Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. Because Balanced Rock 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. The short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
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
Even in a bright city, a Supermoon provides enough contrast for great smartphone photography through an eyepiece. Because Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
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. The Class 3 skies at Balanced Rock are a total game-changer for this Planetary Opposition; you'll see details urbanites miss. High-altitude desert winds can be turbulent; finding a shielded canyon spot helps steady the view. The short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Moab residents, as the dark horizons at Balanced Rock will reveal the full depth of the target. High-altitude desert winds can be turbulent; finding a shielded canyon spot helps steady the view. The short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
The 'Ecliptic' (the path of the planets) is clearly visible today. It's a great time to visualize the solar system's plane. This is a high-magnitude event for Moab residents, as the dark horizons at Balanced Rock 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 short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
Optimal Window
30–75 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West to southwest sky along the ecliptic
Total Lunar Eclipse
The temperature may drop noticeably during the event; having an extra layer ready is a veteran move. Because Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
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
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. The Class 3 skies at Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
Optimal Window
30–90 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. Because Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
Optimal Window
Late night Apr 21 through dawn Apr 22
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Eta Aquarids 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 Moab residents, as the dark horizons at Balanced Rock 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 short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
Optimal Window
May 5–6, roughly 3:00–5:30 AM local time
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Venus & Jupiter Conjunction
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. Because Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
Optimal Window
Just after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Mercury, Venus & Jupiter Alignment
The 'Ecliptic' (the path of the planets) is clearly visible today. It's a great time to visualize the solar system's plane. Because Balanced Rock 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. Moab residents have a major advantage with Balanced Rock so close by for spontaneous celestial alerts.
Optimal Window
20–45 minutes after sunset
Recommended Gaze
West-northwest sky
Perseids Meteor Shower
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! Because Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Watch the colors shift from copper to deep blood-red as the Earth's shadow fully consumes the lunar surface. Because Balanced Rock 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. Moab residents have a major advantage with Balanced Rock so close by for spontaneous celestial alerts.
Optimal Window
Late evening into early morning
Recommended Gaze
South to southwest sky
Saturn at Opposition
Watch for the planet's moons; even small telescopes can see the four Galilean moons of Jupiter today. Because Balanced Rock offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. High-altitude desert winds can be turbulent; finding a shielded canyon spot helps steady the view. The short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning Alignment
Higher elevations will give you a much better chance of spotting the planets closest to the horizon. The Class 3 skies at Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
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 Balanced Rock offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. High-altitude desert winds can be turbulent; finding a shielded canyon spot helps steady the view. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
Optimal Window
Pre-dawn hours
Recommended Gaze
East-southeast sky
Geminids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. The Class 3 skies at Balanced Rock 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. Since Balanced Rock is just a quick dash from Moab, it's perfect for a mid-week observation of this event.
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. Because Balanced Rock 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. The short hop from Moab to Balanced Rock means you can be set up in minutes for tonight's window.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset