Explore The South Dakota Night Sky Like Never Before At The Badlands Astronomy Festival
By Jackie Ann|Published July 06, 2023
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Badlands National Park is easily one of the most beautiful places in South Dakota. You could spend an entire week exploring the 242,000+ acre park, but if you really want to experience the park in a whole new way, then grab your coffee and enjoy a night of stargazing. The Badlands Astronomy Festival is a family-friendly, free event that is great for all ages and skill levels, and there are plenty of activities during the day to keep you entertained until nightfall.
The annual Badlands Astronomy Festival is back for another summer night of epic stargazing in South Dakota, and you won’t want to miss it.
The 2023 Badlands Astronomy Festival takes place Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 16, 2023. It's the best time of the month for stargazing in South Dakota because the moon will be at its darkest. While the Badlands isn't an official Dark Sky Park, it is one of the best unofficial dark sky parks in South Dakota, and people travel from all over the country to stargaze here.
There's also a New Moon the following Monday (the 17th), so you'll have very little light pollution coming from the moon during this weekend.
During the day, you can head over to the Visitor Center and participate in one of the many family-friendly events taking place.
There will be special solar telescopes for viewing solar flares (that’s 100 percent safe for your eyes), special guest speakers, a build-your-own-paper-rocket launch, and so much more. Check out the full schedule to learn about all of the activities planned.
Badlands National Park is one of the best dark sky parks in the country for stargazing. On a clear night, you’ll be amazed at how many stars you can see!
Every night from 9 to 11:30 p.m., there will be a ton of evening programs, presentations, and hands-on experiences to make the most of this epic stargazing in South Dakota.
These long-exposure shorts require a steady hand, and trust me... you need a tripod. Or at least a rock to set your camera down.
Of course, the one thing that’s out of our control is the weather, and you’ll need clear skies to get the best views. Be sure to follow Badlands National Park on Facebook to stay up to date on the Badlands Astronomy Festival, including any potential weather-related updates.
