The Chadron Public Library, the Mari Sandoz Center at Chadron State College, and the National Park Service are joining forces tonight to offer a Star Party tonight at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison.
The Star Party is the second this summer for the Sandoz Center and library as part of the Kapemni exhibit at the Sandoz Center, which tells how the Lakota and other Native American tribes looked at the night sky.
It was scheduled for tonight to coincide with two meteor showers – the Delta Aquarids and Perseids. This year, the peak of the Perseids comes a few days after the new moon which means darker skies that more clearly show the “shooting stars.”
To give a closer look at other stellar sights, the library’s 4.5” reflector telescope will be set up with staff members on hand to help use it.
The Star Party will start when sundown is complete and will end at 11:00 tonight. Participants must provide their own transportation to Agate Fossil Beds and there will be a limited number of free sky maps available.