Badlands Astronomy Festival

The Annual Badlands Astronomy Festival brings together space science professionals, amateur astronomers, educators, youth groups, and park visitors for a stellar experience. Celebrate the beauty of a dark night sky and the wonder of space exploration.

Novices and experts alike will enjoy daily family-friendly activities and evening presentations with special guest speakers. In the past, activities have included planetarium visits, solar telescope viewings, technology demonstrations, and more. Nightly telescope viewings will be sponsored by the NPS Night Sky Program and Celestron.

This three-day celebration at Badlands National Park will support the continued protection and enjoyment of our incredible night skies as a precious natural resource. Although light pollution threatens dark skies across the globe, the Badlands are nestled in a corner of the Great Plains where light pollution is not a prevalent issue. Come celebrate the dark skies of the park with us!

Novices and experts alike will enjoy the spectacular dark night skies of Badlands National Park at public star parties each evening. During the afternoon each day, a variety of family-friendly activities will provide opportunities for visitors to learn about the night sky, the sun, and space exploration. Telescopes will be provided by astronomers from the Black Hills Astronomical Society, Badlands National Park, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours and the University of Utah for day and night observations.

The schedule of events includes a scale model solar system tour and walk, solar observing opportunities, special guest speakers, public stargazing activities, static displays, as well as equipment demonstrations by professional and amateur astronomers.

This free event is made possible through funding and support from the Badlands Natural History Association, NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours, Black Hills Astronomical Society, The Journey Museum and Learning Center, International Dark Sky Association, University of Utah, Badlands National Park Conservancy, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and Badlands National Park.

Schedule of Events:

July 5,2024

10:00 am and 1:00 pm - Planet Walk
Starting at Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Learn how large our solar system is with a size-accurate scale model made by our Astronomy and Night Sky team. Meet in front of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to join us on a walk through the solar system.

3:00-5:00 pm - Sun Fun Solar Observing at Ben Reifel Visitor Center
View solar flares and sunspots through our special solar telescopes, 100% safe for eyes. Various other sun-based activities will also be offered.

3:00-5:00 pm - Paper Rocket Launch at Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Join staff from Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in building your own paper rocket. Learn the anatomy of a rocket and what is needed to propel it into the cosmos (or our front yard). How can you make your rocket launch farther than the others.

Guest Speakers/Evening Programs/Public Stargazing
9pm - 11:30 pm at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater
Nightly evening presentations will be provided by invited guest speakers followed by hands-on experience with multiple state-of-the-art telescopes and amateur astronomers providing constellation tours while guiding visitors around the universe. View planets, star clusters, nebulae, and double stars while going down the “scope line.”

Speaker Schedule:

9:00pm - How We Study the Geology of Mars
Cate Larsen – Geologist and Science communicator, New York

Synopsis: Mars is over 110 MILLION miles away, so how do scientists study it and learn so much about it? Come learn about things like rovers, orbiters, and places here on Earth that help us understand Mars’ geology and piece together its history. This is an interactive presentation meant to teach observation and interpretation skills, so bring your good eyes and thinking cap!