Quadrantids 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 Wilcox Community Center are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Look for the crisp windows between winter storms when the air is scrubbed of all dust and haze. While it's a drive from El Centro, Wilcox Community Center offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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
A moon filter for your telescope can help reduce the glare and reveal subtle lunar textures. While El Centro has some skyglow, the moderate Class 4 conditions at Old Borrego Valley Road are still excellent for the brightest phases of this event. Coastal mist can be a challenge; choosing a site with even a few hundred feet of elevation is a tactical advantage. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Old Borrego Valley Road will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
Rises in the east, sets in the west
Jupiter at Opposition
This is the best time for high-magnification viewing. Use a 2x Barlow lens if you have one. Because Wilcox Community Center offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The marine layer provides a natural 'heat sink,' resulting in exceptionally steady planetary views for coastal observers. Pack some snacks for the drive from El Centro; the dark horizons at Wilcox Community Center are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Moon & Mars Conjunction
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. The Class 3 skies at Wilcox Community Center are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. The marine layer provides a natural 'heat sink,' resulting in exceptionally steady planetary views for coastal observers. The journey to Wilcox Community Center from El Centro is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Conjunction is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
Start from the brightest planet and use it as a 'jumping point' to find the fainter ones in the line. Because Cottonwood Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Coastal mist can be a challenge; choosing a site with even a few hundred feet of elevation is a tactical advantage. The journey to Cottonwood Campground from El Centro is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Planetary Alignment is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
30–75 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West to southwest sky along the ecliptic
Total Lunar Eclipse
Capture the stages of the eclipse with a telephoto lens, keeping your exposure settings flexible as it darkens. This is a high-magnitude event for El Centro residents, as the dark horizons at Cottonwood Campground will reveal the full depth of the target. Coastal mist can be a challenge; choosing a site with even a few hundred feet of elevation is a tactical advantage. While it's a drive from El Centro, Cottonwood Campground offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. This is a high-magnitude event for El Centro residents, as the dark horizons at Wilcox Community Center will reveal the full depth of the target. Colder offshore winds can sharpen celestial focus, though watch for rapid dew accumulation on your tripod. Pack some snacks for the drive from El Centro; the dark horizons at Wilcox Community Center are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
30–90 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. The Class 3 skies at Cottonwood Campground are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Coastal mist can be a challenge; choosing a site with even a few hundred feet of elevation is a tactical advantage. The journey to Cottonwood Campground from El Centro is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Meteor Shower is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. The Class 3 skies at Cottonwood Campground are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Coastal mist can be a challenge; choosing a site with even a few hundred feet of elevation is a tactical advantage. Pack some snacks for the drive from El Centro; the dark horizons at Cottonwood Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. Because Wilcox Community Center offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Nighttime inversions near the coast often trap steady air, making this a prime window for high-magnification moon study. While it's a drive from El Centro, Wilcox Community Center offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Just after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Mercury, Venus & Jupiter Alignment
Start from the brightest planet and use it as a 'jumping point' to find the fainter ones in the line. Because Cottonwood Campground 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. The journey to Cottonwood Campground from El Centro is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Planetary Alignment is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. Because Cottonwood Campground 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from El Centro; the dark horizons at Cottonwood Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
During totality, the stars nearby will become much more visible as the Moon's glare vanishes. This is a high-magnitude event for El Centro residents, as the dark horizons at Wilcox Community Center 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. The journey to Wilcox Community Center from El Centro is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Eclipse is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Late evening into early morning
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Saturn at Opposition
Wait for the planet to reach its highest point in the sky to minimize atmospheric 'shimmer'. Because Wilcox Community Center offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The marine layer provides a natural 'heat sink,' resulting in exceptionally steady planetary views for coastal observers. While it's a drive from El Centro, Wilcox Community Center offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning Alignment
This parade of worlds is best viewed 45 minutes after sunset before the lower planets set. Because Cottonwood Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Coastal mist can be a challenge; choosing a site with even a few hundred feet of elevation is a tactical advantage. Pack some snacks for the drive from El Centro; the dark horizons at Cottonwood Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
90–30 minutes before sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Mars & Jupiter Conjunction
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 El Centro residents, as the dark horizons at Cottonwood Campground will reveal the full depth of the target. The marine layer provides a natural 'heat sink,' resulting in exceptionally steady planetary views for coastal observers. While it's a drive from El Centro, Cottonwood Campground offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Pre-dawn hours
Recommended Gaze
East-southeast sky
Geminids 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 Wilcox Community Center are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Look for the crisp windows between winter storms when the air is scrubbed of all dust and haze. Pack some snacks for the drive from El Centro; the dark horizons at Wilcox Community Center are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Dec 13 through dawn Dec 14
Recommended Gaze
East to overhead
December Supermoon
Even in a bright city, a Supermoon provides enough contrast for great smartphone photography through an eyepiece. This is a high-magnitude event for El Centro residents, as the dark horizons at Cottonwood Campground will reveal the full depth of the target. Look for the crisp windows between winter storms when the air is scrubbed of all dust and haze. While it's a drive from El Centro, Cottonwood Campground offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset