October Star Party

Recommended for all ages Join us at the Bell for our next star party! Outside, we’ll have our telescopes set up to observe our favorite deep space objects (weather permitting). Inside, our expert astronomy team will guide you through the night sky and highlight cosmic sights in our planetarium and you can explore different hands-on activities. At this star party, we’ll be exploring the world of Roman — NASA’s next space telescope that will investigate dark energy, exoplanets, and more! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is slated to launch in late summer 2026 — if all goes well, we might even have initial data from it! Registration is requested to receive updates regarding this event through Eventbrite. PLEASE NOTE: Your Eventbrite registration is not a planetarium show ticket. You can retrieve a planetarium ticket from the front desk at the Star Party. Registration coming soon! Parking Paid surface lot parking, managed by UMN Parking & Transportation Services, is available with an entrance off of Larpenteur Ave. The daily rate is $6. Note: The parking fee is waived for any vehicle in the lot under 10 minutes. Pay stations only accept credit cards. A complimentary, accessible shuttle will be traveling between these off-site locations and the Bell entrance. UMN Lot #171 1532 Cleveland Avenue, Falcon Heights, MN 55108 Shuttle will pick up on the corner of Cleveland and Dudley UMN Lot #175 2067 Dudley Avenue, Falcon Heights, MN 55108 Shuttle will pick up on the corner of Cleveland and Dudley The Bell Museum is fully committed to creating an inclusive environment. We are proud to offer multiple services or resources detailed at the link below. For additional information or to request an accommodation, please contact the accessibility office at 612-625-4511 or [email protected]. Museum Accommodations FAQs What is a Star Party? A Star Party is an evening of astronomical celebration, exploration, and fun. At a Star Party, you’ll find hands-on activities and demonstrations from Bell educators and community partners throughout the museum. If there are clear skies, you will be able to look through high-powered telescopes at astronomical objects. Additionally, there are typically free planetarium shows that are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Oftentimes, Star Parties have special themes or topics. What time should I be there? There is no official “start” to the party—you can drop in anytime during the window of time listed above. Will there be planetarium shows? Yes, these planetarium shows are free and offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. PLEASE NOTE: Your EventBrite registration is not a planetarium show ticket. You can retrieve a planetarium ticket from the front desk at the Star Party. Is the event weather dependent? The event is rain or shine, however, the telescopes are not. If there is rain, cloudy skies, or low temperatures, there will not be telescopes outside—but there will be plenty to see inside the museum! Will this event also be offered virtually? This event is only offered in-person and not virtually. If you are looking for virtual astronomy content, you can check out some of our pre-recorded Virtual Star Parties on our YouTube channel! Is there parking? Alternate parking for star parties is available in lots SC171 and SC175, with a shuttle running between those lots and the Bell. Minnesota’s Astronomy Classroom is generously supported by Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan