Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. This is a high-magnitude event for Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Haze is common in the warmer months; use a light-pollution filter to gain back contrast for these types of events. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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
Even in a bright city, a Supermoon provides enough contrast for great smartphone photography through an eyepiece. Because Carnegie Hill offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. For the best experience, Chadron observers should aim for Carnegie Hill to escape the most intense local glares.
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. Because Carnegie Hill offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill 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. The Class 2 skies at Carnegie Hill are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
The 'Ecliptic' (the path of the planets) is clearly visible today. It's a great time to visualize the solar system's plane. This is a high-magnitude event for Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. A drive out of Chadron toward Carnegie Hill 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
The temperature may drop noticeably during the event; having an extra layer ready is a veteran move. This is a high-magnitude event for Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. The Class 2 skies at Carnegie Hill are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. The wide-open Plains often deal with the jet stream, so look for nights with low surface winds for the steadiest planetary views. For the best experience, Chadron observers should aim for Carnegie Hill to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
30–90 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Lyrids 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 Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! This is a high-magnitude event for Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. A drive out of Chadron toward Carnegie Hill will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. This is a high-magnitude event for Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. For the best experience, Chadron observers should aim for Carnegie Hill to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Just after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Mercury, Venus & Jupiter Alignment
The 'Ecliptic' (the path of the planets) is clearly visible today. It's a great time to visualize the solar system's plane. The Class 2 skies at Carnegie Hill are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids Meteor Shower
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! The Class 2 skies at Carnegie Hill are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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 Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Haze is common in the warmer months; use a light-pollution filter to gain back contrast for these types of events. For the best experience, Chadron observers should aim for Carnegie Hill 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 2 skies at Carnegie Hill are a total game-changer for this Planetary Opposition; you'll see details urbanites miss. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. A drive out of Chadron toward Carnegie Hill will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning 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 Chadron residents, as the dark horizons at Carnegie Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Autumn on the Plains brings lower humidity and vast, clear horizons that are perfect for low-altitude conjunctions. For the best experience, Chadron observers should aim for Carnegie Hill to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
90–30 minutes before sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Mars & Jupiter Conjunction
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. The Class 2 skies at Carnegie Hill are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. For the best experience, Chadron observers should aim for Carnegie Hill 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 Carnegie Hill offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Haze is common in the warmer months; use a light-pollution filter to gain back contrast for these types of events. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Carnegie Hill will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. Because Carnegie Hill offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Haze is common in the warmer months; use a light-pollution filter to gain back contrast for these types of events. A drive out of Chadron toward Carnegie Hill 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