Behlen Observatory to host all-night party

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Physics and Astronomy Department invites the public to an all-night Easter bash and lunar eclipse viewing party from April 3-4 at the Behlen Observatory, southeast of Mead.

The celebration is meant to showcase the facility and generate public interest in science and natural events, said Shawn Langan, a lab manager in the department.

If weather permits, attendees will be able to view the moon, Venus, Jupiter and more through a variety of telescopes. Glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunts and physics demonstrations will take place all night.

Rock band Fluffy Psycho Bunnies, featuring members of the physics department, will perform a free, all-ages show at 10 p.m.

The lunar eclipse begins at about 5 a.m., with the maximum eclipse at about 7 a.m. The observatory will close at 7:30 a.m.

"Lunar eclipses like this appear in any one location about every year or two but often go unnoticed," Langan said.

For driving directions, visit http://observatory.unl.edu.