The Nebraska Star Party: Experience a Whole New World
What you’ll experience
If you’re looking for an experience to take you out of this world, the yearly Nebraska Star Party is for you. After growing up in Omaha, I have never been accustomed to seeing the night sky. Instead, I stared up at hazy skies trying to imagine what existed beyond the layers of light pollution. For me, this made the Star Party an even more exciting experience. A chance to explore the unknown. A chance to see what’s out there.
Sonali Deshmukh, a member of the Omaha Astronomical Society, continues to attend the Star Party every single year.
“This is a truly amazing experience,” Deshmukh said. “It’s something that you have to see for yourself, especially when you live in bigger cities. You will see stars in Omaha but nothing quite like this. Once you’ve seen it, you kind of get hooked to it and that’s what keeps people coming back every year.”
As we drove to Merritt Reservoir, located near Valentine, I was already awestruck at the rolling sandhills that occupy so much of the state. The bright green grass and wide open expanse that went on for miles was enough to make my jaw drop. As we got closer, I began to see the beautiful blue waves of the reservoir. I highly recommend taking Merritt Dam Road which brings you directly next to the water, giving you the most scenic views.
“This is a really unique place, just even in the world with the sandhills,” Nebraska Star Party coordinator Eric Balcom said. “There aren’t a lot of people so the sky is just beautiful, and that’s why we bring our telescopes up.”
Balcom says it feels like their own community where everything can be quiet compared to the life he lives in a metropolitan area.
“You get the reprieve and break from that to come out and just simply relax, enjoy yourself, enjoy nature and enjoy your friends,” Balcom said.
John Johnson, an astronomer and director of outreach and promotions for the Nebraska Star Party, also said he enjoys the peace.
“I got up one morning. It was just starting to get light. It was just dawn, so I got out, and there was no sound,” Johnson said. “Literally, after a while, I could feel my breathing, I could even sense my heart beating. It was so quiet.”
After getting settled at our campsite, it was time for the fun to begin. I slowly watched the night sky come to life before my eyes, starting with a beautiful sunset. Then, from the crescent moon to Venus to the Milky Way, I was wonderstruck at the sight.
“We’re very lucky here in Nebraska to have lots of places that are nice and dark for people to use their telescopes, or if they don’t have a telescope, just to wonder at seeing the Milky Way go all the way across the sky in the summertime,” astronomer Mark Urwiller said. “I’ve always been in awe of the sky all the time. Even though I’ve advanced into very sophisticated equipment, you still find yourself just looking up and enjoying the sky with your eyes, and that’ll never get old.”
Gazing up at the millions of stars was unlike anything I have ever seen before. I felt as if I could see the whole world above me. Each star glittered against the pitch black sky and constellations began to form as the night progressed. However, my highlight of the night was watching a shooting star dance across the sky, making heads turn with it.
In those moments as I looked up, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It almost made all of my worries seem small compared to the whole universe above me. I sat there thinking deeply about life and all of the beauty found within. These moments when you slow down sort of act like a life reset. I woke up the next day feeling energized and filled with gratitude. The Star Party made me feel alive again.
“I think it’s part of everything that we exist in, so I think it makes you think a little bit more about you and your interaction with the universe in general and nature around you,” Deshmukh said.
On top of the Star Party, I suggest camping at Merritt Reservoir. We found an open spot with the most beautiful view of the reservoir and sandhills behind. And the best part, our camping spot had a small beach we could walk down to which is perfect for a dip in the reservoir as the sun rises. The full camping experience truly connects you with nature and life in the sandhills.
What makes it unique
While I came for the stars, I found something even more special – the community. Immediately upon arriving, I was welcomed with open arms. Each person we talked to was genuinely interested in getting to know us and always willing to share some astrophotography tips.
Throughout the week, the Star Party puts together dinners, educational events and so much more to get to know other attendees and expand your astronomy knowledge. Also, at night, head down to Dob Row where astronomers are more than happy to give you a look through their telescope and share some of their insights.
“I just like to visit with people,” Urwiller said. “I like to generate interest of all ages. I’m a retired physics teacher, so I like working with students of all ages, and I just get a lot out of introducing the hobby of astronomy to the general public and getting kids interested at an early age, and hopefully one or two of them might be like me someday.”
Having the chance to look through a telescope was truly amazing. You get to see things you never thought you would see during your lifetime. I personally was able to see faraway galaxies, some I have never even heard of.
“As one friend of mine told me, with my size telescope, there are a lot of people that don’t get to look through and see that so it’s a real plus,” Balcom said. “It’s a real blessing. It’s a real fortunate thing for those people and it’s just a joy to be able to give that to them.”
Balcom recalled one memory where helped a group of people who were deaf to see and learn through his telescope using sign language.
“I was so blessed by them being here and even today, it kind of still affects me,” Balcom said. “When you get to give to people that have absolutely no ability to give back to you, you’re the one that’s really blessed in your life.”
Going into this adventure, I had limited astronomy experience. If you go in with an open mind and absorb information from others, it will make the Star Party ten times better than what you imagined. One of my favorite experiences was watching a group of people join together to contact the International Space Station as it orbited above Merritt Reservoir.
“A favorite memory from Star Party was just learning from the great minds that exist,” Visit Nebraska’s Community Activation Manager Jenna Bartja said. “These people are so knowledgeable, more knowledgeable about astronomy than I will ever be, and so just having that access to be able to freely ask questions and be met with enthusiasm is super special.”
Along with Bartja, I also felt like I was able to gain so much knowledge both at night and during events held during the day at Valentine high school. This included a boothing event, a photography contest and multiple speakers.
“If you don’t know something, there’s someone here that will tell you what it is,” Deshmukh said. “Or if they find something that you’ve never been able to find in the sky, they’re more than happy to show you how to get to it, show you their scope. I think it teaches you to be a part of something bigger.”
While this was my first year at the Star Party, I could tell that many of the attendees have found a home in this community full of people who care and are passionate about dark skies.
“There is a core group of about 100 people that come back every year, and to me, it’s kind of like a family reunion,” Balcom said. “You get to see your new friends every year. You get caught up with these 100 people. Otherwise, you don’t see them during the year because they live out of state, they live miles away, even in Nebraska. It’s really fun to see those people every year and that to me, is the real big plus.”
Along with providing a wonderful community, the Nebraska Star Party prides themselves on being one of the only family-oriented star parties. They provide children’s programming throughout the day which includes teaching kids basic astronomy skills, astronomy puzzles and games and astronomy bingo. Also, they make sure kids feel welcomed while looking up at the stars at night.
“I hope it gives them really good memories,” Carol Wells, a founding member of the Nebraska Star Party and a children’s program coordinator, said. “You know, a good sense of what’s out there in the universe. Maybe expand their ideas of what they could do.”
As the Star Party continues, they are looking for the next generation of astronomers. John Spack, a children's program coordinator, watched one kid attend the Star Party multiple years in a row. After getting a telescope, he came to the Star Party and learned how to find different objects in the sky. Spack said he would never be able to find these objects by himself.
“Here's an eighth grader, soon to be a freshman in high school, showing me what I should know but forgot so that’s encouraging,” Spack said.
Dark Sky Importance
Throughout my stay at Merritt Reservoir, I was able to learn about how they were the first internationally dark sky certified place in Nebraska. Merritt Reservoir became dark sky certified in 2022 after Bartja put in years of work. Learning this only made the Star Party even more exciting.
“Visiting a dark sky place is kind of Dark Sky International’s beckoning call for people to realize, you don’t have to live in this light polluted world,” Bartja said. “We can make a conscious decision to make an alternative choice, which is an easy choice.”
After Merritt Reservoir received their certification, many other places and Nebraska have shown interest in becoming dark sky certified and have also begun to do more night sky programming.
“I think it created a lot of awareness and a lot of exposure for dark skies as a resource,” Bartja said. “You don’t have to build it, you don’t have to create it, you don’t have to really spend a bunch of money to make it happen. What exists is the resource.”
Along with being a marketable resource, I got to see for myself how dark skies have a positive impact on natural wildlife.
“It’s great for wildlife,” Bartja said. “It’s great for birds, especially migratory birds. We are in the central flyway, so just seeing the impact and knowing that people are maybe more aware than they were before that it’s something that doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to protect. Now that they have that awareness, they can be much better informed and protected.”
Coming back from the Star Party, I have begun to be more cautious of how I am using artificial light and how that is impacting my life as well as the life around me.
“Circadian rhythms is something that’s an evolutionary part of biology of all creatures, including people on Earth and increasingly, we are just introducing this artificial light, kind of willy-nilly, without much consideration to how that is affecting the natural world,” Bartja said.
Another benefit of the dark sky at Merritt Reservoir was how calming it was to look up and take a break from all of the stress consuming me.
“I think the thing about people too, about just dark skies, is we get so caught up with what either corporate America or family or children, our neighbors, just the rat race that we go through,” Balcom said. “When you come out here and look up, it’s an opportunity to forget all that and just to relax in your life and kind of just let go, breathe. Just breathe the way people for centuries breathed when they looked up into the night sky.”
Finally, the dark sky gives you a chance to go back in time and look up at one of the things that hasn’t changed throughout history.
“People can come up here and see how our forefathers, the pioneers and the Native Americans, saw the skies when they were travelling by a wagon train out to California or Oregon or Washington or wherever they were going to land,” Balcom said. “It’s kind of an opportunity for people to come back and step back into time.”
While dark skies feel rare, there are ways to help make them more common. Whether you turn off your home or outdoor porch lighting, or go out and involve your community, anything will help.
“Start small and take little steps forward,” Deshmukh said. “If you start too big, it’s not easy to do. You kind of get ahead of yourself, and then you can’t actually do something.”
Stops to check out while there
While at the Star Party, get the best experience by supporting local. Here are some must-see stops!
Downtown Valentine shops
Head to downtown Valentine to see beautiful murals, delicious restaurants and local shops lining the streets. The Plains Trading Company offers books, coffee, wine and so much more. Stop at Young’s Western Wear for a variety of clothing options and find your next outfit. Finally, if you’re getting hungry, hit The Draw Bar for a selection of steak, burgers and more.
Niobrara Valley Vineyards
If you’re close to Nenzel, grab yourself a drink from Niobrara Valley Vineyards. They produce hand-crafted, high-quality wine for you to enjoy from their tasting room with a beautiful view of the sandhills.
Bordertown Steakhouse and Saloon
This restaurant in Kilgore does not disappoint. With flavorful steaks, chicken, sandwiches and more, there is sure to be something for everyone. Between the food and fun atmosphere, Bordertown Steakhouse and Saloon makes for a great night.
Golden Prairie Bison
Golden Prairie Bison offers a stunning view of the prairie and Niobrara River and you can even book a tour to experience bison in their natural environment and learn more about the prairie. Don’t forget to pick up some native grass fed bison meat before you leave.
Niobrara River
Grab a canoe, tube or try out the Nebraskan way, tanking, and take a trip down the Niobrara River. Relax and have fun with this scenic adventure and maybe even spot some wildlife along the way.
Whether you come for a couple days or the whole week, I highly recommend attending the Star Party. This unique experience is sure to leave an impact on you. Take the trip and see some of the darkest skies in the world for yourself.
“It’s unfortunate that I think something like 80% of the world’s population has never seen it before,” Urwiller said. "We can educate people and preserve it as much as possible so that future generations will have the opportunity to really understand what their roots are. I mean it’s their heritage way in the past, but it’s something that all of us, we came from the stars.”