johnson’s RV Park, 3235 County Road 13, Picton (South Bay), ON
- Co-hosted with: RASC Belleville Centre
- Camping: On-site at Johnson’s RV Park
What to Expect
- Dark sky observing sessions
- Astronomy presentations & talks
- Catered Saturday dinner
- Equipment swap table
- Prize draws
- Group photo
- Nature walking trails
Typical Schedule
Friday
- 1:00 PM — Registration opens
- 7:00 PM — Registration closes; sunset observing session begins
Saturday
- 12:00 PM — Registration opens
- 1:00 PM — Guest speaker presentation & talks
- 4:00 PM — Group photo; registration closes
- 5:00 PM — Dinner
- 6:00 PM — Prize draws (must be present)
- 7:00 PM — Observing at will
Sunday
- 12:00 PM — Cleanup and departure
Dark Sky Etiquette
- No white lights in the observing area at night — use red-filtered flashlights aimed downward
- Vehicle lights: apply red filters to interior and trunk lights if accessing cars at night
- Screens: computer screens must be shielded with minimal brightness; use night vision mode or red filters
- No campfires or propane/naphtha lanterns
- Lasers: red and green lasers for qualified users only, with spotters; avoid pointing at people or trailers
- Quiet hours: generators off between 11 PM and 9 AM
- Music: headphones only — this is an astronomy conference, not a rock concert!
- Pets: please leave pets at home