About Us

The Black Forest Star Party (BFSP) is an annual dark-sky amateur astronomy observing event hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Observers (CPO). Held every year since 1999 (except 2000), the BFSP generally spans a weekend in the late summer or early fall in Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania. Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest sites in the state of Pennsylvania and has been designated as Pennsylvania’s first Dark Sky Park by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The amateur astronomers who have attended the BFSP can testify that the skies can be great! Below is a light pollution map of Pennsylvania, courtesy of the International Dark-Sky Association. Cherry Springs is located in the middle of the dark area black area in Potter county. It is about as dark here as it gets in Pennsylvania! The Cherry Springs site is also in a large field, at an altitude of 2300 feet above sea level. This makes for one great place to have a star party! Cherry Springs has become a very popular place! Many amateur astronomers are holding impromptu or organized events here during the observing season.