It looks like the annual star party on Mount Kobau will take place through next week in spite of a wildfire burning on an adjacent mountain.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED /Mount Kobau star party Facebook page

PENTICTON - Organizers of the Mount Kobau Star Party are keeping an eye on a Similkameen wildfire that could threaten their upcoming annual event on nearby Mount Kobau.

But Mount Kobau Astronomical Society Secretary Jim Failes says as of midday July 26, “It doesn’t look like the wildfire is going to affect us."

Failes said he was speaking to his parks contact this morning and was given clearance to go ahead with it.

“If the firefighting efforts continue the way they’ve gone so far, I think we can probably expect virtually no effect on the star party. It’s several kilometres away, and the amount of smoke emanating from it doesn’t look like it will be a problem,” he says.

Since the Richter Mountain wildfire began Wednesday evening, the Mount Kobau Star Party Facebook page has been tracking the fire’s progress and providing updates for those planning to be a part of this year’s event.

The Richter Mountain wildfire is burning about six km southwest of Mount Kobau, posing no immediate threat, although the fire did result in the shut down of Highway 3 between Osoyoos and Cawston last night.

This year’s star party takes place from July 27 to Aug. 4, beginning at dusk on Saturday. This is the 35th year for the annual star-gazing event on Mount Kobau’s 6,140 foot peak.

“We’ve used the same formula since the first star party back in 1984. It’s a gathering of astronomy hobbyists, pretty much the keener, more serious hobbyists who aren’t put off camping on an unserviced mountaintop, travelling over a 20 kilometre unpaved road,” Failes says. "For many, it’s the only way to see the night sky the way it should be seen, although it’s not quite as dark as it was in 1984.”

Failes says it attracts people from all over B.C. the Pacific northwest, Alberta, and even the Yukon, where one participant from Whitehorse has been faithfully attending every year.

Failes says there are no restrictions on who can attend, but having a keen interest in astronomy is helpful.

“It’s not really for those who have a slight interest in star-gazing and want to spend time looking through someone else’s telescope because they are vaguely curious,” Failes says. Most of those who attend have an agenda and want to use their telescopes to advantage, making use of what time they have on the mountain.

The group receives permission from B.C. Parks to camp on Mount Kobau during the eight-day event, something not normally permitted in the South Okanagan grasslands protected area.

Failes says the forecast is calling for several nights of clear skies and good viewing conditions.

“In spite of the attention being generated by the Richter Mountain wildfire, it’s setting up at this point to look like it should be a really successful event,” he says.

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