Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. Because Highland Creek Trailhead 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. A drive out of Rapid Valley toward Highland Creek Trailhead will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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. Because Highland Creek Trailhead 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 Highland Creek Trailhead 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 Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Highland Creek Trailhead 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. For the best experience, Rapid Valley observers should aim for Highland Creek Trailhead to escape the most intense local glares.
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 Top of Memorial 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Top of Memorial will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
This parade of worlds is best viewed 45 minutes after sunset before the lower planets set. Because Highland Creek Trailhead 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 Highland Creek Trailhead will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Highland Creek Trailhead 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 Highland Creek Trailhead 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
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. The Class 1 skies at Highland Creek Trailhead 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Highland Creek Trailhead will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. The Class 1 skies at Highland Creek Trailhead are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; 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 Highland Creek Trailhead 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
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. This is a high-magnitude event for Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Highland Creek Trailhead 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, Rapid Valley observers should aim for Highland Creek Trailhead 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
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. The Class 3 skies at Top of Memorial 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Top of Memorial 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. The Class 1 skies at Highland Creek Trailhead 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. A drive out of Rapid Valley toward Highland Creek Trailhead will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Highland Creek Trailhead 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, Rapid Valley observers should aim for Highland Creek Trailhead to escape the most intense local glares.
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. Because Highland Creek Trailhead 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. A drive out of Rapid Valley toward Highland Creek Trailhead will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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 Highland Creek Trailhead 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. For the best experience, Rapid Valley observers should aim for Highland Creek Trailhead to escape the most intense local glares.
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 Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Highland Creek Trailhead 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. A drive out of Rapid Valley toward Highland Creek Trailhead 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
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. Because Top of Memorial 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. For the best experience, Rapid Valley observers should aim for Top of Memorial 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. This is a high-magnitude event for Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Highland Creek Trailhead 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 Rapid Valley toward Highland Creek Trailhead 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
Even in a bright city, a Supermoon provides enough contrast for great smartphone photography through an eyepiece. This is a high-magnitude event for Rapid Valley residents, as the dark horizons at Top of Memorial 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 Rapid Valley toward Top of Memorial 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