Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. The Class 1 skies at Merritt Reservoir 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from McCook; the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir are a justified reward for this view.
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. The Class 1 skies at Merritt Reservoir 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. While it's a drive from McCook, Merritt Reservoir offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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 McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir will reveal the full depth of the target. Cold air is dense and stable, though your telescope mirrors will need at least 30 minutes to reach thermal equilibrium. The journey to Merritt Reservoir from McCook is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Planetary Opposition is worth the effort.
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. Because Monument Overlook offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Cold air is dense and stable, though your telescope mirrors will need at least 30 minutes to reach thermal equilibrium. While it's a drive from McCook, Monument Overlook offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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 Merritt Reservoir 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. While it's a drive from McCook, Merritt Reservoir offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
30–75 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West to southwest sky along the ecliptic
Total Lunar Eclipse
Watch the colors shift from copper to deep blood-red as the Earth's shadow fully consumes the lunar surface. Because Merritt Reservoir 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 Merritt Reservoir from McCook is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Eclipse is worth the effort.
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 1 skies at Merritt Reservoir are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. A high-pressure cell over the Great Plains can provide a rare, steady window for high-magnification observation. While it's a drive from McCook, Merritt Reservoir offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
30–90 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. This is a high-magnitude event for McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir 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. The journey to Merritt Reservoir from McCook 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
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. Because Merritt Reservoir 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 Merritt Reservoir from McCook is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Meteor Shower is worth the effort.
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. The Class 3 skies at Monument Overlook are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. Cold air is dense and stable, though your telescope mirrors will need at least 30 minutes to reach thermal equilibrium. Pack some snacks for the drive from McCook; the dark horizons at Monument Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir 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. The journey to Merritt Reservoir from McCook 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
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. This is a high-magnitude event for McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from McCook; the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir 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. The Class 1 skies at Merritt Reservoir are a total game-changer for this Eclipse; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. While it's a drive from McCook, Merritt Reservoir offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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 Merritt Reservoir offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Autumn on the Plains brings lower humidity and vast, clear horizons that are perfect for low-altitude conjunctions. While it's a drive from McCook, Merritt Reservoir 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
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 McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir will reveal the full depth of the target. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. While it's a drive from McCook, Merritt Reservoir offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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 McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Monument Overlook 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. The journey to Monument Overlook from McCook is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Conjunction is worth the effort.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for McCook residents, as the dark horizons at Merritt Reservoir 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 Merritt Reservoir from McCook is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Meteor Shower is worth the effort.
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. The Class 3 skies at Monument Overlook are a total game-changer for this Moon Event; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. While it's a drive from McCook, Monument Overlook offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset