Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. The Class 3 skies at Richland Elementary School 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Richland Elementary School will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. Because Richland Elementary School 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. A drive out of Norfolk toward Richland Elementary School will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details 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 Richland Elementary School are a total game-changer for this Planetary Opposition; you'll see details urbanites miss. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. For the best experience, Norfolk observers should aim for Richland Elementary School to escape the most intense local glares.
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. While Norfolk has some skyglow, the moderate Class 5 conditions at Heritage Center are still excellent for the brightest phases of this event. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. Pack some snacks for the drive from Norfolk; the dark horizons at Heritage Center 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 Norfolk residents, as the dark horizons at Richland Elementary School 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. A drive out of Norfolk toward Richland Elementary School will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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 Richland Elementary School 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. A drive out of Norfolk toward Richland Elementary School will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details 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
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 Norfolk residents, as the dark horizons at Richland Elementary School 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Richland Elementary School will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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! The Class 3 skies at Richland Elementary School 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Richland Elementary School will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Norfolk residents, as the dark horizons at Richland Elementary School 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. A drive out of Norfolk toward Richland Elementary School will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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. For Norfolk observers, this Conjunction will be visible at Heritage Center, which offers a reliable escape from the most intense local glare. Winter seeing is generally steadier as long as you stay away from the active jet stream path. The journey to Heritage Center from Norfolk 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 Richland Elementary School 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. For the best experience, Norfolk observers should aim for Richland Elementary School to escape the most intense local glares.
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. The Class 3 skies at Richland Elementary School 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. For the best experience, Norfolk observers should aim for Richland Elementary School to escape the most intense local glares.
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. Because Richland Elementary School 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Richland Elementary School will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Norfolk residents, as the dark horizons at Richland Elementary School will reveal the full depth of the target. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. A drive out of Norfolk toward Richland Elementary School will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details of this event.
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 Richland Elementary School 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. A drive out of Norfolk toward Richland Elementary School will significantly improve your chances of spotting the fainter details 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. For Norfolk observers, this Conjunction will be visible at Heritage Center, which offers a reliable escape from the most intense local glare. The crisp, dry air of late October offers the most transparent windows for the faint autumn nebulae. Pack some snacks for the drive from Norfolk; the dark horizons at Heritage Center are a justified reward for this view.
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 Norfolk residents, as the dark horizons at Richland Elementary School 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. Getting away from the urban dome and heading toward Richland Elementary School will make this celestial roadmap truly pop.
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. For Norfolk observers, this Moon Event will be visible at Heritage Center, which offers a reliable escape from the most intense local glare. 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 Norfolk; the dark horizons at Heritage Center are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset