Staff report
The State Journal
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Amateur astronomers will gather near Grantsville this weekend for the fourth annual Calhoun Stargaze.
The two-day, three-night stargazing party is part of an effort to spur economic development in distressed Appalachian communities. It is supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission and the West Virginia Development Office. Other project partners include the University of Tennessee, Calhoun County, the city of Grantsville, Fairmont State University and West Virginia University Extension.
The event runs May 19-21. Calhoun County Park, located just south of Grantsville, is one of the darkest spots in the Eastern U.S. It sits on a ridge with an elevation of around 1,100 feet. The park has several ridge top locations to set up on and a large flat open field to potentially handle several hundred observers.
