Plan now for this summer's family vacation under the stars! The astronomical views from Merritt Reservoir's Snake Campground are fabulous, and there are plenty of recreational opportunities to keep the entire family entertained all week long at the 15th annual Nebraska Star Party.

For newcomers, NSP is the perfect place to become acquainted with the wonders the heavens hold, many of which can't be enjoyed from cities. Our unique Beginner's Field School will show you how fun it is to explore the heavens here, as well as in your own back yard when you return home, with or without a telescope.

For youngsters, we've added even more educational value to the experience of camping beneath the stars with short evening classes in addition to an expanded kids' afternoon program midweek.

Seasoned observers will find NSP enjoyable as well, with observing challenges, an astro photo contest, and a fantastic light pollution-free sweep of the summer night sky, with naked-eye limiting magnitude (the faintest objects visible to the naked eye) approaching magnitude 7.5 to 8!

Apart from the starry central attraction, the remote sandhills of north-central Nebraska offer a vacation full of western and natural history as well. Short day trips will take you to historical sites important to the settlement of the west. The spring-fed water and sugar sand beaches of Merritt Reservoir offer swimming, boating, and fishing. Valentine national Wildlife Refuge provides a window into the ecology of the prairie, while the nearby Niobrara River affords a cooling tube float or canoe trip through the surrounding cattle ranching country.

Whether you've been to NSP many times before, or you don't even know what a star party is, you'll be treated like a cherished old friend. Plan now to join us next summer for an unforgettable – and economical – vacation! You don't even need a telescope to attend. Be sure to register before June 1st to save $10 per adult on registration costs.