American Prairie National Discovery Center
302 W Main Street, Lewistown
406-585-4600
Website
Carter County Museum
306 N. Main Street, Ekalaka
406-775-6886
Website
Fort Peck Interpretive Center
157 Yellowstone Road, Fort Peck
406-526-3493 | 406-526-3411
Website
Huntley Project Museum
770 Railroad Hwy, Huntley
406-348-2533
Website
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park
342 Ulm-Vaughn Road, Ulm
406-454-5840
Website
WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON:
Add a Stargazing Event or Program to our Events Calendar.
Sunset Nature Hike at Medicine Rocks State Park
Join us at the Night Sky Trail for a hike featuring geology, native plants, and wildlife of Medicine Rocks State Park. Led by Carter County Museum Curator Dr. Nathan Carroll and U.S. National Forest Service Ranger Kurt Hansen, this hike will cover easy to moderate terrain and total 2 miles round-trip. Be sure to wear bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, and close-toed/hiking shoes. After the hike, feel free to stay in the park and stargaze on this beautiful, new moon evening! (Co-hosted with Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks and the U.S. National Forest Service)
Details
Jun 15
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
1141 MT-7
Sunset Yoga at Medicine Rocks State Park
Join us at Medicine Rocks State Park at the Night Sky Viewing Area for Sunset Yoga led by Ekalaka's resident Yogi, Melissa Schwede! This event proceeds Dinosaurs & Dark Skies, so plan on sticking around for a bat walk at 9 p.m. and stargazing to follow! This is also part of the festivities leading up to the Annual Dino Shindig.
Details
Jul 23
8:00 PM - 8:45 PM
1141 MT-7
Details
Jul 23
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
1141 MT-7
Stargazing with Montana Learning Center
Join the Carter County Museum and the Montana Learning Center (Helena) at Medicine Rocks State Park for a stargazing program brought to you by Ryan Hannahoe. Ryan first became involved with the Montana Learning Center in 2013 as a member of the summer camp staff. Eventually he joined the board of directors. Ryan has been Montana Learning Center’s executive director since the fall of 2016. Ryan worked as a science teacher in Clancy, Montana, until 2019, went he went full-time with the Center. Teaching science has been his profession for the past seven years. Getting students and teachers excited about science is something Ryan enjoys. He feels lucky to have had several mentors throughout his career and now wants to share the knowledge and expertise he has with others. According to Ryan, “it is vitally important to inspire and mentor the next generation to become critical thinkers and learn about the natural world around them.” (Co-hosted with the Montana Learning Center and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks)
Details
Aug 19
9:00 PM - 11:59 PM
1141 MT-7
2026 ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
- 8 Moon at Last Quarter
- 9 Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter
- 9 Close approach of Venus and Jupiter
- 9 Mercury at dichotomy
- 10 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 10 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 10 Daytime Arietid meteor shower 2026
- 10 Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
- 15 Mercury at greatest elongation east
- 17 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
- 17 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
- 17 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
- 17 Close approach of the Moon and Venus
- 21 June solstice
- 21 Moon at First Quarter
- 27 June Bootid meteor shower 2026
- 29 Full Moon
July 2026
- 6 The Earth at aphelion
- 7 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 7 Moon at Last Quarter
- 7 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 10 Close approach of the Moon and M45
- 11 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 11 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 17 Close approach of the Moon and Venus
- 17 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
- 21 Moon at First Quarter
- 26 Saturn enters retrograde motion
- 29 Piscis Austrinid meteor shower 2026
- 29 Full Moon
- 30 Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower 2026
- 30 α-Capricornid meteor shower 2026
August 2026
- 2 Mercury at greatest elongation west
- 5 Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky
- 3 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 3 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 5 Mercury at dichotomy
- 5 Moon at Last Quarter
- 7 Close approach of the Moon and M45
- 8 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 8 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 12 Total solar eclipse
- 12 Venus at dichotomy
- 13 Perseid meteor shower 2026
- 14 Venus at greatest elongation east
- 16 Close approach of the Moon and Venus
- 16 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
- 18 κ-Cygnid meteor shower 2026
- 19 Moon at First Quarter
- 27 Partial lunar eclipse
- 27 Full Moon
- 30 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 31 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
September 2026
- 1 Aurigid meteor shower 2026
- 3 Close approach of the Moon and M45
- 4 Moon at Last Quarter
- 6 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 6 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 8 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
- 8 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
- 9 September ε-Perseid meteor shower 2026
- 14 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
- 14 Close approach of the Moon and Venus
- 18 Moon at First Quarter
- 22 Venus at greatest brightness
- 22 September equinox
- 26 Full Moon
- 27 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 27 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 27 Daytime Sextantid meteor shower 2026
- 30 Close approach of the Moon and M45
October 2026
- 3 Moon at Last Quarter
- 4 Saturn at opposition
- 4 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 5 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 6 October Camelopardalid meteor shower 2026
- 6 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
- 6 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
- 9 Draconid meteor shower 2026
- 10 Southern Taurid meteor shower 2026
- 11 δ-Aurigid meteor shower 2026
- 5 Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
- 11 Mercury at greatest elongation east
- 17 Mercury at dichotomy
- 18 Moon at First Quarter
- 18 ε-Geminid meteor shower 2026
- 21 Orionid meteor shower 2026
- 24 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 24 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 24 Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2026
- 25 Full Moon
- 27 Close approach of the Moon and M45
November 2026
- 1 Moon at Last Quarter
- 2 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 2 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 2 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
- 2 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
- 12 Northern Taurid meteor shower 2026
- 14 Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars
- 15 Close approach of Jupiter and Mars
- 17 Moon at First Quarter
- 18 Leonid meteor shower 2026
- 18 Mercury at dichotomy
- 18 The Pleiades cluster is well placed
- 20 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 20 Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky
- 20 Mercury at greatest elongation west
- 20 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 21 α-Monocerotid meteor shower 2026
- 24 Close approach of the Moon and M45
- 24 Full Moon
- 27 Venus at greatest brightness
- 28 November Orionid meteor shower 2026
- 28 The Hyades cluster is well placed
- 30 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
- 30 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
- 30 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 30 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 30 Moon at Last Quarter
December 2026
- 5 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
- 6 December φ-Cassiopeid meteor shower 2026
- 9 Monocerotid meteor shower 2026
- 9 Venus at highest altitude in morning sky
- 10 Saturn ends retrograde motion
- 12 σ-Hydrid meteor shower 2026
- 12 Jupiter enters retrograde motion
- 14 Geminid meteor shower 2026
- 16 Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2026
- 16 Moon at First Quarter
- 17 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn
- 18 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
- 20 December Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2026
- 21 December solstice
- 21 Close approach of the Moon and M45
- 22 Ursid meteor shower 2026
- 23 Full Moon
- 27 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter
- 27 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
- 28 Close approach of the Moon and Mars
- 28 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
- 30 Moon at Last Quarter