Events

Come create your own art at the BOO.

Kids ages 3 to 8, to enjoy stories of earth and space followed by craft time, kids will be able to take home their craft when finished. Kids attending will be free of charge. General admission otherwise is $5 each person.

Open to the General Public - FREE ADMISSION Join us

Come to the Branched Oak Observatory and view our closest celestial partner. Come see the moon as you have never seen it before thru a wide variety of telescopes, and take our own pictures. Free admission for all.

Branched Oak Observatory is pleased to announce our 12th Annual Fall Star-B-Q on Saturday, Sept. 26th, 2026. 5PM to midnight.
*$10 Per Adult and $5 for kids 5-12 Admission – $20 for immediate families of 4 or more
*No Park Permit Required
*No Telescope Needed – (But are welcome to bring your own equipment!)
The Empire Strikes Back… Again!
By popular demand, the 501st Legion- Central Garrison (a Star Wars anachronism group), will be BACK for this year’s StarBQ. You will see Stormtroopers and other nefarious Star Wars characters roaming the grounds. Luckily for us, however, there will also be costumed representatives from the Rebel Legion and maybe even the Mandalorian Mercs to keep those bad guys in-check! Bring your cameras (and lightsabers) for some amazing photo opportunities. Appearing 5:00 to 7:30pm.
For the kids and young-at-heart, we will have Space-Crafts, Science Demonstrations with the UNL Society of Physics Students , a “touch a meteorite” display, and a special NASA Exhibit* in the Kunkel Family Multipurpose Center. Outside in the field we will have a play area with Blackhole (our version of Cornhole), Bolo Ladder Golf, and our Giant Moon Map. 5:00-8:00PM
In the Boller-Sivil Observatory you will find safe Solar Viewing from 5 to 7pm.
Optional dinner will be available from Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q of Lincoln, and other options TBA 5:00-9:00pm.
During Dinner, the Last Minute Band will be playing your favorite Classic Rock. Live music between 5:00-9:00pm
Raffle Tickets will be for sale ($5 ea.) between 5:00 and 8:30pm. The Raffle winners will be announced at 8:30pm. Amazing prizes include a ZWO Seestar S50 Telescope, and tabletop “dob” telescope, astrophotography prints, binoculars, a deluxe oil change and more! .
Once dark, we will be viewing the night sky through our many telescopes, and through the equipment of area amateur astronomers from Lincoln and Omaha clubs. You will have the opportunity to see the Planet Saturn, The Ring Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and so much more!
Dinner, raffle tickets, and gift shop items, require an optional purchase. *FREE Admission* AFTER 8:30 for the Public Star Party.
This event is made possible thanks to our primary sponsor- ALLO Fiber of Lincoln and all of our other supporting sponsors. We also wish to thank the Prairie Astronomy Club, the Omaha Astronomical Society, our own Branched Oak Observatory volunteers, the UNL Society of Physics Students, and of course the Central Garrison – 501st Legion!
Follow us closely here on Facebook for more announcements.

Kids ages 3 to 8, to enjoy stories of earth and space followed by craft time, kids will be able to take home their craft when finished. Kids attending will be free of charge. General admission otherwise is $5 each person.