Deep South Star Gaze XXXX October 25-30, 2022 At White Horse Christian Retreat Camp, near Sandy Hook, Mississippi

Please Note - Due to the ongoing nature of COVID-19, details about the 2022 DSSG are subject to possible change. For the most current updates, discussions and other news, please consult the DSSG Forum (see the link below).

Named one of the 19 Great Star Parties by ASTRONOMY magazine in the September, 1998 edition, we have a lot to offer - A great setting at a great time of year, among a lot of other eager amateur astronomers anxious to do some serious observing. White Horse Christian Retreat Camp (315 Hurricane Creek Road, Sandy Hook, MS). Here is a Google map of their location. The facility is actually the group of buildings approximately one mile directly north of the marker, via a private road.

This website is only a brief introduction to the DSSG and the information here is updated on an infrequent basis. There's a much better (and more current!) source of information about the fall Deep South Star Gaze and the smaller, more informal spring Deep South Spring Scrimmage. For much more up to date information, please join the Deep South Star Gaze forum. It's the official Internet home of the DSSG and there you'll find complete details about these great events as well as access to registration information, photos and group members who can answer your questions.

All scopes great and small... Bill and Pat discuss the finer points of Pat's beautiful mini-Dob built around Astroscan optics. What's better than a crystal-clear night sky? Well, how about a crystal-clear night sky and beautiful daytime weather? CW enjoys a spot of sunspot observing! There are numerous nature and walking trails in the area. DSSG Facts and Figures

2010 DSSG - 99 in attendance, and second-to-lowest temperature of 23F Friday night. 2008 DSSG - 80 in attendance. 2007 DSSG - 120 in attendance. 2006 DSSG - 121 in attendance. 2005 DSSG - 95 in attendance (quite remarkable considering Katrina and Rita). 2004 DSSG - 122 in attendance. 2000, 2001 and 2004 were some of the better years weather wise, but 2005 was hands-down the best, nicely inaugurating our new location at Camp Ruth Lee. 2008 was easily as nice as 2005, weather-wise. 1994, 1999, 2006 and 2015 were probably the worst years, night-weather wise. Registration peaked in 1999 with a registration of 191, but due to poor weather, the actual paid "attendance" that year was just 138. The coldest temperature recorded at the DSSG was 21F degrees in 1991. People associated with 27 different astronomy societies have attended the DSSG over the years. Our registrants in 2006 represented 13 astronomical societies and university astronomy clubs. The greatest distance traveled to get to the DSSG was from Boston, MA, in 2004. The Aurora Borealis (northern lights) has been seen from the Deep South Stargaze.

The DSSG is held at the White Horse Christian Retreat Camp, but this Clear Sky Chart is for the nearby Pushapatapa Creek Observatory.

Web hosting is courtesy of Stargazing Network. The Clear Sky Clock is developed by Atilla Danko, based on data from the Canadian Meteorological Center. Kudos and thanks to all the above! Copyright� 2021 Deep South Star Gaze, except as noted otherwise