Discover the Wonders of the Night Sky

Join us at the Nebraska Star Party for an unforgettable week of stargazing, family fun, and natural beauty at Merritt Reservoir.

Plan now to sail off on your own voyage of discovery this summer with us! The astronomical views from Merritt Reservoir’s Snake Campground are fabulous, and there are plenty of recreational opportunities to keep the entire family entertained all week long at the annual Nebraska Star Party.

For newcomers, NSP is the perfect place to become acquainted with the wonders of the heavens which can’t be seen from cities. Our unique Beginner’s Field School will show you how fun it is to explore the sky here, as well as in your own back yard when you return home, with or without a telescope.

Apart from the starry central attraction, the remote sandhills of north-central Nebraska offer a vacation full of western and natural history as well. Short day trips will take you to historical sites important to the settlement of the west. The spring-fed water and sugar sand beaches of Merritt Reservoir offer swimming, boating, and fishing. Valentine national Wildlife Refuge provides a window into the ecology of the prairie, while the nearby Niobrara River affords a cooling tube float or canoe trip through the surrounding cattle and buffalo ranching country.

Stunning Dark Skies
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the night sky at Merritt Reservoir in the Nebraska Sand hills. Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area (SRA) is certified as an International Dark Sky Park.

Family Activities
Enjoy a variety of recreational activities including swimming, tubing and boating. We also have a beginner field school and astronomy activities for kids.

Event Highlights

Dark Sky Conditions

Merritt Reservoir Dark Sky Park has conditions which are ideal for observing and imaging faint deep-sky targets. The area of the park has no cities or towns of significant size anywhere near it. It is surrounded by the sparsely populated ranching country of the Nebraska Sandhills, with the NSP observing fields just south of the lake at an elevation of 910 meters (2,985 ft) msl.

Depending on weather conditions and solar activity, the sky is often quite dark and pristine, with SQM readings in the 21.5 to 22.0 mag/sq. arcsec range. Those with keen eyes have reported seeing stars with averted vision as faint as from magnitude 7.8 to 8.1, and the glow of the large dome of the Milky Way’s outer nuclear bulge is visible well into Scorpius and Ophiuchus. The Gegenschein is routinely visible, along with much of the Zodiacal band, and the faint airglow bands that occasionally appear are also notable to the unaided eye. Actual atmospheric clouds appear quite dark against the sky background. Seeing is variable but generally fair to good, often in the 0.5 arc second to 1.5 arc second range for targets well above the horizon. With the lack of tree cover and open range conditions, winds can be a factor (especially during the day) although they tend to become notably weaker after dark. The surfaces of much of the observing fields are mowed prairie grasses with a thin level of topsoil over a much deeper layer of fine sand, so deep and longer sand anchors (rather than simple stakes) are recommended for holding tents or other equipment securely in-place during windy conditions. People often use tarps over the ground at or around their equipment. Late afternoon and evening thunderstorms can occasionally pop up, and some can produced strong winds and brief but heavy rain, so equipment left out on the observing fields will need extra protection.

Beginner's Field School

The beginner’s astronomy field school offers a three-day introductory course for amateur astronomers. The first day covers basics like star party etiquette, navigating the sky with charts and software, and binocular selection. The second day delves into telescopes, eyepieces, and other essential gear. The final day focuses on what to look at, including deep-sky objects. This program provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in exploring the night sky.

What You'll Learn

Day 1: Intro to Astronomy
Introduction to the Hobby of Amateur Astronomy
Star Parties and Star Party Etiquette
Finding your way around (charts, atlases and guide books, software)
Binoculars (types and recommendations)

Day 2: Telescopes and equipment
Telescopes (optical types, mounting systems, etc.)
Eyepieces
Additional equipment (eyepiece cases, tools, etc.)

Day 3: What to look at
The Moon and Planets
Deep-sky Objects
Dark sky sites and light pollution.

Recreational Activities

From swimming and boating to historical tours, there’s something for everyone at Merritt Reservoir.

Explore More

Wildlife and Nature

Discover the rich ecology of the prairie at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy tubing or canoeing on the Niobrara River.

Schedule

The center of activity at NSP will be the large tent on the Observing Field near the entrance to the Snake Campground. Activities under the NSP Tent are: meal service, night time constellation talks, and door prize giveaways. The exception will be Wednesday, when activities will be moved to the high school in the town of Valentine.

While breakfasts and lunches will be on your own, we’re delighted to offer the convenience of plentiful, affordable and just plain darn good catered meals on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, served on the Observing Field. The cost of these meals is $16 for adults and $12 for children 10 and under. These hearty meals have garnered rave reviews! All include an ample entree, side dishes, dessert and drinks to fill you up in the tradition of the western chuck wagon.

The following tentative lineup of events is subject to change, but the week will look a lot like this:

Tuesday
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Registration and Check-In, 5-6:30 PM, at Boardman Campground

Beginner’s Field School, 2-4 PM, Valentine High School

Optional “Cattle Country” Burger Bash, 7-8 PM, Tent on the Observing Field

Swap Meet/Vendor Sales – 6:00 PM to Dusk by NSP Tent at Observing Field

Observation, Dusk ’til Dawn, Observing Field

To Register