Quadrantids 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 Limestone Campground 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 Limestone Campground from Lovington 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
Try to catch the moonrise or moonset to see the 'Moon Illusion' making it appear massive against the horizon. The regional Class 4 baseline at Helipad is perfectly suited for observing this celestial alignment. 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 Lovington, Helipad offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
Rises in the east, sets in the west
Jupiter at Opposition
This is the best time for high-magnification viewing. Use a 2x Barlow lens if you have one. Because Limestone Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. Pack some snacks for the drive from Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Moon & Mars Conjunction
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. Because Limestone Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. Pack some snacks for the drive from Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
This parade of worlds is best viewed 45 minutes after sunset before the lower planets set. This is a high-magnitude event for Lovington residents, as the dark horizons at Limestone Campground 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 Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground 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
Watch the colors shift from copper to deep blood-red as the Earth's shadow fully consumes the lunar surface. This is a high-magnitude event for Lovington residents, as the dark horizons at Limestone Campground 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 Lovington, Limestone Campground offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. For Lovington observers, this Conjunction will be visible at Helipad, which offers a reliable escape from the most intense local glare. High-altitude desert winds can be turbulent; finding a shielded canyon spot helps steady the view. The journey to Helipad from Lovington 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
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. The Class 3 skies at Limestone Campground 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. The Class 3 skies at Limestone Campground 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
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 Lovington residents, as the dark horizons at Limestone Campground will reveal the full depth of the target. Monsoon season moisture can be high, but the transparency just after a desert rain is world-class. The journey to Limestone Campground from Lovington 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
This parade of worlds is best viewed 45 minutes after sunset before the lower planets set. The Class 3 skies at Limestone Campground are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. The summer heat holds onto dust; wait for the post-midnight 'settling' for the darkest sky background. The journey to Limestone Campground from Lovington is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Planetary Alignment is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. Because Limestone Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The summer heat holds onto dust; wait for the post-midnight 'settling' for the darkest sky background. Pack some snacks for the drive from Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
During totality, the stars nearby will become much more visible as the Moon's glare vanishes. Because Limestone Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Monsoon season moisture can be high, but the transparency just after a desert rain is world-class. The journey to Limestone Campground from Lovington is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Eclipse is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Late evening into early morning
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Saturn at Opposition
Wait for the planet to reach its highest point in the sky to minimize atmospheric 'shimmer'. Because Limestone Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. Pack some snacks for the drive from Lovington; the dark horizons at Limestone Campground are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning Alignment
Start from the brightest planet and use it as a 'jumping point' to find the fainter ones in the line. Because Limestone Campground offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. 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 Lovington, Limestone Campground 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
A rare photo opportunity. Use a tripod and a 2-3 second exposure to capture both objects clearly. The Class 3 skies at Limestone Campground are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. The dry mountain air is incredibly clear, though the rapid temperature drop after sunset requires 'cooling down' your optics. The journey to Limestone Campground from Lovington is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Conjunction is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Pre-dawn hours
Recommended Gaze
East-southeast sky
Geminids 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 Limestone Campground 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 Limestone Campground from Lovington is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Meteor Shower is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Late night Dec 13 through dawn Dec 14
Recommended Gaze
East to overhead
December Supermoon
Even in a bright city, a Supermoon provides enough contrast for great smartphone photography through an eyepiece. This is a high-magnitude event for Lovington residents, as the dark horizons at Limestone Campground 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. The journey to Limestone Campground from Lovington is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Moon Event is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset