Space studies announces star parties The Department of Space Studies and the Northern Skies Astronomical Society (NSAS), a local astronomy club, have begun hosting weekly star parties every Friday evening, through September, weather permitting, at the UND Observatory. Star parties will not be held June 15, June 29, July 27, and Aug. 10. Attendance is free and open to the public. People interested in attending should arrive at dusk. Contact Paul Hardersen at 777-4896 or via e-mail at Hardersen@space.edu with any questions. Directions to the UND observatory: Drive west on Highway 2 for ~10 miles. Just past mile marker 346, turn left onto a gravel road. After passing a few houses and crossing railroad tracks, turn right at the T-intersection. Drive ~ one-half mile and turn left onto the first road. The UND Observatory is ~ one-half mile distant on the left side of the road. -- Space Studies.