. Sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association.
Daytime ActivitiesKeynote Speaker4:30pm - 5:30pm “Ben-tonight: Cosmic Origins of the Badlands” with Matt Criag, Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Minnesota State University Moorhead. Learn about the intimate connection between the ground you walk on during the day at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the stars you see at night in the sky over the badlands. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Theatre Evening ActivitiesStargazing8:30pm - 10:00pm Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most beautiful sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision. Location: Peaceful Valley Ranch (South Unit Scenic Drive mile 7) Daytime ActivitiesMake Your Own Constellation Story Time9:00am - 10:30am Explore star stories from cultures around the world and make your own constellation! Experience how different cultures interpreted the same sky across history. Take home your own constellation and see what stories your stars will tell. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Lawn Making an Impact! 10:30am - 12:00pm Join us in making an impact... an impact crater! Join rangers and discover how an impact crater is formed and compare your craters with craters of the moon and other planets! Location: South Unit Visitor Center Lawn Asteroids 12:00pm - 1:00pm Join Lucas Hutton from the University of North Dakota for a special presentation on Asteroids and Asteroid Shape Modeling. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Theatre Make a Straw Rocket 2:00pm - 4:00pm Create a paper rocket that can be launched from a soda straw – then, modify the design to make the rocket fly farther! Location: South Unit Visitor Center Lawn Stargazing the Sun: A Solar Scope Spectacular 2:00pm - 4:00pm Discover the intricate details of the Sun's surface, witness mesmerizing solar flares, and learn about the science behind our solar system's powerhouse. Whether you're a seasoned observer or new to astronomy, this event promises an enlightening and awe-inspiring journey into the heart of our solar system. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Lawn Keynote Speaker 4:30pm - 5:30pm “Understanding the Night Sky” with Brad Nasset. Learn how to find constellations, and to gain an understanding of nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and where we are in the universe. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Theatre Evening ActivitiesStargazing8:30pm - 10:00pm Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most beautiful sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision. Location: Peaceful Valley Ranch (South Unit Scenic Drive mile 7) Daytime ActivitiesKaleidoscopes9:00am - 10:30am Join Ranger Sydney and make your very own kaleidoscope. Location: South Unit Visitor Center lawn Night Explorer Junior Ranger 10:30am - 12:00pm Junior Rangers will learn how to find the North Star, write their own creative mythology about the constellations, track the phases of the moon, learn about stars and galaxies, use all their senses to explore the night environment at a national park, and earn a junior ranger badge. Location: South Unit Visitor Center lawn A Talk with Ranger Claire 12:00pm - 1:00pm Explore the universe with the power of chemistry! Discover what dancing molecules can tell us about outer space! Location: South Unit Visitor Center Theatre Universe in a Cup 2:00pm - 4:00pm Be an Astronomer! Astronomers use lots of different tools to explore the universe including gravity, radio waves and optical light. Use different tools to explore the universe in a cup, see what you can discover using the scientific method. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Lawn Stargazing the Sun: A Solar Scope Spectacular 2:00pm - 4:00pm Discover the intricate details of the Sun's surface, witness mesmerizing solar flares, and learn about the science behind our solar system's powerhouse. Whether you're a seasoned observer or new to astronomy, this event promises an enlightening and awe-inspiring journey into the heart of our solar system. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Lawn Keynote Speaker 4:30pm - 5:30pm “The Return of Night: Finding Wonder and Respite After Dark” with Patrick Sommer Learn how light pollution has rapidly eroded our view of the night sky, removing one of the easiest sources of awe and wonder from our daily lives. It also damages the nocturnal environment and affects our mental and physical health. Discover how we can restore natural darkness to benefit both local ecosystems and our well-being. Location: South Unit Visitor Center Theatre Evening ActivitiesStargazing8:30pm - 10:00pm Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most beautiful sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision. Location: Peaceful Valley Ranch (South Unit Scenic Drive mile 7) Want to learn more?Dakota Nights doesn't just evolve around the festival - enjoy any and/or all of the following videos created surrounding our dark skies:Tour of the Night Sky
Take a look at four well known objects in the North Dakota night sky. Nebula, clusters and galaxies, oh my! Star Lore of the Indigenous Peoples
The Navajo have a deep connection to the night sky, especially the constellations in the northern sky. Constellations and the March of Time
Discover the Earth has a “wobble” and find out why Polaris hasn’t always been our north star. Mission to Mars 2020
Join Brad Nasset, NASA Solar System Ambassador as he talks about the many missions to the red planet, Mars. See the Planets Tonight!
Curious about which planets are currently in the night sky? Join Brad Nasset as he shows you when and where to see the visible planets. Open Globular Star Clusters
What is a star cluster and how are they different from each other. Our Magnetic Sun
Twinkle, twinkle little star! Which star is closest and what are its properties? The Silent Flight of Owls
Owls are the ultimate nocturnal hunters. But how are they able to sneak up on their prey? Do you have tapetum lucidum?
Spot animals on the side of the road at night by the shine of their eyes? What causes eyeshine and how does it help animals see in the dark? Make your own Astrolabe
Have you ever wondered about how astronomers learned about the movement of Earth and the placement of constellations throughout the galaxy? Cookie Moon Phases
Have you ever wondered why the moon looks a little bit different every night? Asteroid Impact Model
What does it look like when an asteroid crashes into the moon and how are craters formed?
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Last updated: September 8, 2024