Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. The Class 3 skies at Crater Rim 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. The journey to Crater Rim from Dalhart is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Meteor Shower is worth the effort.
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
Perfect for binocular viewing. Look at the 'terminator' line (where light meets shadow) for the best crater detail. The Class 3 skies at Black Mesa State Park are a total game-changer for this Moon Event; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. The journey to Black Mesa State Park from Dalhart is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Moon Event is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
Rises in the east, sets in the west
Jupiter at Opposition
Watch for the planet's moons; even small telescopes can see the four Galilean moons of Jupiter today. This is a high-magnitude event for Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Crater Rim will reveal the full depth of the target. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. Pack some snacks for the drive from Dalhart; the dark horizons at Crater Rim are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Moon & Mars Conjunction
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. Because Black Mesa State Park offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. Pack some snacks for the drive from Dalhart; the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
Higher elevations will give you a much better chance of spotting the planets closest to the horizon. This is a high-magnitude event for Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from Dalhart; the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
30–75 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West to southwest sky along the ecliptic
Total Lunar Eclipse
During totality, the stars nearby will become much more visible as the Moon's glare vanishes. Because Black Mesa State Park 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. The journey to Black Mesa State Park from Dalhart is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Eclipse is worth the effort.
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
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. This is a high-magnitude event for Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park will reveal the full depth of the target. The wide-open Plains often deal with the jet stream, so look for nights with low surface winds for the steadiest planetary views. The journey to Black Mesa State Park from Dalhart is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Conjunction is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
30–90 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! This is a high-magnitude event for Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park 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. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Black Mesa State Park offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. The Class 3 skies at Black Mesa State Park are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. The journey to Black Mesa State Park from Dalhart is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Meteor Shower is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. The Class 3 skies at Black Mesa State Park are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. The journey to Black Mesa State Park from Dalhart is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Conjunction is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Just after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Mercury, Venus & Jupiter Alignment
Higher elevations will give you a much better chance of spotting the planets closest to the horizon. The Class 3 skies at Black Mesa State Park are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Summer transparency usually peaks around 2 AM when the day's rising heat has finally radiated away. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Black Mesa State Park offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids 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 Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from Dalhart; the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Capture the stages of the eclipse with a telephoto lens, keeping your exposure settings flexible as it darkens. This is a high-magnitude event for Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Crater Rim 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from Dalhart; the dark horizons at Crater Rim are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late evening into early morning
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Saturn at Opposition
If you have a colored filter, use a blue one to enhance cloud belts or a red one for surface details. Because Crater Rim offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Crater Rim offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning Alignment
The 'Ecliptic' (the path of the planets) is clearly visible today. It's a great time to visualize the solar system's plane. The Class 3 skies at Black Mesa State Park are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Autumn on the Plains brings lower humidity and vast, clear horizons that are perfect for low-altitude conjunctions. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Black Mesa State Park offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
90–30 minutes before sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Mars & Jupiter Conjunction
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. Because Black Mesa State Park offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Black Mesa State Park offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Pre-dawn hours
Recommended Gaze
East-southeast sky
Geminids 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 Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Crater Rim 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. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Crater Rim offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Late night Dec 13 through dawn Dec 14
Recommended Gaze
East to overhead
December Supermoon
Try to catch the moonrise or moonset to see the 'Moon Illusion' making it appear massive against the horizon. This is a high-magnitude event for Dalhart residents, as the dark horizons at Black Mesa State Park 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. While it's a drive from Dalhart, Black Mesa State Park offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset