New-moon stargazing night at 1,444 m — bonfire, star chart and phone astrophotography
A moonless Saturday on a mountain ranch at 1,444 m: a bonfire on the deck, a star chart printed for tonight's sky, and an unlit field to look up from.
We're beginners at stargazing ourselves. No expert talk: we find things together with the chart and a free star app, and we try phone night photography as a group.
STAY THE NIGHT, JOIN FREE
If you stay that night at Work&Camp, Camp or on a car stay, the event is free. Register here as a stay guest and give your reservation name. Staying means Mars and Jupiter rising side by side around 23:30, and Venus with a thin moon before dawn. Camp from ¥3,000 a night for the first person (check-ins to 30 Nov): https://tsumagoi.kensaur.us/en/reserve?utm_source=luma&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=event_new-moon-stargazing-2026-11
TONIGHT'S SKY (7 Nov, computed for the ranch)
Sunset 16:43. Fully dark from about 18:11.
The moon sets at 15:14 and doesn't rise until 05:04, so there's no moonlight all evening (new moon 9 Nov).
Saturn: the bright, steady point high in the south-east to south (the rings need a telescope).
The Pleiades climb in the east. How many can you count?
The Summer Triangle sinks in the west; Orion starts rising after 20:00.
Meteors: the Taurids are active, a quiet shower of 2–3 an hour. One is a bonus.
All of this needs a clear sky. We can't promise what the weather allows.
PLAN
16:15– Arrive early (free) and walk the field in daylight
16:20 Sunset walk around the ranch (sunset 16:43)
17:00–18:45 BBQ dinner: one shared grill, free; bring your own meat and vegetables
17:10 First-star race: whoever spots the first star lights the fire
18:30 Check-in: hot drink, hand warmer, tonight's star chart
18:45 Cars parked; the bonfire is lit
19:00 "How to see more stars", 10 minutes from the beginner hosts
19:15 Star-chart sky tour on the dark field
19:50 Phone night-photography mini-workshop
20:20 Hot drinks by the fire
20:40 Free stargazing, meteor count, waiting for Orion
21:30 Show-and-tell of everyone's best shot, group photo (the program ends)
21:30–about 22:00 The fire stays lit until the party winds down
About 22:00 Fire out (quiet hours from 22:00)
RAIN OR SHINE
The event goes ahead in any weather. On a cloudy or wet night we stay by the fire on the deck and under the roofed terrace, and go out whenever the cloud breaks. We message everyone at 12:00 on the day. No refunds, except when we cancel the event ourselves (a storm, a warning, snow on the road); then Peatix refunds the ticket (Combini/ATM and bank-transfer fees are not refunded).
TICKETS: ¥2,000 per person (one price for every age), 20 general places, sold on Peatix: https://peatix.com/event/5209436. An RSVP here does not hold a paid place; the Peatix ticket does. Free if you stay that night at Work&Camp, Camp or on a car stay (15 stay-guest places; register here as a stay guest, or pick the stay-guest ticket on Peatix).
INCLUDED: hot drinks, the bonfire until the party winds down (around 22:00), a hand warmer each, a printed star chart, one shared BBQ grill, the field, parking for 100+ cars, toilets.
BRING
Real winter clothes: down jacket, hat, gloves, thick socks, warm shoes. November's normal low is −0.7 °C (JMA Tashiro), and you'll be standing still.
Something to lie on (a mat or picnic sheet) or a camp chair; a blanket
A red light if you have one; otherwise your star app's night mode with the screen dimmed. No white torches on the field.
Your phone with a free star app (Stellarium Mobile, Star Walk 2), fully charged, and a power bank
If you have them: binoculars, a phone tripod, a thermos
For the BBQ: your food and drinks
Winter tyres (needed November to April)
ON SALE AT THE SHOP (cash, card at the indoor shop, or PayPay): firewood ¥1,000 a basket, binchotan charcoal ~3 kg ¥1,500, fire starters 2 for ¥100, snacks and cup noodles ¥300 (when stocked), canned drinks ¥200 (hot cans too), bottled drinks ¥250. No alcohol is sold, and drivers don't drink.
GOOD TO KNOW
No laser pointers, please. We point with the chart and the app.
Children are welcome; on the dark field they hold an adult's hand.
The field and car park are unlit. After dark, drive in slowly with headlights; please park by 18:45.
This is bear country: keep food and rubbish inside your car or tent. Bear bells are free to borrow at reception.
Strong wind or dry air means no open fire, only charcoal in the grill.
Buses to the ranch are few and none runs at night, so come by car, or stay over (and join free).
No sleeping in the building: stays are Work&Camp, Camp or a car stay.
Meet at the ranch reception: Tsumagoi Work&Camp, 2401-615 Hoshimata, Tsumagoi, Agatsuma, Gunma 377-1611 (about 3 h by car from Tokyo).
Questions: LINE @012pteqb https://line.me/R/ti/p/@012pteqb
Follow the organiser on Peatix for the next new moon: https://peatix.com/group/16598672
This event on our website: https://tsumagoi.kensaur.us/en/events/new-moon-stargazing-2026-11?utm_source=luma&utm_medium=listing&utm_campaign=new-moon-stargazing-2026-11
――― 日本語 ―――
月のない土曜の夜、標高1,444mの牧場で、焚き火と今夜の星図を片手に星を探します。主催者も星は初心者です。スマホでの星空撮影も、みんなで試します。
参加費2,000円（年齢にかかわらず同額）・定員は一般20名・宿泊のお客様15名。チケットはPeatixで販売しています：https://peatix.com/event/5209436
この夜にWork&Camp・キャンプ・車中泊でお泊まりの方は無料です（ここで「宿泊のお客様」として登録し、ご予約のお名前をご記入ください）。
雨・曇りでも開催します。天候による返金はありません（主催者が中止を決めた場合のみ返金）。
タイムテーブル・持ち物・よくある質問は、Peatixのページに日本語でくわしく載せています。
お問い合わせ：LINE @012pteqb