On July 3, a day before Seward's annual fireworks show, Concordia's Osten Observatory will offer the public a closer look at the sky before it is lit up by manmade pyrotechnics.
The observatory will be open from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday. A double star, some clusters of stars and a nebula are among the expected highlights of the viewing.
There is no formal program or schedule for the free event; the public is welcome at any point while the observatory is open. If weather obscures the sky at 9 p.m., the viewing will be cancelled. The observatory is at the northeast corner of campus along East Hillcrest Drive.
One more summer viewing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.