NPS Photos: NPS Photo/ E. Neubaum: A wall of Badlands peaks, with a dark, starry night sky above, the glowing diagonal light of the Milky Way clearly visible.
Don't Miss the 2025 Badlands Annual Astronomy Festival
Officials at Badlands National Park plan to host the 2025 Badlands Astronomy Festival, July 18 – 20, 2025, daily from 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m, at the park.
The annual festival brings together space science professionals, amateur astronomers, educators, and visitors for a three-day astronomy celebration.
Novices and experts alike can expect to experience the spectacular dark night skies of Badlands National Park at public star parties each evening. During each afternoon, 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 local community, Badlands National Park, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours, and the University of Utah for day and night observations.
The schedule of events includes daily planet walks, solar observing opportunities, activities, special guest speakers, Webb Space Telescope images, public stargazing activities, static displays, as well as equipment demonstrations by professional and amateur astronomers.
Schedule of Events
All events are daily/nightly July 18-20, 2025.
Planet Walk
10:00 am and 1:00 pm at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center: Meet in front of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for a short walk through our solar system.
Paper Rocket Launch
3:00-5:00 pm at the 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?
Sun Fun Solar Observing
3:00-5:00 pm at the 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.
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.”
For more information, check out the Badlands Astronomy Festival.
