All of our night are amazing! BUT THE BEST NIGHTS ARE CALLED "BRYCE NIGHTS!"
If you found this page you are obviously the kind of person that seeks out the best. Which suggests that you might also be a seeker of explanations -- if so keep reading. But if you are just the kind of person who accepts advice unquestioningly, than you can save yourself 1-2 minutes by JUST matching-up the color coding in the calendar below for quick answers.
Bryce Canyon National Park and the surrounding region is known for having some of the darkest sky left in North America. Even the worst nights still offer good stargazing, but the exceptionally good nights are like no others! We call these "Bryce Nights."
Use the schedule below to plan your telescope tour so that you don't just have a nice night with the Dark Rangers. Plan ahead so you can enjoy and cherish the memories from a "Bryce Night!" Once you picked your "Bryce Night" book that telescope tour here, or follow this link if you would prefer to book a private tour.
BRYCE NIGHT PLANNING:
BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR:
Winters are cold in Southern Utah at 6,500 ft (2000m) but if you can handle the cold [Midnight temperatures range between 15F (-10C) and -10F (-23C), you are going to be rewarded with amazing sky. Cold air holds less water and since water molecules can disrupt starlight, winter sky is the most transparent revealing detail in deep space objects you simply can't see in the summer. Unfortunately almost 60% of winter nights can be cloudy. However if you can stay in the Bryce Canyon region 2-3 nights it will dramatically increase your chances of catching a clear night. January and March are the least cloudy winter months.
BEST NON-WINTER MONTHS:
If freezing temperatures are a deal-breaker for you, then plan for June or September which are the 2nd Bryce-est Night months with only a 20% chance of having a cloudy night.
BEST NIGHTS OF ANY MONTH:
Days closest to the New Moon are the darkest nights. You will be able to see the Milky Way extend from horizon to horizon! If Venus or Jupiter are in the sky they will be so bright they will cause you to cast a shadow. Many famous deep space objects are visible to the naked eye - and stunning when viewed through our BIG telescopes. Similar levels of darkness can be experienced on nights 4 or more days after the full moon when you can enjoy 2-3 hours of high quality darkness before the moon rises. Realize that having a Full Moon in the sky is the equivalent of enduring the Light Pollution of 500,000 people.
Q: So the Dark Rangers are Moon haters? A: To the contrary, we LIKE working full moon nights, ESPECIALLY when our guest have read the trade-offs about full Moon night below!
FULL MOON NIGHTS:
Many deep space objects (galaxies, nebulae, exploded stars, etc.) washed-out by moonlight, however our telescopes are large enough that we can still show you at least 1 example of each even on a full Moon. Just realize you are NOT catching us at our best when you book 4 days before a full moon thru 4 days after a full Moon. Yet, because we pride ourselves in offering YOU truly hands-on experience with our telescopes, we equip them with high-powered eyepieces and let you explore the lunar surface with 300-500x magnification, INCLUDING the Apollo landing locations. No, you won't be able to see "The Flag," but you will see detailed views of mountain ranges that rival most on Earth, craters so large they fill the eyepiece, and other uniquely lunar features.
ASTRONOMICAL EVENT NIGHTS:
We Dark Rangers get so excited about these nights that we set up our very best telescopes and astronomy equipment and uncork our most unbridled enthusiasm. These nights are usually the first ones to fill up in our schedule because to the serious stargazers it doesn't matter how cold it could get, what phase our Moon is going to be in, or even what the chance of encountering clouds might be. These are the most sought after nights because these nights feature meteor showers, eclipses, transits, and/or anniversaries of triumphant moments in space exploration. What could be Brycer than that?
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OVERFLIGHTS
Long after sunset occurs on the ground, satellites are high enough to still experience daylight. Though we can see several satellites each night, nothing is as impressive as seeing The International Space Station (ISS) fly over. When the sunlight bounces off ISS's huge solar arrays at the perfect angle with the ground, it can be even brighter than Venus as it crosses the sky. Joining us for one of these night is good planning!
PLANETARY CELEBRATIONS:
Finally, on a special night with this designation, we will focuses (that was fun) on the planets involved in a conjunctions or close approaches, and other special events. 2017 is an EXCITING year because there are so many conjunctions! Join us on these nights for an in-depth look at your favorite planet.
Use the schedule below to plan your telescope tour so that you don't just have a nice night with the Dark Rangers. Plan ahead so you can enjoy and cherish the memories from a "Bryce Night!" Once you picked your "Bryce Night" book that telescope tour here, or follow this link if you would prefer to book a private tour.
BRYCE NIGHT PLANNING:
BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR:
Winters are cold in Southern Utah at 6,500 ft (2000m) but if you can handle the cold [Midnight temperatures range between 15F (-10C) and -10F (-23C), you are going to be rewarded with amazing sky. Cold air holds less water and since water molecules can disrupt starlight, winter sky is the most transparent revealing detail in deep space objects you simply can't see in the summer. Unfortunately almost 60% of winter nights can be cloudy. However if you can stay in the Bryce Canyon region 2-3 nights it will dramatically increase your chances of catching a clear night. January and March are the least cloudy winter months.
BEST NON-WINTER MONTHS:
If freezing temperatures are a deal-breaker for you, then plan for June or September which are the 2nd Bryce-est Night months with only a 20% chance of having a cloudy night.
BEST NIGHTS OF ANY MONTH:
Days closest to the New Moon are the darkest nights. You will be able to see the Milky Way extend from horizon to horizon! If Venus or Jupiter are in the sky they will be so bright they will cause you to cast a shadow. Many famous deep space objects are visible to the naked eye - and stunning when viewed through our BIG telescopes. Similar levels of darkness can be experienced on nights 4 or more days after the full moon when you can enjoy 2-3 hours of high quality darkness before the moon rises. Realize that having a Full Moon in the sky is the equivalent of enduring the Light Pollution of 500,000 people.
Q: So the Dark Rangers are Moon haters? A: To the contrary, we LIKE working full moon nights, ESPECIALLY when our guest have read the trade-offs about full Moon night below!
FULL MOON NIGHTS:
Many deep space objects (galaxies, nebulae, exploded stars, etc.) washed-out by moonlight, however our telescopes are large enough that we can still show you at least 1 example of each even on a full Moon. Just realize you are NOT catching us at our best when you book 4 days before a full moon thru 4 days after a full Moon. Yet, because we pride ourselves in offering YOU truly hands-on experience with our telescopes, we equip them with high-powered eyepieces and let you explore the lunar surface with 300-500x magnification, INCLUDING the Apollo landing locations. No, you won't be able to see "The Flag," but you will see detailed views of mountain ranges that rival most on Earth, craters so large they fill the eyepiece, and other uniquely lunar features.
ASTRONOMICAL EVENT NIGHTS:
We Dark Rangers get so excited about these nights that we set up our very best telescopes and astronomy equipment and uncork our most unbridled enthusiasm. These nights are usually the first ones to fill up in our schedule because to the serious stargazers it doesn't matter how cold it could get, what phase our Moon is going to be in, or even what the chance of encountering clouds might be. These are the most sought after nights because these nights feature meteor showers, eclipses, transits, and/or anniversaries of triumphant moments in space exploration. What could be Brycer than that?
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OVERFLIGHTS
Long after sunset occurs on the ground, satellites are high enough to still experience daylight. Though we can see several satellites each night, nothing is as impressive as seeing The International Space Station (ISS) fly over. When the sunlight bounces off ISS's huge solar arrays at the perfect angle with the ground, it can be even brighter than Venus as it crosses the sky. Joining us for one of these night is good planning!
PLANETARY CELEBRATIONS:
Finally, on a special night with this designation, we will focuses (that was fun) on the planets involved in a conjunctions or close approaches, and other special events. 2017 is an EXCITING year because there are so many conjunctions! Join us on these nights for an in-depth look at your favorite planet.
2017's Bryce Nights
OCTOBER 1-15 (Summer 8:00pm start time
Sun. 1: New Moon
Tues. 3: Neptune and Moon close approach
Wed. 4: Full Moon
Thurs. 5: Full Moon
Fri. 6: Full Moon
Sat. 7: Draconids Meteor Shower (10ish/hr)
Fri. 13: ISS 7:54pm
Sun. 15: ISS 7:48pm
OCTOBER 16-31 (Summer) 8:00pm start time
Wed. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 19: New Moon and Uranus at opposition
Fri. 20: New Moon
Sat. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower (8sh/hr)
Sun. 22: Orionids Meteor Shower (8ish/hr)
Mon. 30: Neptune and Moon close approach
Sun. 1: New Moon
Tues. 3: Neptune and Moon close approach
Wed. 4: Full Moon
Thurs. 5: Full Moon
Fri. 6: Full Moon
Sat. 7: Draconids Meteor Shower (10ish/hr)
Fri. 13: ISS 7:54pm
Sun. 15: ISS 7:48pm
OCTOBER 16-31 (Summer) 8:00pm start time
Wed. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 19: New Moon and Uranus at opposition
Fri. 20: New Moon
Sat. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower (8sh/hr)
Sun. 22: Orionids Meteor Shower (8ish/hr)
Mon. 30: Neptune and Moon close approach
NOVEMBER (Winter) 8:00pm start time
Thurs. 2: Full Moon
Fri. 3: Full Moon
Sat. 4: Full Moon
Sun. 5: Taurids Meteor Shower 1st Peak (9ish/hr)
Thurs. 9 - Mon. 13 Dark Ranger Observatory will be closed
as we will be working for Joshua Tree National Park and their Dark Sky Festival Join us there!
Sun. 12: Taurids Meteor Shower 2nd Peak (9ish/hr)
Fri. 17: New Moon
Sat. 18: New Moon Leonid meteor shower (mostly below the horizon)
Sun. 19: New Moon
Fri. 24: ISS 7:25pm
Sun. 26: ISS 7:18pm
Wed. 29: Mercury at greatest brightness
DECEMBER (Winter) 8:00pm start time
Sat. 2: Full Moon
Sun. 3: Full Moon
Mon. 4: Full Moon
Thurs. 14: Geminids Meteor STORM? (75ish/hr)
Sat. 16: New Moon
Sun. 17: New Moon
Mon. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 21: Winter Solstice
Fri. 22: Ursids Meteor Shower (4ish/hr)
Thurs. 2: Full Moon
Fri. 3: Full Moon
Sat. 4: Full Moon
Sun. 5: Taurids Meteor Shower 1st Peak (9ish/hr)
Thurs. 9 - Mon. 13 Dark Ranger Observatory will be closed
as we will be working for Joshua Tree National Park and their Dark Sky Festival Join us there!
Sun. 12: Taurids Meteor Shower 2nd Peak (9ish/hr)
Fri. 17: New Moon
Sat. 18: New Moon Leonid meteor shower (mostly below the horizon)
Sun. 19: New Moon
Fri. 24: ISS 7:25pm
Sun. 26: ISS 7:18pm
Wed. 29: Mercury at greatest brightness
DECEMBER (Winter) 8:00pm start time
Sat. 2: Full Moon
Sun. 3: Full Moon
Mon. 4: Full Moon
Thurs. 14: Geminids Meteor STORM? (75ish/hr)
Sat. 16: New Moon
Sun. 17: New Moon
Mon. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 21: Winter Solstice
Fri. 22: Ursids Meteor Shower (4ish/hr)
2018's Bryce Nights
JANUARY (Winter) 8:00pm start time
Sat. 6: Close approach of Jupiter and Mars in same eyepiece!
Fri. 12: Comet C/2016 R2 at maximum brightness
Sat: 13: Tiangong 6:18pm
Sun. 14: Tiangong 6:28pm
Mon. 15: New Moon and Tiangong 6:39pm
Tues. 16: New Moon and Tiangong 6:50pm
Wed. 17: New Moon and Tiangong 7:01pm
Tues. 30: Full Moon
Wed. 31: Full Moon
Sat. 6: Close approach of Jupiter and Mars in same eyepiece!
Fri. 12: Comet C/2016 R2 at maximum brightness
Sat: 13: Tiangong 6:18pm
Sun. 14: Tiangong 6:28pm
Mon. 15: New Moon and Tiangong 6:39pm
Tues. 16: New Moon and Tiangong 6:50pm
Wed. 17: New Moon and Tiangong 7:01pm
Tues. 30: Full Moon
Wed. 31: Full Moon
FEBRUARY (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Thurs. 1: Full Moon
Thurs. 1: Full Moon
MARCH 1-10 (Winter) 8:00pm start time,
Thurs. 1: Full Moon
Fri. 2:Full Moon
Fri. 9: Tiangong 8:14pm
Sat. 10: Tiangong 8:03pm
MARCH 11-31 (Winter) 8:30pm start time
Sun. 11: Tiangong 8:51pm
Mon. 12: Tiangong 8:40pm
Tues. 13: Tiangong 8:28pm
Wed. 14: Tiangong 8:16pm
Fri. 16: New Moon
Sat. 17: New Moon
Sun. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 22: ISS 8:31pm
Fri. 23: ISS 9:13pm -4.0 lm Brightest Possible Pass!
Wed. 28: Venus and Uranus Conjunction - both in same eyepiece
Thurs. 29: Tiangong re-entry watch begins
Fri. 30: Full Moon and Tiangong re-entry continues...
Sat. 31: Full Moon and Tiangong re-entry continues...
Thurs. 1: Full Moon
Fri. 2:Full Moon
Fri. 9: Tiangong 8:14pm
Sat. 10: Tiangong 8:03pm
MARCH 11-31 (Winter) 8:30pm start time
Sun. 11: Tiangong 8:51pm
Mon. 12: Tiangong 8:40pm
Tues. 13: Tiangong 8:28pm
Wed. 14: Tiangong 8:16pm
Fri. 16: New Moon
Sat. 17: New Moon
Sun. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 22: ISS 8:31pm
Fri. 23: ISS 9:13pm -4.0 lm Brightest Possible Pass!
Wed. 28: Venus and Uranus Conjunction - both in same eyepiece
Thurs. 29: Tiangong re-entry watch begins
Fri. 30: Full Moon and Tiangong re-entry continues...
Sat. 31: Full Moon and Tiangong re-entry continues...
APRIL 1-15 (Winter) 8:30pm start time
Sun. 1: Full Moon AND Tiangong's predicted re-entry
Mon. 2 - Thur 5: Dark Ranger Observatory Closed
Fri. 6: ISS 9:52pm
Sat. 7: ISS 8:59pm & 10:35pm
Sun. 8: ISS 9:42pm
Mon. 9: ISS 8:50pm & 10:26pm
Tues. 10: ISS 9:33pm
Thurs. 11: ISS 8:41pm
Thurs. 12: Virginid Meteor Shower (5/hr) and ISS 9:25pm
Fri. 13: ISS 8:31pm
Sat. 14: New Moon
Sun. 15: New Moon
April 16-30 (Winter) 9:00pm start time
Mon. 16: New Moon
Fri. 20: Comet 2016 N6 PANSTARRS as maximum brightness
Sat. 21: Formerly-known-as-a-planet Ceres at opposition
Sun 22: Earth Day: Celebration of Planet Earth
Mon. 23: Lyrid Meteor Shower (10/hr)
Sat. 28: Full Moon
Sun. 29: Full Moon
Mon. 30: Full Moon and Jupiter on close approach
Sun. 1: Full Moon AND Tiangong's predicted re-entry
Mon. 2 - Thur 5: Dark Ranger Observatory Closed
Fri. 6: ISS 9:52pm
Sat. 7: ISS 8:59pm & 10:35pm
Sun. 8: ISS 9:42pm
Mon. 9: ISS 8:50pm & 10:26pm
Tues. 10: ISS 9:33pm
Thurs. 11: ISS 8:41pm
Thurs. 12: Virginid Meteor Shower (5/hr) and ISS 9:25pm
Fri. 13: ISS 8:31pm
Sat. 14: New Moon
Sun. 15: New Moon
April 16-30 (Winter) 9:00pm start time
Mon. 16: New Moon
Fri. 20: Comet 2016 N6 PANSTARRS as maximum brightness
Sat. 21: Formerly-known-as-a-planet Ceres at opposition
Sun 22: Earth Day: Celebration of Planet Earth
Mon. 23: Lyrid Meteor Shower (10/hr)
Sat. 28: Full Moon
Sun. 29: Full Moon
Mon. 30: Full Moon and Jupiter on close approach
MAY (Summer) 9:00pm start time
Sat. 5: Saturn, Moon, Pluto, and Mars grouped in 3am sky
Sun. 6: n-Aquarid Meteor Shower (mostly below horizon)
Tues. 8: Jupiter at opposition
Sun. 13: 6: a-Aquarid Meteor Shower peaks (5/hr)
Mon. 14: New Moon and ISS 9:07pm & 10:45pm
Tues. 15: New Moon and ISS 9:52pm
Wed. 16: New Moon and ISS 9:00pm
Thurs. 17: Moon and Venus conjunction
Sat. 19: ISS 9:25pm and 11:00pm
Sun. 20: ISS 8:07pm and 11:45pm
Mon. 21: ISS 9:14pm and 10:51pm
Tues. 22: ISS 9:57pm and 11:37pm
Wed. 23: ISS 9:03pm and 10:42pm
Thurs. 24: ISS 9:47pm
Sat. 26: ISS 9:38pm
Sun. 27: Moon and Jupiter conjunction
Mon. 28: Full Moon
Tues. 29: Full Moon and ISS 11:50pm
Wed. 30: Full Moon
Thurs. 31: Moon and Saturn conjunction and ISS 11:39pm
Sat. 5: Saturn, Moon, Pluto, and Mars grouped in 3am sky
Sun. 6: n-Aquarid Meteor Shower (mostly below horizon)
Tues. 8: Jupiter at opposition
Sun. 13: 6: a-Aquarid Meteor Shower peaks (5/hr)
Mon. 14: New Moon and ISS 9:07pm & 10:45pm
Tues. 15: New Moon and ISS 9:52pm
Wed. 16: New Moon and ISS 9:00pm
Thurs. 17: Moon and Venus conjunction
Sat. 19: ISS 9:25pm and 11:00pm
Sun. 20: ISS 8:07pm and 11:45pm
Mon. 21: ISS 9:14pm and 10:51pm
Tues. 22: ISS 9:57pm and 11:37pm
Wed. 23: ISS 9:03pm and 10:42pm
Thurs. 24: ISS 9:47pm
Sat. 26: ISS 9:38pm
Sun. 27: Moon and Jupiter conjunction
Mon. 28: Full Moon
Tues. 29: Full Moon and ISS 11:50pm
Wed. 30: Full Moon
Thurs. 31: Moon and Saturn conjunction and ISS 11:39pm
JUNE (Summer) 9:15pm start time
Fri. 1: ISS 10:47pm and midnight:23
Sat. 2: ISS 9:55pm and 11:29pm
Sun. 3: Mars and Moon on close approach rising well after midnight and ISS 10:36pm
Mon. 4: ISS 9:43pm and 11:19pm
Tues. 5: ISS 10:25pm
Wed. 6: ISS 9:32pm and 11:08pm
Thurs. 7: ISS 10:15pm
Fri. 8: ISS 9:21pm and 11:59pm
Sat. 9: ISS 10:04pm
Sun. 10: Ophiuchid Meteor Shower 1st peak (5/hr)
Tues. 12: New Moon and ISS 9:07pm & 10:45pm
Wed. 13: New Moon and ISS 9:52pm
Thurs. 14: New Moon and ISS 9:00pm
Sat. 16: Venus and Moon close approach and ISS 10:10pm
Tues. 19: Asteroid Vest at Opposition and ISS 10:02pm
Wed. 20: Ophiuchid Meteor Shower 2nd peak (5/hr)
Sat. 23: Jupiter and Moon close approach and ISS 10:10pm
Tues. 26: Full Moon
Wed. 27: Full Moon on close approach with Saturn at opposition and ISS 9:48pm
Thurs. 28: Full Moon and 1st Peak of Ophiuchid meteor shower and ISS 8:56pm
Fri. 29: Comet P/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) at brightest
Sat. 30: Mars and Moon on close approach rising at midnight
Fri. 1: ISS 10:47pm and midnight:23
Sat. 2: ISS 9:55pm and 11:29pm
Sun. 3: Mars and Moon on close approach rising well after midnight and ISS 10:36pm
Mon. 4: ISS 9:43pm and 11:19pm
Tues. 5: ISS 10:25pm
Wed. 6: ISS 9:32pm and 11:08pm
Thurs. 7: ISS 10:15pm
Fri. 8: ISS 9:21pm and 11:59pm
Sat. 9: ISS 10:04pm
Sun. 10: Ophiuchid Meteor Shower 1st peak (5/hr)
Tues. 12: New Moon and ISS 9:07pm & 10:45pm
Wed. 13: New Moon and ISS 9:52pm
Thurs. 14: New Moon and ISS 9:00pm
Sat. 16: Venus and Moon close approach and ISS 10:10pm
Tues. 19: Asteroid Vest at Opposition and ISS 10:02pm
Wed. 20: Ophiuchid Meteor Shower 2nd peak (5/hr)
Sat. 23: Jupiter and Moon close approach and ISS 10:10pm
Tues. 26: Full Moon
Wed. 27: Full Moon on close approach with Saturn at opposition and ISS 9:48pm
Thurs. 28: Full Moon and 1st Peak of Ophiuchid meteor shower and ISS 8:56pm
Fri. 29: Comet P/2016 M1 (PANSTARRS) at brightest
Sat. 30: Mars and Moon on close approach rising at midnight
JULY (Summer) 9:15pm start time
Wed. 4 - Tues. 10 Dark Ranger Observatory will be closed
as we will be working for Badlands National Park and their Astronomy Festival Join us there for FREE!
Wed. 11: New Moon and Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (visible long after sunset)
Thurs. 12: New Moon and Pluto at opposition
Fri. 13: New Moon
Sat. 14: Moon and Mercury conjunction
Sun. 15: Capricornid meteor shower 1st peak (5/hr) and Moon and Venus close approach
Wed. 18: ISS 10:18pm and 11:55pm
Thurs. 19: ISS 9:25pm and 11:01pm
Fri. 20: Moon and Jupiter close approach and ISS 10:07pm and 11:46pm
Sat. 21: a-Cygnid meteor shower (5/hr) and ISS 9:13pm and 10:51pm
Sun. 22: ISS 9:57pm
Mon. 23: ISS 10:42pm
Tues. 24: Moon and Saturn conjunction and ISS 9:47pm
Thurs. 26: Full Moon Capricornid meteor shower 2nd peak (5/hr) and ISS 9:37pm
Fri. 27: Full Moon and ISS 11:59pm
Sat. 28: Full Moon
Sun. 29: Delta Aquarid meteor shower (7/hr) and ISS 11:47pm
Mon. 30: ISS 10:53pm
Tues. 31: ISS 11:35pm
Wed. 4 - Tues. 10 Dark Ranger Observatory will be closed
as we will be working for Badlands National Park and their Astronomy Festival Join us there for FREE!
Wed. 11: New Moon and Mercury at greatest eastern elongation (visible long after sunset)
Thurs. 12: New Moon and Pluto at opposition
Fri. 13: New Moon
Sat. 14: Moon and Mercury conjunction
Sun. 15: Capricornid meteor shower 1st peak (5/hr) and Moon and Venus close approach
Wed. 18: ISS 10:18pm and 11:55pm
Thurs. 19: ISS 9:25pm and 11:01pm
Fri. 20: Moon and Jupiter close approach and ISS 10:07pm and 11:46pm
Sat. 21: a-Cygnid meteor shower (5/hr) and ISS 9:13pm and 10:51pm
Sun. 22: ISS 9:57pm
Mon. 23: ISS 10:42pm
Tues. 24: Moon and Saturn conjunction and ISS 9:47pm
Thurs. 26: Full Moon Capricornid meteor shower 2nd peak (5/hr) and ISS 9:37pm
Fri. 27: Full Moon and ISS 11:59pm
Sat. 28: Full Moon
Sun. 29: Delta Aquarid meteor shower (7/hr) and ISS 11:47pm
Mon. 30: ISS 10:53pm
Tues. 31: ISS 11:35pm
AUGUST (Summer) 9:00pm start time
Wed. 1: ISS 22:42pm
Thurs. 2: ISS 9:48pm and 11:24pm
Fri. 3: ISS 10:30pm
Sat. 4: ISS 9:36pm and 11:12pm
Sun. 5: ISS 10:19pm
Mon. 6: tau-Aquarid meteor shower and ISS 9:21pm and 11:01pm
Tues. 7: ISS 10:07pm
Wed. 8: ISS 9:13pm (maximum brightness!)
Thurs. 9: ISS 9:56pm
Fri. 10: New Moon and ISS 9:02pm
Sat. 11: New Moon
Sun. 12: New Moon and ISS 8:51pm
Mon. 13: Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower (40/hr)
Fri. 17: Venus greatest elongation (high in sky after sunset) and Jupiter and Moon conjunction
Tues. 21: Cygnid meteor Shower (4/hr) and Saturn and Moon conjunction
Thurs. 23: Mars and Moon conjunction
Sat. 25: Full Moon
Sun. 26: Full Moon
Mon. 27: Full Moon
Wed. 1: ISS 22:42pm
Thurs. 2: ISS 9:48pm and 11:24pm
Fri. 3: ISS 10:30pm
Sat. 4: ISS 9:36pm and 11:12pm
Sun. 5: ISS 10:19pm
Mon. 6: tau-Aquarid meteor shower and ISS 9:21pm and 11:01pm
Tues. 7: ISS 10:07pm
Wed. 8: ISS 9:13pm (maximum brightness!)
Thurs. 9: ISS 9:56pm
Fri. 10: New Moon and ISS 9:02pm
Sat. 11: New Moon
Sun. 12: New Moon and ISS 8:51pm
Mon. 13: Peak of Perseid Meteor Shower (40/hr)
Fri. 17: Venus greatest elongation (high in sky after sunset) and Jupiter and Moon conjunction
Tues. 21: Cygnid meteor Shower (4/hr) and Saturn and Moon conjunction
Thurs. 23: Mars and Moon conjunction
Sat. 25: Full Moon
Sun. 26: Full Moon
Mon. 27: Full Moon
SEPTEMBER 1-15 (Summer) 8:30pm start time
Whole month of September: EVERY PLANET (except Mercury AND including Pluto) -- EVERY NIGHT!
Fri. 7: Neptune at opposition (closest approach to Earth)
Sat. 8: New Moon
Sun. 9: New Moon and Piscid meteor shower 1st peak (7/hr)
Mon. 10: New Moon
Mon. 13: Jupiter and Moon conjunction
SEPTEMBER 16-30 (Summer) 8:00pm start time
Mon. 17: Saturn and Moon conjunction
Wed. 19: Mars and Moon conjunction and ISS 8:51pm
Thurs. 20: ISS 7:59pm and ISS 9:33pm
Fri. 21: ISS 8:39pm
Sat. 22: ISS 9:21pm
Sun. 23: Full Moon and Neptune and Moon close approach and ISS 8:26pm
Mon. 24: Full Moon and ISS 9:10pm
Tues. 25: Full Moon and ISS 8:15pm
Wed. 26: ISS 8:59pm
Thurs. 27: ISS 8:02pm
Whole month of September: EVERY PLANET (except Mercury AND including Pluto) -- EVERY NIGHT!
Fri. 7: Neptune at opposition (closest approach to Earth)
Sat. 8: New Moon
Sun. 9: New Moon and Piscid meteor shower 1st peak (7/hr)
Mon. 10: New Moon
Mon. 13: Jupiter and Moon conjunction
SEPTEMBER 16-30 (Summer) 8:00pm start time
Mon. 17: Saturn and Moon conjunction
Wed. 19: Mars and Moon conjunction and ISS 8:51pm
Thurs. 20: ISS 7:59pm and ISS 9:33pm
Fri. 21: ISS 8:39pm
Sat. 22: ISS 9:21pm
Sun. 23: Full Moon and Neptune and Moon close approach and ISS 8:26pm
Mon. 24: Full Moon and ISS 9:10pm
Tues. 25: Full Moon and ISS 8:15pm
Wed. 26: ISS 8:59pm
Thurs. 27: ISS 8:02pm
OCTOBER (Summer but STILL cold) 8:00pm start time
Thurs. 4 - Sunday 7: The Dark Ranger Observatory will be closed as we will be working
Bandelier National Monument's Night Sky Fiesta. Join us there for FREE (with purchase of entrance fee)!
Sun. 7: New Moon
Mon. 8: New Moon
Tues. 9: New Moon
Thurs. 11: Jupiter and Moon conjunction
Sun. 14: Saturn and Moon tight conjunction (same eyepiece!)
Thurs. 18: Mars and Moon conjunction (same eyepiece!)
Sun. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower (8/hr)
Tues. 23: Full Moon and Uranus at opposition
Wed. 24: Full Moon and ISS 9:09pm
Thurs. 25: Full Moon and ISS 8:14pm
Fri. 26: ISS 8:59pm
Sat. 27: ISS 8:03pm
Thurs. 4 - Sunday 7: The Dark Ranger Observatory will be closed as we will be working
Bandelier National Monument's Night Sky Fiesta. Join us there for FREE (with purchase of entrance fee)!
Sun. 7: New Moon
Mon. 8: New Moon
Tues. 9: New Moon
Thurs. 11: Jupiter and Moon conjunction
Sun. 14: Saturn and Moon tight conjunction (same eyepiece!)
Thurs. 18: Mars and Moon conjunction (same eyepiece!)
Sun. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower (8/hr)
Tues. 23: Full Moon and Uranus at opposition
Wed. 24: Full Moon and ISS 9:09pm
Thurs. 25: Full Moon and ISS 8:14pm
Fri. 26: ISS 8:59pm
Sat. 27: ISS 8:03pm
Once you picked your "Bryce Night" book that telescope tour here, or follow this link if you would prefer to book a private tour.
