All of our nights are amazing! That's why you can book any night of year with us. BUT THE BEST NIGHTS ARE the ones we call "BRYCE NIGHTS!"
Use the astro-events calendar-driven list below to plan your telescope tour. Don't pick a 'nice night' with the Dark Rangers®. Plan ahead so you can enjoy the best of the best -- a "Bryce Night!" Once you've picked your "Bryce Night" book that telescope tour here or follow this link if you would prefer to book a private tour.
PLAN HERE, BOOK THERE:
...because this page is NOT where you book! You'd be surprised how many people don't read those instructions.
If you found this page you are the kind of person who seeks out the best. 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 a few minutes and avoid learning anything interesting by JUST matching up the color-coded headings with colored text in the calendar below.
BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR:
Winters are cold in Southern Utah at 7777 ft (2370m) but if you can handle the cold, temperatures range between 25F (-4C) and -10F (-23C), you are going to be rewarded with amazing sky. Cold air holds less water, and since water molecules disrupt starlight, winter sky is the most transparent -- revealing detail in deep space objects you simply can't see in the summer. What's more, our winter sky offers the rare treat (on moonless nights) of being able to see the Orion Spur, the other branch of our Galaxy's Sagittarius Arm. This is the "Milky Way" most humans never have and never will see with their own eyes. Unlike you, dear reader, they are just not EVER going to stargaze where it is cold and dark enough to see what is informally known as the "Winter Milky Way."
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 (Alternate Night booking) your chances of catching a clear night. November and January are our least cloudy winter months.
BEST NON-WINTER MONTHS:
If freezing temperatures are a deal-breaker for you, then plan for June, September, and October, which are the 2nd Bryce-est Night months with only a 20% chance of having a cloudy night.
BEST NIGHTS OF ANY MONTH:
4 nights after the Full Moon through 4 nights after the New Moon are the darkest nights. You will be able to see a Milky Way extend from horizon to horizon (except during May). 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.
Q: Wait! Why is May a bad month for seeing the Milky Way?
A: During the month of May the plane of Earth's horizons matches that of our galaxy so neither branch of what astronomers call the Sagittarius Arm (i.e., what you call "The Milky Way") are above the horizon. The Orion Spur sets with the Sun. The Main Branch doesn't rise in the eastern sky until after 2:00 am.
Q: Wait! There are 2 Milky Ways?
A: Nope! Are you reading or skimming?! There's 1 Milky Way Galaxy with at least 6 arms, and you Earthling only gets to ever see a small portion of 2 branches of the Sagittarius Arm which are sloppily (and much to the annoyance of southern hemisphere residents) referred to as the Summer and Winter Milky Way.
FULL MOON NIGHTS:
Many deep space objects (galaxies, star-birth nebulae, star-death nebulae, etc.) are washed out by moonlight, however our telescopes are large enough that we can still show you at least 1 example of each, even during a full Moon. Any planets that happen to be in the sky are mostly unaffected by Moonlight. The main thing you will miss out on is seeing the Milky Way. If that's important to you, then realize that you are NOT catching us at our best when you book 5 days before a full Moon through 4 days after a full Moon. 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, some of us are even selenophiles. Unlike most observatories, we remain open on full Moon nights. We LIKE working full moon nights, ESPECIALLY when our guests have read these trade-offs (below) and adjusted their expectations accordingly.
For example, exploring the lunar surface with 300-500x magnification is exciting! Our largest telescopes can show you the Apollo Mission landing locations. No, you won't be able to see "The Flag," but you will see the surrounding landforms, which include mountain ranges that rival most on Earth, craters so large they fill the eyepiece, and other uniquely lunar features.
COMETS, ASTEROIDS, AND METEOR SHOWERS:
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, because these nights are all about NATURAL space junk. 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 some clouds might be. If you go by mass, and astronomers do, these are the nights when the "little" stuff -- comets, asteroids, and meteors -- puts on a show. What could be Brycer than that?
Though meteor showers are dated by their peak, some last for a few weeks. There are also plenty of random meteors not associated with any meteor shower. This means that because of our ultra dark sky, on any given night we normally see 3-5 meteors per hour. Therefore, we don't advertise the meteor showers that are predicted to be less productive than 5 per hour, because we see that many anyway. Famously productive meteor showers can produce over 100 meteors per hour when their peak occurs on a moonless night. Also realize that meteor showers usually peak after midnight (after our observatory normally closes), though for the special ones like the Perseid Meteor Shower, we'll stay open an extra hour or two. Also remember that the best direction to look is northeast. Why? Because it's only after midnight that Earth has rotated far enough away from our Sun that we are looking in the same direction that Earth is moving in its orbit around our Sun. Imagine riding in a convertible in a snow storm. You will see a lot more snowflakes when you look forward thru the windshield than when you look behind you over the trunk.
Q: I know the so-called shooting stars are not really stars, but what are meteors anyway?
A: Sand-grain-sized particles (usually rock, but sometimes ice) that burn up when colliding with Earth's atmosphere. Some meteors are random, but the meteors that occur during meteor showers can be sourced back to individual comets or asteroids which are eroded by our Sun's energy when they return to the inner Solar System, leaving debris fields along their orbital path.
SPACE STATION VISIBLE PASSES
Both the International Space Station (ISS) and the smaller Chinese Space Station (CSS), aka Tiangong, pass over every 90 minutes. However, like all satellites, they are only visible when angled so they reflect sunlight to the exact location an observer happens to be standing. This means that, since most satellites are like ISS (in low-Earth orbits), they are only viewable 90 minutes after sunset and 90 minutes before sunrise. Though we can see several satellites each night, nothing is as impressive as seeing a Starlink "train" or the International Space Station (ISS) fly over. The latter can be almost be as bright as Venus. Joining us for one of these nights is good planning!
For the most updated info on all satellites (including some of the ones certain governments don't admit exist), download the app Heavens Above.
Q: What about the 1000s of SpaceX's starlink satellites? Does that kind of light pollution annoy Dark Rangers?
A: No. Because it is a benign type of light pollution that's harmless to human health, poses zero ecological risks, does not produce excessive CO2, and often enhances people's stargazing experience rather than detracting from the night sky. But if you are asking why other astronomers are making such a fuss, we are happy to tell you how misguided and self-serving their hyperbolic concerns are. You just have to read more about that in our FAQs. This page is already too long.
SYZYGY CELEBRATIONS (TLDR? Planetary Alignments... and stuff)
Finally, on special nights where the planets "align," we focus (that was fun) on the planets. A syzygy /SIZ-ə-jee / (spelled just like it sounds, but vexes Scrabble® players) is what astronomers dating back to Ancient Greece call a planetary "alignment" when they don't want to be mistaken for an astrologer. It's all just about being collinear - 3 or more bodies (including Earth) that end up on, or near, the same imaginary line. So when you ask an astronomer "What does this alignment mean?" the best answer will be a resounding "Absolutely NOTHING!" But they are fun to see. So we want you to know when they occur. NOTE: The more routine of these events that occur outside of our business hours are NOT listed below. But first, here's your vocabulary list of zyzygies.
Appulse /ap - pulse/ (think "what a heartbeat app measures" as you try and pronounce):
Is when two sky objects move to where they appear to be as close to each other (as viewed from Earth) as they are going to get in an orbital cycle. This is the term that should be used instead of the often incorrectly used (especially by astrologers) phrase, conjunction.
Conjunction:
In the most strict sense, a conjunction is when 2 solar system bodies have the same Right Ascension (longitudinal degrees between east and west extended into the sky). Because our Moon is on its own plane, it can pass high above or below another planet and still be "in conjunction." If you want to describe "appearing close" then just say "appulse." Most often an appulse between Moon and Venus is more interesting than a true conjunction of the same.
Q: So what is the precise term or terms for having 3 or more objects in the same section of sky?
A: There isn't one or more such terms. So we (even the pros) just say a conjunction. Okay, in this 1 regard, I guess we agree with astrologers.
BTW the most impressive conjunction (crescent Moon and all naked-eye visible planets will be grouped in 20 degrees of sky), that has ever occurred in the entire 6-billion-year history of the Solar System AND will EVER occur in the entire 8-billion-year future (before our Sun explodes) will happen just after sunset on Sept 8, 2040. Tickets are not yet available because we haven't decided if they are going to be $10,000 or $1,000,000 each. Meh... What's a couple orders of magnitudes to astronomers anyway?
Occultation (which includes Solar Eclipses):
An occultation is a extra special kind of 2-body conjunction where Right Ascension (left & right) and Declination (up and down) are perfect enough that the closer object obscures the view of the distant one by passing in front of it. Another more common example than a Solar Eclipse is when our Moon passes in front of other stars or occasionally other planets.
Transit:
Transits are like occultations except that when the closer object moves in front of the distant object, it is not visually large enough to obscure the background object. Examples include Jupiter's 4 largest moons as they appear to disappear when they move in front of Jupiter's much brighter and bigger body. When a transiting moon of Jupiter casts a shadow on the surface of Jupiter, we are seeing that location on Jupiter experience a Solar Eclipse. The most dramatic transits occur when Mercury, 13-14 times per century, (next one Nov. 13, 2032) and Venus, 8 years apart but then gapped by 121.5 years alternating with 105.5 years, (next one Dec. 10, 2117), pass in front of our Sun as viewed from Earth. Technically, both partial Solar Eclipses and Annular Solar Eclipse (where our Moon is too far away from Earth to entirely block the Sun) are transits.
Opposition:
Earth crosses the line between our Sun and another body farther away from our Sun. By definition, inner planets (Mercury and Venus) can never be at opposition. When this alignment occurs with the outer planets, they are also said to be at their closest approach to Earth. For bodies that are not on the same plane as Earth and our Sun (Earth's Moon, comets, Pluto and other asteroids, etc.), the true closest approach to Earth can often be even closer than when that body is at opposition.
Q: Whew! I didn't come here to learn anything. I was just trying to pick a great night. But since I made it this far... what the hell is a Lunar Eclipse then?!
A: Because our Moon is the only world in the Solar System that can be both closer and farther away from our Sun than Earth, a Lunar Eclipse (i.e., caused by our Moon moving through Earth's shadow), doesn't entirely fit into any of these kinds of syzygy. The closest match would be to call it an infrequent opposition. Infrequent, because the plane of our Moon's orbit is different enough that on average, and as viewed from the same place on Earth, only 1 of every 42 full moons happens to cross the exact opposition line of Sun and Earth.
PLAN HERE, BOOK THERE:
...because this page is NOT where you book! You'd be surprised how many people don't read those instructions.
If you found this page you are the kind of person who seeks out the best. 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 a few minutes and avoid learning anything interesting by JUST matching up the color-coded headings with colored text in the calendar below.
BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR:
Winters are cold in Southern Utah at 7777 ft (2370m) but if you can handle the cold, temperatures range between 25F (-4C) and -10F (-23C), you are going to be rewarded with amazing sky. Cold air holds less water, and since water molecules disrupt starlight, winter sky is the most transparent -- revealing detail in deep space objects you simply can't see in the summer. What's more, our winter sky offers the rare treat (on moonless nights) of being able to see the Orion Spur, the other branch of our Galaxy's Sagittarius Arm. This is the "Milky Way" most humans never have and never will see with their own eyes. Unlike you, dear reader, they are just not EVER going to stargaze where it is cold and dark enough to see what is informally known as the "Winter Milky Way."
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 (Alternate Night booking) your chances of catching a clear night. November and January are our least cloudy winter months.
BEST NON-WINTER MONTHS:
If freezing temperatures are a deal-breaker for you, then plan for June, September, and October, which are the 2nd Bryce-est Night months with only a 20% chance of having a cloudy night.
BEST NIGHTS OF ANY MONTH:
4 nights after the Full Moon through 4 nights after the New Moon are the darkest nights. You will be able to see a Milky Way extend from horizon to horizon (except during May). 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.
Q: Wait! Why is May a bad month for seeing the Milky Way?
A: During the month of May the plane of Earth's horizons matches that of our galaxy so neither branch of what astronomers call the Sagittarius Arm (i.e., what you call "The Milky Way") are above the horizon. The Orion Spur sets with the Sun. The Main Branch doesn't rise in the eastern sky until after 2:00 am.
Q: Wait! There are 2 Milky Ways?
A: Nope! Are you reading or skimming?! There's 1 Milky Way Galaxy with at least 6 arms, and you Earthling only gets to ever see a small portion of 2 branches of the Sagittarius Arm which are sloppily (and much to the annoyance of southern hemisphere residents) referred to as the Summer and Winter Milky Way.
FULL MOON NIGHTS:
Many deep space objects (galaxies, star-birth nebulae, star-death nebulae, etc.) are washed out by moonlight, however our telescopes are large enough that we can still show you at least 1 example of each, even during a full Moon. Any planets that happen to be in the sky are mostly unaffected by Moonlight. The main thing you will miss out on is seeing the Milky Way. If that's important to you, then realize that you are NOT catching us at our best when you book 5 days before a full Moon through 4 days after a full Moon. 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, some of us are even selenophiles. Unlike most observatories, we remain open on full Moon nights. We LIKE working full moon nights, ESPECIALLY when our guests have read these trade-offs (below) and adjusted their expectations accordingly.
For example, exploring the lunar surface with 300-500x magnification is exciting! Our largest telescopes can show you the Apollo Mission landing locations. No, you won't be able to see "The Flag," but you will see the surrounding landforms, which include mountain ranges that rival most on Earth, craters so large they fill the eyepiece, and other uniquely lunar features.
COMETS, ASTEROIDS, AND METEOR SHOWERS:
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, because these nights are all about NATURAL space junk. 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 some clouds might be. If you go by mass, and astronomers do, these are the nights when the "little" stuff -- comets, asteroids, and meteors -- puts on a show. What could be Brycer than that?
Though meteor showers are dated by their peak, some last for a few weeks. There are also plenty of random meteors not associated with any meteor shower. This means that because of our ultra dark sky, on any given night we normally see 3-5 meteors per hour. Therefore, we don't advertise the meteor showers that are predicted to be less productive than 5 per hour, because we see that many anyway. Famously productive meteor showers can produce over 100 meteors per hour when their peak occurs on a moonless night. Also realize that meteor showers usually peak after midnight (after our observatory normally closes), though for the special ones like the Perseid Meteor Shower, we'll stay open an extra hour or two. Also remember that the best direction to look is northeast. Why? Because it's only after midnight that Earth has rotated far enough away from our Sun that we are looking in the same direction that Earth is moving in its orbit around our Sun. Imagine riding in a convertible in a snow storm. You will see a lot more snowflakes when you look forward thru the windshield than when you look behind you over the trunk.
Q: I know the so-called shooting stars are not really stars, but what are meteors anyway?
A: Sand-grain-sized particles (usually rock, but sometimes ice) that burn up when colliding with Earth's atmosphere. Some meteors are random, but the meteors that occur during meteor showers can be sourced back to individual comets or asteroids which are eroded by our Sun's energy when they return to the inner Solar System, leaving debris fields along their orbital path.
SPACE STATION VISIBLE PASSES
Both the International Space Station (ISS) and the smaller Chinese Space Station (CSS), aka Tiangong, pass over every 90 minutes. However, like all satellites, they are only visible when angled so they reflect sunlight to the exact location an observer happens to be standing. This means that, since most satellites are like ISS (in low-Earth orbits), they are only viewable 90 minutes after sunset and 90 minutes before sunrise. Though we can see several satellites each night, nothing is as impressive as seeing a Starlink "train" or the International Space Station (ISS) fly over. The latter can be almost be as bright as Venus. Joining us for one of these nights is good planning!
For the most updated info on all satellites (including some of the ones certain governments don't admit exist), download the app Heavens Above.
Q: What about the 1000s of SpaceX's starlink satellites? Does that kind of light pollution annoy Dark Rangers?
A: No. Because it is a benign type of light pollution that's harmless to human health, poses zero ecological risks, does not produce excessive CO2, and often enhances people's stargazing experience rather than detracting from the night sky. But if you are asking why other astronomers are making such a fuss, we are happy to tell you how misguided and self-serving their hyperbolic concerns are. You just have to read more about that in our FAQs. This page is already too long.
SYZYGY CELEBRATIONS (TLDR? Planetary Alignments... and stuff)
Finally, on special nights where the planets "align," we focus (that was fun) on the planets. A syzygy /SIZ-ə-jee / (spelled just like it sounds, but vexes Scrabble® players) is what astronomers dating back to Ancient Greece call a planetary "alignment" when they don't want to be mistaken for an astrologer. It's all just about being collinear - 3 or more bodies (including Earth) that end up on, or near, the same imaginary line. So when you ask an astronomer "What does this alignment mean?" the best answer will be a resounding "Absolutely NOTHING!" But they are fun to see. So we want you to know when they occur. NOTE: The more routine of these events that occur outside of our business hours are NOT listed below. But first, here's your vocabulary list of zyzygies.
Appulse /ap - pulse/ (think "what a heartbeat app measures" as you try and pronounce):
Is when two sky objects move to where they appear to be as close to each other (as viewed from Earth) as they are going to get in an orbital cycle. This is the term that should be used instead of the often incorrectly used (especially by astrologers) phrase, conjunction.
Conjunction:
In the most strict sense, a conjunction is when 2 solar system bodies have the same Right Ascension (longitudinal degrees between east and west extended into the sky). Because our Moon is on its own plane, it can pass high above or below another planet and still be "in conjunction." If you want to describe "appearing close" then just say "appulse." Most often an appulse between Moon and Venus is more interesting than a true conjunction of the same.
Q: So what is the precise term or terms for having 3 or more objects in the same section of sky?
A: There isn't one or more such terms. So we (even the pros) just say a conjunction. Okay, in this 1 regard, I guess we agree with astrologers.
BTW the most impressive conjunction (crescent Moon and all naked-eye visible planets will be grouped in 20 degrees of sky), that has ever occurred in the entire 6-billion-year history of the Solar System AND will EVER occur in the entire 8-billion-year future (before our Sun explodes) will happen just after sunset on Sept 8, 2040. Tickets are not yet available because we haven't decided if they are going to be $10,000 or $1,000,000 each. Meh... What's a couple orders of magnitudes to astronomers anyway?
Occultation (which includes Solar Eclipses):
An occultation is a extra special kind of 2-body conjunction where Right Ascension (left & right) and Declination (up and down) are perfect enough that the closer object obscures the view of the distant one by passing in front of it. Another more common example than a Solar Eclipse is when our Moon passes in front of other stars or occasionally other planets.
Transit:
Transits are like occultations except that when the closer object moves in front of the distant object, it is not visually large enough to obscure the background object. Examples include Jupiter's 4 largest moons as they appear to disappear when they move in front of Jupiter's much brighter and bigger body. When a transiting moon of Jupiter casts a shadow on the surface of Jupiter, we are seeing that location on Jupiter experience a Solar Eclipse. The most dramatic transits occur when Mercury, 13-14 times per century, (next one Nov. 13, 2032) and Venus, 8 years apart but then gapped by 121.5 years alternating with 105.5 years, (next one Dec. 10, 2117), pass in front of our Sun as viewed from Earth. Technically, both partial Solar Eclipses and Annular Solar Eclipse (where our Moon is too far away from Earth to entirely block the Sun) are transits.
Opposition:
Earth crosses the line between our Sun and another body farther away from our Sun. By definition, inner planets (Mercury and Venus) can never be at opposition. When this alignment occurs with the outer planets, they are also said to be at their closest approach to Earth. For bodies that are not on the same plane as Earth and our Sun (Earth's Moon, comets, Pluto and other asteroids, etc.), the true closest approach to Earth can often be even closer than when that body is at opposition.
Q: Whew! I didn't come here to learn anything. I was just trying to pick a great night. But since I made it this far... what the hell is a Lunar Eclipse then?!
A: Because our Moon is the only world in the Solar System that can be both closer and farther away from our Sun than Earth, a Lunar Eclipse (i.e., caused by our Moon moving through Earth's shadow), doesn't entirely fit into any of these kinds of syzygy. The closest match would be to call it an infrequent opposition. Infrequent, because the plane of our Moon's orbit is different enough that on average, and as viewed from the same place on Earth, only 1 of every 42 full moons happens to cross the exact opposition line of Sun and Earth.
Once you've picked your "Bryce Night" book that telescope tour here (if available), or follow this link if you would prefer to book a private tour.
2025 Bryce Nights
NOVEMBER (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Sun. 2: Moon appulse with Saturn and Neptune
Tues. 4: Full Moon
Wed. 5: Full Moon
Thurs. 6: Full Moon appulse with Pleiades star cluster
Mon. 10: Moon appulse with Saturn
Tues. 12: Northern Taurid Meteor Shower (5/hr)
Sun. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower (5-10/hr) with peak just after dark
Tues. 18: New Moon
Wed. 19: New Moon
Thurs. 20: New Moon
Fri. 21 Uranus on closest approach to Earth
Fri. 28: November Orionid Meteor Shower (3/hr) after midnight
Sat. 29: Moon appluse with Saturn
Sun. 2: Moon appulse with Saturn and Neptune
Tues. 4: Full Moon
Wed. 5: Full Moon
Thurs. 6: Full Moon appulse with Pleiades star cluster
Mon. 10: Moon appulse with Saturn
Tues. 12: Northern Taurid Meteor Shower (5/hr)
Sun. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower (5-10/hr) with peak just after dark
Tues. 18: New Moon
Wed. 19: New Moon
Thurs. 20: New Moon
Fri. 21 Uranus on closest approach to Earth
Fri. 28: November Orionid Meteor Shower (3/hr) after midnight
Sat. 29: Moon appluse with Saturn
DECEMBER (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Sun. 1: New Moon
Wed. 3: Full Moon passes through Pleiades star cluster
Thurs 4: Full Moon
Fri. 5: Full Moon
Sat. 6: Cassiopeid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking before midnight
Sun. 7: Moon appulse with Jupiter
Sun. 14: Geminid Meteor Shower (80-100/hr) peaking after midnight
Thurs. 18: New Moon
Fri. 19: New Moon
Sat. 20: New Moon and Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking after midnight
Wed. 18: Appulse with full Moon and Mars
Sun. 21: Ursid Meteor Shower (10/hr) peaking after midnight
Fri. 26: Moon appulse with Saturn
Wed. 31: Moon appulse with Plieades star cluster
Sun. 1: New Moon
Wed. 3: Full Moon passes through Pleiades star cluster
Thurs 4: Full Moon
Fri. 5: Full Moon
Sat. 6: Cassiopeid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking before midnight
Sun. 7: Moon appulse with Jupiter
Sun. 14: Geminid Meteor Shower (80-100/hr) peaking after midnight
Thurs. 18: New Moon
Fri. 19: New Moon
Sat. 20: New Moon and Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking after midnight
Wed. 18: Appulse with full Moon and Mars
Sun. 21: Ursid Meteor Shower (10/hr) peaking after midnight
Fri. 26: Moon appulse with Saturn
Wed. 31: Moon appulse with Plieades star cluster
2026 Bryce Nights
JANUARY (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Fri. 2: Full Moon
Sat. 3: Full Moon AND peak of month-long, pre-dawn, Quadrantid Meteor Shower (10/hr diminished by bright moon)
with Earth at pherihelion (closest approach to our Sun) Q: Then why is it so cold Bruh? A: Tilt Bruh!
Sun 4: Full Moon
Fri. 9: Jupiter at closest approach to Earth
Sat. 17: New Moon
Sun. 18: New Moon
Mon. 19: New Moon
Sat. 31: Full Moon
Fri. 2: Full Moon
Sat. 3: Full Moon AND peak of month-long, pre-dawn, Quadrantid Meteor Shower (10/hr diminished by bright moon)
with Earth at pherihelion (closest approach to our Sun) Q: Then why is it so cold Bruh? A: Tilt Bruh!
Sun 4: Full Moon
Fri. 9: Jupiter at closest approach to Earth
Sat. 17: New Moon
Sun. 18: New Moon
Mon. 19: New Moon
Sat. 31: Full Moon
FEBRUARY (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Sun. 1: Full Moon
Mon. 2: Full Moon
Sun. 15: Appulse of Saturn and Neptune
Mon. 16: New Moon
Tues. 17: New Moon
Wed. 18: New Moon
Sun. 1: Full Moon
Mon. 2: Full Moon
Sun. 15: Appulse of Saturn and Neptune
Mon. 16: New Moon
Tues. 17: New Moon
Wed. 18: New Moon
MARCH 1-14 (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Mon. 2: Full Moon Venus appulse with Mercury
Tues. 3: Full Moon 3:00-5:00am Total Lunar Eclipse (Book that Special Dark Ranger Late night)
Wed. 4: Full Moon
MARCH 15-31 (Winter) 8:30pm start time
Tues. 17: New Moon
Wed. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 19: New Moon
Tues. 31: 11: Full Moon
Mon. 2: Full Moon Venus appulse with Mercury
Tues. 3: Full Moon 3:00-5:00am Total Lunar Eclipse (Book that Special Dark Ranger Late night)
Wed. 4: Full Moon
MARCH 15-31 (Winter) 8:30pm start time
Tues. 17: New Moon
Wed. 18: New Moon
Thurs. 19: New Moon
Tues. 31: 11: Full Moon
APRIL 1-11 (Winter) 8:30pm start time
Wed. 1: Full Moon
Thurs. 2: Full Moon
APRIL 12-30 (Winter) 9:00pm start time
Thur. 16: New Moon
Fri. 17: New Moon
Sat. 18: New Moon
Mon. 20: The 42 nights of Great Galaxies (best galaxies visible from Northern Hemisphere) begin, thanks to both winter and summer arms of the Milky Way out of the way (i.e., below the horizon)!
Wed. 22: Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower (10/hr)
Thurs. 30: Full Moon
Wed. 1: Full Moon
Thurs. 2: Full Moon
APRIL 12-30 (Winter) 9:00pm start time
Thur. 16: New Moon
Fri. 17: New Moon
Sat. 18: New Moon
Mon. 20: The 42 nights of Great Galaxies (best galaxies visible from Northern Hemisphere) begin, thanks to both winter and summer arms of the Milky Way out of the way (i.e., below the horizon)!
Wed. 22: Peak of Lyrid Meteor Shower (10/hr)
Thurs. 30: Full Moon
MAY (Summer) 9:15pm start time
Fri. 1: Full Moon
Sat. 2: Full Moon
Fri. 8: Peak of Northern Lyrid Meteor Shower (3/hr)
Fri. 15: New Moon
Sat. 16: New Moon
Sun. 17: New Moon
Mon. 18: Appulse Moon and Venus
Wed. 20: Appulse Moon and Jupiter
Sun. 31: The 42 nights of Great Galaxies (best galaxies visible from Northern Hemisphere) concludes as the Summer Milky Way rises above the horizon again, blocking the view to some of our favorite other galaxies.
Sat. 30: Full Moon
Sun. 31: Full Moon
Fri. 1: Full Moon
Sat. 2: Full Moon
Fri. 8: Peak of Northern Lyrid Meteor Shower (3/hr)
Fri. 15: New Moon
Sat. 16: New Moon
Sun. 17: New Moon
Mon. 18: Appulse Moon and Venus
Wed. 20: Appulse Moon and Jupiter
Sun. 31: The 42 nights of Great Galaxies (best galaxies visible from Northern Hemisphere) concludes as the Summer Milky Way rises above the horizon again, blocking the view to some of our favorite other galaxies.
Sat. 30: Full Moon
Sun. 31: Full Moon
JUNE (Summer) 9:30pm start time:
Mon. 1: Full Moon
Tues. 09: Appulse with Jupiter and Venus
Thurs. 11: Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
Fri. 12: Venus at highest altitude in evening sky
Sat. 13: New Moon
Sun. 14: New Moon
Mon. 15: New Moon
Tues. 16: Appulse with Jupiter, Moon, and Mercury
Wed. 17: Appulse with Moon and Venus (flanking Beehive Cluster) with 1pm Daytime Occultation!
Fri. 19: Venus in the Beehive Cluster
Sat. 27: Peak of June Bootid Meteor Shower (3/hr)
Sun. 28: Full Moon
Mon. 29: Full Moon
Tues. 30: Full Moon
Mon. 1: Full Moon
Tues. 09: Appulse with Jupiter and Venus
Thurs. 11: Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
Fri. 12: Venus at highest altitude in evening sky
Sat. 13: New Moon
Sun. 14: New Moon
Mon. 15: New Moon
Tues. 16: Appulse with Jupiter, Moon, and Mercury
Wed. 17: Appulse with Moon and Venus (flanking Beehive Cluster) with 1pm Daytime Occultation!
Fri. 19: Venus in the Beehive Cluster
Sat. 27: Peak of June Bootid Meteor Shower (3/hr)
Sun. 28: Full Moon
Mon. 29: Full Moon
Tues. 30: Full Moon
JULY (Summer) 9:30pm start time
Mon. 6: Earth at aphelion (max distance from our Sun) Q: Then why is it so hot Bruh? A: Tilt Bruh!
Mon. 13: New Moon
Tues. 14: New Moon
Wed. 15: New Moon
Fri. 17: Appulse with crescent Moon and Venus
Sun. 26: Pluto at closest approach to Earth
Tues. 28: Full Moon
Wed. 29: Full Moon
Thurs. 30: Full Moon AND Peak of Capricornid Meteor Showers diminished by bright Moon (3-5/hr)
Mon. 6: Earth at aphelion (max distance from our Sun) Q: Then why is it so hot Bruh? A: Tilt Bruh!
Mon. 13: New Moon
Tues. 14: New Moon
Wed. 15: New Moon
Fri. 17: Appulse with crescent Moon and Venus
Sun. 26: Pluto at closest approach to Earth
Tues. 28: Full Moon
Wed. 29: Full Moon
Thurs. 30: Full Moon AND Peak of Capricornid Meteor Showers diminished by bright Moon (3-5/hr)
AUGUST (Summer) 9:15pm start time
Tues. 11: New Moon pre-peak meteor shower (100/hr) Optimal with New Moon
Wed. 12: New Moon peak of Perseid meteor shower (120/hr) Optimal with New Moon
Thurs. 13: New Moon post-peak of Perseid meteor shower (100/hr) Optimal with New Moon
Wed. 26: Full Moon
Thurs. 27: Full Moon AND 95% Total Lunar Eclipse 8:30-10:15 pm
Fri. 28: Full Moon
Tues. 11: New Moon pre-peak meteor shower (100/hr) Optimal with New Moon
Wed. 12: New Moon peak of Perseid meteor shower (120/hr) Optimal with New Moon
Thurs. 13: New Moon post-peak of Perseid meteor shower (100/hr) Optimal with New Moon
Wed. 26: Full Moon
Thurs. 27: Full Moon AND 95% Total Lunar Eclipse 8:30-10:15 pm
Fri. 28: Full Moon
SEPTEMBER (Summer) 8:30pm start time
Tues. 1: Peak of Aurigid meteor shower (3/hr) before dawn (diminished by bright Moon)
Wed. 9: New Moon AND Peak of epsilon Perseid meteor shower (6/hr) before dawn diminished by full Moon
Thurs. 10: New Moon
Fri. 11: New Moon
Tues. 22: Venus at greatest brightness (and nearly full)
Fri. 25: Full Moon AND Neptune closest approach to Earth
Sat. 26: Full Moon
Sun. 27: Full Moon
Tues. 1: Peak of Aurigid meteor shower (3/hr) before dawn (diminished by bright Moon)
Wed. 9: New Moon AND Peak of epsilon Perseid meteor shower (6/hr) before dawn diminished by full Moon
Thurs. 10: New Moon
Fri. 11: New Moon
Tues. 22: Venus at greatest brightness (and nearly full)
Fri. 25: Full Moon AND Neptune closest approach to Earth
Sat. 26: Full Moon
Sun. 27: Full Moon
OCTOBER (Summer, but STILL cold) 8:00pm start time
Sun. 4: Saturn on closest approach to Earth AND Asteroid Pallas also closest approach to Earth
Tues. 6: post-occultation of Jupiter by Moon AND Camelopardalid meteor shower (5/hr) before dawn
Sun. 9: New Moon AND Draconid Meteor Shower (5/hr)
Tues. 10: New Moon AND Taurid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaks at midnight
Tues. 11: New Moon
Tues. 13: Asteroid Vesta closest approach to Earth
Fri. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower (13/hr) before dawn
Thurs. 23: Crescent Moon, Mars, and Mercury
Sat. 24: Full Moon
Sun. 25: Full Moon
Mon. 26: Full Moon
Sun. 4: Saturn on closest approach to Earth AND Asteroid Pallas also closest approach to Earth
Tues. 6: post-occultation of Jupiter by Moon AND Camelopardalid meteor shower (5/hr) before dawn
Sun. 9: New Moon AND Draconid Meteor Shower (5/hr)
Tues. 10: New Moon AND Taurid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaks at midnight
Tues. 11: New Moon
Tues. 13: Asteroid Vesta closest approach to Earth
Fri. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower (13/hr) before dawn
Thurs. 23: Crescent Moon, Mars, and Mercury
Sat. 24: Full Moon
Sun. 25: Full Moon
Mon. 26: Full Moon
NOVEMBER (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Mon. 2: Appulse with Moon and Mars
Sun. 8: New Moon
Mon 9: New Moon
Tues 10: New Moon
Thurs. 12: Northern Taurid Meteor Shower (5/hr)
Sat. 14: Appulse with Jupiter and Mars
Sun. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower (5-10/hr) with peak just after dark
Mon. 23: Full Moon
Tues. 24: Full Moon
Wed. 25: Full Moon AND Uranus on closest approach to Earth
Fri. 27: Venus at greatest brightness (and nearly full)
Sat. 28: November Orionid Meteor Shower (3/hr) after midnight
Mon. 30: Appulse with Moon and Jupiter
Mon. 2: Appulse with Moon and Mars
Sun. 8: New Moon
Mon 9: New Moon
Tues 10: New Moon
Thurs. 12: Northern Taurid Meteor Shower (5/hr)
Sat. 14: Appulse with Jupiter and Mars
Sun. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower (5-10/hr) with peak just after dark
Mon. 23: Full Moon
Tues. 24: Full Moon
Wed. 25: Full Moon AND Uranus on closest approach to Earth
Fri. 27: Venus at greatest brightness (and nearly full)
Sat. 28: November Orionid Meteor Shower (3/hr) after midnight
Mon. 30: Appulse with Moon and Jupiter
DECEMBER (Winter) 7:30pm start time
Sun. 6: Cassiopeid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking before midnight
Mon. 7: New Moon
Tues. 8: New Moon
Wed. 9: New Moon
Mon. 14: Geminid Meteor Shower (80-100/hr) peaking at midnight
Sun. 20: Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking before dawn
Tues. 22: Full Moon AND Ursid Meteor Shower (5/hr) diminished by bright moon
Wed. 23: Full Moon
Thurs 24: Full Moon
Sun. 6: Cassiopeid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking before midnight
Mon. 7: New Moon
Tues. 8: New Moon
Wed. 9: New Moon
Mon. 14: Geminid Meteor Shower (80-100/hr) peaking at midnight
Sun. 20: Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower (5/hr) peaking before dawn
Tues. 22: Full Moon AND Ursid Meteor Shower (5/hr) diminished by bright moon
Wed. 23: Full Moon
Thurs 24: Full Moon
