On Saturday, February 16, 2013, staff members from Astronomy will join a group of many partners to put on a big star party in the United States’ “astronomy capitol,” Tucson, Arizona. If you’re in the area, we hope you’ll stop on by and enjoy the wonders of the night sky with us. The star party will be held at the Pima Community College East Campus Observatory, at 8181 East Irvington Road, southeast of the center of the city. This will be an all-day event, with activities starting at 10 a.m. and continuing through 9 p.m.Joining us in this endeavor will be the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, the International Dark-Sky Association, and the Astronomy Foundation. Daytime activities will include astronomy talks by Keith Schlottman, president of the TAAA; Scott Kardel, managing director of the International Dark-Sky Association; Senior Editor Michael E. Bakich of Astronomy magazine; and me. Keith will be speaking about the Tucson amateur astronomy scene; Scott will describe the current state of the light pollution battle; Michael will tell you about star death; and I’ll describe the latest findings on astrophysics, cosmology, and planetary science. More talks and other guests will follow as the lineup grows.The event is being held during the last phase of the many overlapping Tucson gem and mineral shows that grace the city every February. Some 100,000 people interested in geology, mineralogy, beads, fossils, jewelry, and meteorites flock to Tucson every year for the world’s biggest marketplace in those goods. Many such folks are interested in skygazing as well, and we hope to have rockhounds coming out to the star party.So, mark your calendar for Saturday, February 16, and get ready for a day of sky viewing, discovery, and fun.