The 4^th annual Nebraska Star Party got off to a fine, but somewhat cloudy start in the high sandhills of western Nebraska. Friday, August 1^st began clear but warm, and the early birds were treated with the pristine skies which this site is noted for. Naked eye observations of stars as faint as 7.5 were common. Observers brought 20 and 30-inch scopes to bear on the showpiece targets in the late summer sky. In particular, many people could see the color in stars in the globular cluster M22, and the Nuclear region of M31 showed a faint orange glow of bright haze, along with the easily visible dark lanes. Jupiter in particular put on a stunning show, with the view in the 30 inch Obsession of attendee Tom Miller looking like a Voyager far encounter image. The moon IO was seen clearly in transit, appearing as a slightly mottled orangish dish accompanied by its jet-black shadow.

Saturday brought on the start of the various daytime activities under partly cloudy skies. Many attendees spend much of the time with the Star Party Regatta, with coordinated sailboat rides and a race put on by people from Valentine Nebraska. A heavy thunderstorm reduced observing time in the evening, but skies cleared just before midnight. Sunday was the start of registration, and by midweek, close to 300 people were in attendance. Sunday evening was partly cloudy, and a public star party was put on by NSP attendees at Merritt Resort, covered live on the local Valentine radio station. People still stayed up late with good talk and remembrances of previous star parties. Monday had people taking extended fishing or skiing excursions out on the lake. That evening, over 200 people gathered near the observing fields for the ice cream social. The clouds once again prevented much extended observing, but the observing field became the scene of the "Battle of the Photons", with two 20" Dobs fighting it out over the skies of Merritt Reservoir. A glow-stick-equipped kite was successfully shot down (several times), by Dave Scherping of Lincoln, Nebr. A big group of attendees formed "the Ring Nebula" of chairs, and talked well into the night. A secondary group began to tell the world’s most questionable jokes (mostly quite bad).

Tuesday found attendees back on the lake getting repeatedly dumped into the water after thrilling rides on an inflatable raft towed behind a speeding boat. Fishing on the lake was reported to be the best in several years, with Northern Pike and Bass being hooked for later cooking. A catered hamburger cookout was held in the evening, and observers adjourned to the observing site under mostly cloudy skies. Wednesday will have the beach party and kayak boating excursions on the lake, along with (hopefully) clear skies, so stay tuned…