Night Sky Program
Brilliant Jupiter and Milk Way rise above the Moonlit Castle Trail.
Photo by Wally Pacholka / AstroPics
Rarely do most people have the opportunity to experience the awesome dark skies and the spectacular sights found here. Badlands National Park offers such wondrous sights for those who visit the park. On any given night, visitors will be exposed to more than 7,500 stars. Especially phenomenal is the clarity of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Night sky views include not only galaxies but also star clusters, nebulae, planets and moons. Visitors are also treated to fly-overs by numerous satellites and the International Space Station. 
NPS Photo Night Sky Program Interpreter, Ranger Larry Smith The Night Sky Program is offered Friday through Monday nights, during the summer months, at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater. Join a park ranger for a 40 minute multi-media presentation about the wonders of our beautiful dark night sky. This is followed by a Tour of the Universe. The ranger will point out constellations with a powerful green laser. Immediately following this activity, park rangers and night sky volunteers will share the night sky through state-of-the-art telescopes with visitors of all ages. Everyone is given an opportunity to see impressive objects of the night sky. 
NPS Photo VIP Night Sky Assistant, Chuck Schroll You Can Help! If you are interested in sharing your love of astronomy and natural dark skies, consider applying for a position as a Volunteer In Park (VIP) Night Sky Assistant. For more information contact the park’s Volunteer Program Coordinator. |
Did You Know?
The badlands are some of the fastest eroding landscapes on earth with erosion rates averaging 1” per year in their fragile layers. However, in areas where sandstone is found, the erosion rate may be 1” in 500 years. Often, toadstools form when surrounding sediments erode beneath a sandstone caprock.