Finding the darkest part of Nebraska

Before we start with new business, let's stop and take time for a blatant commercial.

It is that time of year for the annual Nebraska Star Party. That week-long gathering in north-central Nebraska of 200 to 300 astro-geeks and their families to celebrate all things astronomical.

Many years ago the members of the astronomy clubs in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska wanted to find a place where they could get away from the annoying massive light pollution of the big cities where they could meet, set up their equipment and just enjoy the sky.

About that time there was released a photograph of the United States after dark. The blaze of lights indicating the major metro complexes and the strings that connected them marking the major highways

As part of that release the good folks in Omaha and Lincoln obtained a photograph of just the state where the major cities could be seen, the highways that connected them to other cities and progressively larger dark areas the further west you went.

They searched those dark areas looking for the darkest place they could find and put a pin where they thought was the darkest. When that map was placed over a regular map of the state they discovered the pin was very near a place called Merritt Reservoir near Valentine, Nebraska.

A scouting party was sent and the discovered exactly what they were looking for, dark skies and no outside lighting, they had discovered astronomical Nirvana, and the rest--as they say--is history.

This year will be the 22nd year the faithful have gathered to enjoy the phenomenal dark skies of north-central Nebraska not to mention the other historical and recreational opportunities in the area not to mention canoeing or tubeing down the scenic Niobrara River.

There are activities for the whole family. In addition to camping in a state recreational area, there is a beginners field school to aquatint those who may not be familiar with the night sky, activities for the children, and some super chuck-wagon cooking for those who don't want to fix their own.

The dates for the festivities this year are July 31 to August 5 and registration information can be obtained at www.nebraskastarparty.org where you will also find a lot of information about the location, the activities, and a very nice video taken from a drone flying over the location and the viewing fields.

Registration is important because your registration information is the basis of the drawings for door prizes held several times during the week. At one party we attended Janice won an eight-inch Dobsonian reflector telescope and a nice binocular viewing chair.

If you are in any way interested in astronomy, or would just like to see what it is all about, the NSP is where you need to be, and what's more, you don't even need a telescope. There are hundreds of them out there on the viewing fields with owners who would be very happy to show you what it is all about.

SKY WATCH: Full moon, Monday, June 20, that is also the first day of summer with the Sun getting as far north as it will for the year. The time is officially 1634 MDT if case you were wondering. Jupiter in the southwest and Mars, and Saturn in the southeast can all be seen in the late evening sky.

NEXT WEEK: Bootes, some nice double-stars (sorry, I didn't get to them this time), and more astronomical blathering.