Sep 6 - September 11, 2026
Southern Alberta Star Party
A week-long flagship experience for stargazing, astrophotography, and community under exceptional dark skies in Cypress Hills.
Cypress Hills, AlbertaMembers and visiting observers
Modern astronomy community website
Discover darker skies, better views, and a welcoming club under Southern Alberta stars.
This original redesign turns the club website into a modern front door: clearer membership messaging, stronger event promotion, and an easier way to understand the observatory, outreach, and community story.
Membership season
Membership runs annually from November 1 to October 31.
Full access includes observatory use, loaner gear, astronomy learning sessions, community observing nights, and member-only projects.
Individual Membership
Designed for one person who wants full access to the club's facility, observing opportunities, and education benefits.
$120
per year
Family Membership
Built for households who want to learn and observe together while sharing the club's facilities and activities.
$180
per year
1979
Community roots
The redesign foregrounds the club's long history so new visitors immediately see it as established and trusted.
16-inch
Observatory telescope
Observatory access and equipment value are treated as core membership proof points throughout the site.
Bortle 2
Dark-sky destination
Headline events use dark-sky context to make Southern Alberta Star Party and outreach nights more compelling.
Built around the observatory
A clearer path from first visit to deeper involvement.
The redesign is structured around how people actually join and stay engaged: discover the club, attend an event, understand the observatory, and become a member.
Mission
Promote amateur astronomy, foster learning, and welcome people who want to explore the night sky together.
Observatory
Sunridge Observatory gives the club a physical home for observing sessions, equipment access, and long-term projects.
Community
From casual stargazers to experienced astrophotographers, the club creates a place to learn, observe, and connect.
Sunridge Observatory
Sunridge Observatory
Southern Alberta's wide-open skies, lower humidity, and access to dark observing sites make the observatory a strong anchor for club activity, outreach, and deeper-sky observing.
Location
11231 Range Road 72, Seven Persons, Alberta
Approximately 17 km west of Medicine Hat on Highway 3.
- Use the site to distinguish public events from member-only sessions before you drive out.
- Surface directions and arrival timing clearly for visitors coming to observatory events.
- Keep event cards focused on what to expect, what to bring, and whether the public is invited.
Featured events
Programs that keep the calendar active all season.
Event storytelling is designed to support both public outreach and member-only observing, with clear dates, venue information, and audience guidance.
May 22, 2026
Spring Star Party Open House
A seasonal open house built around member hospitality, telescope viewing, and a welcoming introduction to the club for the public.
Sunridge ObservatoryPublic after 8:00 PM
July 17, 2026
Member Observatory Night
An example recurring event pattern for members who want hands-on time with equipment, observing targets, and club mentors.
Sunridge ObservatoryCurrent members
Club programs
Member benefits with room to grow.
These modules give the redesign flexible, reusable sections for onboarding, outreach, astrophotography, and observatory access.
Observing nights
Dedicated event layouts for public open houses, member-only observing, and seasonal skywatching sessions.
Astrophotography
A flexible content structure for imaging updates, equipment projects, and future Exploradome progress.
Learning series
Membership pages emphasize the multi-session astronomy course and hands-on skill building for newcomers.
Outreach
News and event patterns support speaker highlights, leadership introductions, and community-facing announcements.
Membership
Simple pricing, clear expectations, stronger conversion.
The new membership page focuses on what members receive, where access happens, and what seasonal timing to expect.
Individual Membership
Designed for one person who wants full access to the club's facility, observing opportunities, and education benefits.
$120
per year
- Access to Sunridge Observatory and on-site observing opportunities
- Loaner telescope access and use of club telescopes on site
- Multi-session astronomy course and learning support
- Access to club library resources and member community
Family Membership
Built for households who want to learn and observe together while sharing the club's facilities and activities.
$180
per year
- Shared family access to membership benefits across the season
- Observatory visits, member sessions, and learning experiences
- Loaner and on-site telescope access where applicable
- A stronger family-friendly path into astronomy events and outreach
Latest news
News and stories can be updated from Sanity.
The redesign includes a CMS-ready news feed so club volunteers can post updates, event recaps, leadership highlights, and observing stories without code changes.
EventsMay 13, 2026
Spring Star Party Open House
An outreach-focused post type for announcing public observing nights, arrival details, and what visitors can expect once they arrive.
NewsFebruary 2, 2026
Introducing Club President, Rod DeVries
Leadership stories help new members understand the club culture and the people guiding outreach, training, and observatory use.
MembershipJanuary 19, 2026
Loaner Telescopes
A great example of member-value content: practical equipment access, how the program works, and why membership is worth it.
Ready for launch