» left917 · eyes on the sky

Worth the Look

The High Country has some of the darkest skies in the East. Here's what's worth stepping outside and looking up for: meteor showers, full moons, eclipses, and the occasional aurora watch. We flag the nights the sky is actually worth a look, and tell you where to aim.

Celestial calendar · updated Jul 25, 8:38 AM ET

★ left917 recommends

The nights we'd step outside for.

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Now through early August (plane crossing Jul 20, closest Aug 3)

comet

Comet 10P/Tempel 2

★ why look upA periodic comet that swings by every 5.4 years is parked in Capricornus right now, bright enough that binoculars or a small scope catch its greenish coma and a thin dust trail. Earth slips through the comet's orbital plane on July 20, and it makes its closest pass to Earth on August 3. Find a dark spot and look low to the southeast late in the evening. - left917

Periodic comet (every 5.4 years) in Capricornus. Earth crosses its orbital plane Jul 20; closest approach Aug 3. Binoculars or a small scope.

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Jul 2026

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Thu, Jul 30

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Buck Moon

The Buck Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Aug 2026

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Wed, Aug 12

Meteor shower · after midnight

Perseids meteor shower

~60/hr, the reliable summer classic. Look toward the northeast after midnight. Moon that night: 4% lit, dark skies, ideal.

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Fri, Aug 28

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Sturgeon Moon

The Sturgeon Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Sep 2026

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Sun, Sep 27

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Oct 2026

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Wed, Oct 21

Meteor shower · after midnight

Orionids meteor shower

~20/hr, fast and bright. Look toward the southeast after midnight. Moon that night: 71% lit, a bright moon washes out the faint ones.

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Mon, Oct 26

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Nov 2026

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Tue, Nov 17

Meteor shower · the hours before dawn

Leonids meteor shower

~15/hr, famously fast. Look toward the east the hours before dawn. Moon that night: 46% lit, a half-lit moon, so the dimmest streaks hide.

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Meteor showers, moon phases, and aurora watches are computed from published astronomical data and NOAA space-weather forecasts. Aurora this far south is rare and never guaranteed. Skies change fast, so always step out and see for yourself.