Theodore Roosevelt National Park invites the public to the 32nd annual Badlands Star Party in the park's North Unit Friday and Saturday, August 5 and 6.
Telescopes will be set up at the Oxbow Overlook, 14 miles from the park entrance. Constellation tours will be offered as soon as stars are visible, at approximately 10:00 p.m. CDT. The planet Saturn will be one of the objects observed. In addition, the sun can be viewed through a solar telescope at the Cannonball Concretions pullout from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT on Saturday.
Nights in the North Dakota Badlands can be cool and rain is a possibility;a jacket or sweater is recommended. Caution is advised when driving in the park after dark, as bison and other wildlife may be on the road. Please call the North Unit Contact Station at 701-842-2333 x1240 for further information and an updated weather forecast.
The North Dakota Badlands Star Party is presented by the Northern Sky Astronomical Society of Grand Forks, an amateur astronomy club associated with the University of North Dakota. The organization is dedicated to observing the sky and educating others about astronomy. Membership is open to the general public.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
