Folks planning to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota next weekend will be able to take advantage of a star party being thrown at the park's Oxbow Overlook in the North Unit.

Park staff are planning to set up telescopes at the overlook, which is located 14 miles from the park entrance, on Friday and Saturday nights. Constellation tours will be offered as soon as stars are visible, around 10 p.m. CDT. Weather conditions permitting, Saturn should be visible in the night sky.

On Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., a solar telescope will be set up at the Cannonball Concretions turnout to allow safe observation of the Sun.

For those planning to attend the nighttime viewing, remember that bison and other wildlife might be on the road and can be hard to see in the dark. If you're concerned about the weather, call the park's North Unit Contact Station at 701-842-2333, extension 1240, for the latest weather forecast and updated information on the event.

The North Dakota Badlands Star Party is being presented by the Northern Sky Astronomical Society of Grand Forks, an amateur astronomy club associated with the University of North Dakota.