Join the Bell Museum and the White Bear Center for the Arts for a special event in celebration of NEA Big Read. We’ll have telescopes set up to observe our favorite deep space objects (weather permitting!) on the roof deck. In our outdoor plaza spaces, the Big Woods Garden and the North Woods Garden, follow along on a tour of the constellations we can see in our skies. Inside, you can explore hands-on activities, and our expert astronomy team will guide you through celestial phenomena associated with The Bear by Andrew Krivak in the planetarium. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

FAQ

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, there will be planetarium shows at 7:40 pm, 8:10 pm, and 8:40 pm. These planetarium shows are free and offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. This month's show is Walking Through the Seasons.

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 or cloudy skies, 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!