» 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 Sep 8, 12:27 PM ET

★ left917 recommends

The nights we'd step outside for.

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Now through Sep 8

Meteor shower

Perseids from Perseus

★ why look upThis was a good year for the Perseids meteor shower. A key reason was the Moon was absent from lighting up Earth's night sky so that more meteors were visible than usual. - left917

This was a good year for the Perseids meteor shower. A key reason was the Moon was absent from lighting up Earth's night sky so that more meteors were visible than usual.

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Now through Sep 9

comet

Comet 220P in Outburst

★ why look upComet 220P is unexpectedly bright. Normally, periodic Comet 220P/McNaught is so dim that to see it requires a telescope. - left917

Comet 220P is unexpectedly bright. Normally, periodic Comet 220P/McNaught is so dim that to see it requires a telescope.

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Wed, Sep 9

Aurora watch

Aurora watch — Kp 5

★ why look upA Kp 5 geomagnetic storm is forecast for Wednesday night into Thursday morning, which is legitimately rare at our latitude. The catch is brutal, you need a truly dark spot facing due north and the aurora will sit so low on the horizon that trees, ridges, light pollution, and bad luck will kill it fast. Most nights we do not get this chance. Step outside anyway if you are awake and clear. - left917

An elevated geomagnetic storm (forecast Kp 5). A slim aurora chance very low on the northern horizon from a truly dark, north-facing spot. A long shot at our latitude, but worth a look if you're already out.

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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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Wed, Nov 25

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Beaver Moon

The Beaver 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.

Dec 2026

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Mon, Dec 14

Meteor shower · all evening

Geminids meteor shower

~120/hr, the best shower of the year. Look toward nearly overhead all evening. Moon that night: 22% lit, dark skies, ideal.

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Tue, Dec 22

Meteor shower · before dawn

Ursids meteor shower

~10/hr, a quiet holiday shower. Look toward the north before dawn. Moon that night: 93% lit, a bright moon washes out the faint ones.

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Thu, Dec 24

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Cold Moon

The Cold 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.

Jan 2027

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Sun, Jan 3

Meteor shower · after midnight

Quadrantids meteor shower

Up to ~40/hr in a short, sharp peak. Look toward the northeast after midnight. Moon that night: 27% 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.