Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! The Class 3 skies at Betatakin Slickrock 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. For the best experience, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock 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
Try to catch the moonrise or moonset to see the 'Moon Illusion' making it appear massive against the horizon. The Class 3 skies at Betatakin Slickrock are a total game-changer for this Moon Event; you'll see details urbanites miss. 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 Betatakin Slickrock 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. This is a high-magnitude event for Kayenta residents, as the dark horizons at Betatakin Slickrock will reveal the full depth of the target. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. A drive out of Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock 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
Moon & Mars Conjunction
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. The Class 3 skies at Betatakin Slickrock are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. A drive out of Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Kayenta residents, as the dark horizons at Betatakin Slickrock 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. A drive out of Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock 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
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 Kayenta residents, as the dark horizons at Betatakin Slickrock 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 Betatakin Slickrock 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
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. The Class 3 skies at Betatakin Slickrock are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. High-altitude desert winds can be turbulent; finding a shielded canyon spot helps steady the view. A drive out of Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock 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
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. Because Betatakin Slickrock 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 Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. Because Betatakin Slickrock 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. For the best experience, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. Because Betatakin Slickrock offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Monsoon season moisture can be high, but the transparency just after a desert rain is world-class. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Betatakin Slickrock will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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 Betatakin Slickrock offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The summer heat holds onto dust; wait for the post-midnight 'settling' for the darkest sky background. For the best experience, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. The Class 3 skies at Betatakin Slickrock are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. The summer heat holds onto dust; wait for the post-midnight 'settling' for the darkest sky background. For the best experience, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
The temperature may drop noticeably during the event; having an extra layer ready is a veteran move. Because Betatakin Slickrock offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Monsoon season moisture can be high, but the transparency just after a desert rain is world-class. For the best experience, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock to escape the most intense local glares.
Optimal Window
Late evening into early morning
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Saturn at Opposition
This is the best time for high-magnification viewing. Use a 2x Barlow lens if you have one. Because Betatakin Slickrock offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. A drive out of Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock 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
Start from the brightest planet and use it as a 'jumping point' to find the fainter ones in the line. The Class 3 skies at Betatakin Slickrock are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. 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 Betatakin Slickrock will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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 Kayenta residents, as the dark horizons at Betatakin Slickrock will reveal the full depth of the target. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. For the best experience, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock to escape the most intense local glares.
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. Because Betatakin Slickrock 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, Kayenta observers should aim for Betatakin Slickrock to escape the most intense local glares.
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 Kayenta residents, as the dark horizons at Betatakin Slickrock 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 Kayenta toward Betatakin Slickrock 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