Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. This is a high-magnitude event for Adel residents, as the dark horizons at Ashton Observatoryt will reveal the full depth of the target. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. For the best experience, Adel observers should aim for Ashton Observatoryt to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Jan 3–4, roughly 2:00–6:00 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
North to northeast sky, away from city lights
Wolf Moon Supermoon
Perfect for binocular viewing. Look at the 'terminator' line (where light meets shadow) for the best crater detail. The Class 3 skies at Ashton Observatory are a total game-changer for this Moon Event; you'll see details urbanites miss. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatory will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
Rises in the east, sets in the west
Jupiter at Opposition
Watch for the planet's moons; even small telescopes can see the four Galilean moons of Jupiter today. This is a high-magnitude event for Adel residents, as the dark horizons at Ashton Observatoryt will reveal the full depth of the target. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Ashton Observatoryt will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Moon & Mars Conjunction
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. Because Ashton Observatory offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Ashton Observatory will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
Higher elevations will give you a much better chance of spotting the planets closest to the horizon. This is a high-magnitude event for Adel residents, as the dark horizons at Ashton Observatory will reveal the full depth of the target. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatory will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
30–75 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West to southwest sky along the ecliptic
Total Lunar Eclipse
During totality, the stars nearby will become much more visible as the Moon's glare vanishes. Because Ashton Observatory offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatory will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
Late night Mar 2 into early morning Mar 3 (best in western U.S.)
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Moon, Venus & Pleiades Grouping
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. This is a high-magnitude event for Adel residents, as the dark horizons at Ashton Observatory will reveal the full depth of the target. Stable, Arctic air masses in the Midwest can offer rock-solid seeing, though be prepared for extreme equipment 'cool-down' times. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatory will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
30–90 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! Because Ashton Observatory offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. For the best experience, Adel observers should aim for Ashton Observatory to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. This is a high-magnitude event for Adel residents, as the dark horizons at Ashton Observatory will reveal the full depth of the target. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Ashton Observatory will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. Because Ashton Observatory offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Late summer nights after a thunderstorm offer the best transparency as the rain washes the atmosphere. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Ashton Observatory will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Just after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Mercury, Venus & Jupiter Alignment
Higher elevations will give you a much better chance of spotting the planets closest to the horizon. The Class 3 skies at Ashton Observatory are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Midwest summer humidity can trap urban light; head to a rural clearing to get above the local ground-haze. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Ashton Observatory will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids Meteor Shower
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. The Class 3 skies at Ashton Observatory are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Midwest summer humidity can trap urban light; head to a rural clearing to get above the local ground-haze. For the best experience, Adel observers should aim for Ashton Observatory to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Watch the colors shift from copper to deep blood-red as the Earth's shadow fully consumes the lunar surface. This is a high-magnitude event for Adel residents, as the dark horizons at Ashton Observatoryt will reveal the full depth of the target. Late summer nights after a thunderstorm offer the best transparency as the rain washes the atmosphere. For the best experience, Adel observers should aim for Ashton Observatoryt to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Late evening into early morning
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Saturn at Opposition
Watch for the planet's moons; even small telescopes can see the four Galilean moons of Jupiter today. The Class 3 skies at Ashton Observatoryt are a total game-changer for this Planetary Opposition; you'll see details urbanites miss. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Ashton Observatoryt will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning Alignment
The 'Ecliptic' (the path of the planets) is clearly visible today. It's a great time to visualize the solar system's plane. Because Ashton Observatory offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatory will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
90–30 minutes before sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Mars & Jupiter Conjunction
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. Because Ashton Observatory offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. For the best experience, Adel observers should aim for Ashton Observatory to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Pre-dawn hours
Recommended Gaze
East-southeast sky
Geminids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. Because Ashton Observatoryt offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatoryt will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
Late night Dec 13 through dawn Dec 14
Recommended Gaze
East to overhead
December Supermoon
A moon filter for your telescope can help reduce the glare and reveal subtle lunar textures. The Class 3 skies at Ashton Observatory are a total game-changer for this Moon Event; you'll see details urbanites miss. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. A drive out of Adel toward Ashton Observatory will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset