Full Moon Star Party at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park

GREAT FALLS – For thousands of years, humans navigated in their travels by gazing up at celestial bodies in the night sky. First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is offering a chance for their modern-day visitors to recreate that experience by holding a Full Moon Star Party!

The park’s Star Party will take place on Sept. 10 from 7:30 - 10:30 PM with presentations by Lynn Powers, a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and president of the Southwest Montana Astronomical Society.  With over 15 years of experience, she brings her love and knowledge of all things space-related to her astronomy outreach events. Lynn will discuss the Artemis 1 test launch, moon craters, and meteorites along with other topics. Southwest MT Astronomical Society member Steve Bell will also help visitors find and identify stars, and Don Fish, Blackfeet, will be sharing traditional moon stories.  

Red light headlamps, lawn chairs, and layered clothing is recommended and please bring binoculars or a telescope if available. This program is weather dependent and may be moved indoors to the visitor center in the event of clouds, rain, or smoke.

Cost is $5 per person over 16 years old, and non-resident vehicles also pay an $8 park entrance fee.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is 3.5 miles north of Ulm, just off Interstate 15 at Exit 270. For directions or more information about the park visit: http://stateparks.mt.gov/first-peoples-buffalo-jump/

For more information, contact park ranger Alice Southworth at alice.southworth@mt.gov  or (406) 866-2217.

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