Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Patience is key—meteors often come in 'bursts' followed by quiet lulls. This is a high-magnitude event for Virginia residents, as the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook will reveal the full depth of the target. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. The journey to Voyageurs Forest Overlook from Virginia 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
Even in a bright city, a Supermoon provides enough contrast for great smartphone photography through an eyepiece. While Virginia has some skyglow, the moderate Class 5 conditions at Hawk Ridge are still excellent for the brightest phases of this event. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. The journey to Hawk Ridge from Virginia 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
If you have a colored filter, use a blue one to enhance cloud belts or a red one for surface details. The Class 3 skies at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a total game-changer for this Planetary Opposition; you'll see details urbanites miss. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Pack some snacks for the drive from Virginia; the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Moon & Mars Conjunction
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. The Class 3 skies at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. While it's a drive from Virginia, Voyageurs Forest Overlook offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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 Virginia residents, as the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook will reveal the full depth of the target. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. While it's a drive from Virginia, Voyageurs Forest Overlook offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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. The Class 3 skies at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a total game-changer for this Eclipse; you'll see details urbanites miss. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. Pack some snacks for the drive from Virginia; the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
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. While Virginia has some skyglow, the moderate Class 5 conditions at Hawk Ridge are still excellent for the brightest phases of this event. Stable, Arctic air masses in the Midwest can offer rock-solid seeing, though be prepared for extreme equipment 'cool-down' times. The journey to Hawk Ridge from Virginia 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
Avoid using binoculars; you'll want the widest field of view (your naked eyes) to catch fast streaks. The Class 3 skies at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. While it's a drive from Virginia, Voyageurs Forest Overlook 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
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! The Class 3 skies at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. While it's a drive from Virginia, Voyageurs Forest Overlook offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Virginia residents, as the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook will reveal the full depth of the target. Late summer nights after a thunderstorm offer the best transparency as the rain washes the atmosphere. While it's a drive from Virginia, Voyageurs Forest Overlook offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
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. The Class 3 skies at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Midwest summer humidity can trap urban light; head to a rural clearing to get above the local ground-haze. Pack some snacks for the drive from Virginia; the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
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! This is a high-magnitude event for Virginia residents, as the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook will reveal the full depth of the target. Midwest summer humidity can trap urban light; head to a rural clearing to get above the local ground-haze. Pack some snacks for the drive from Virginia; the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
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 Voyageurs Forest Overlook offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Late summer nights after a thunderstorm offer the best transparency as the rain washes the atmosphere. The journey to Voyageurs Forest Overlook from Virginia 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
Watch for the planet's moons; even small telescopes can see the four Galilean moons of Jupiter today. Because Voyageurs Forest Overlook offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Pack some snacks for the drive from Virginia; the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Virginia residents, as the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook will reveal the full depth of the target. The heavy, frozen air of a Great Lakes winter can be incredibly transparent once the snow clouds clear. The journey to Voyageurs Forest Overlook from Virginia is a commitment, but the gain in sky quality for this Planetary Alignment is worth the effort.
Optimal Window
90–30 minutes before sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East to southeast sky
Mars & Jupiter Conjunction
This is a great 'naked eye' event, but 10x50 binoculars will reveal the color contrast between the objects. Because Voyageurs Forest Overlook offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Pack some snacks for the drive from Virginia; the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook are a justified reward for this view.
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. This is a high-magnitude event for Virginia residents, as the dark horizons at Voyageurs Forest Overlook will reveal the full depth of the target. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. While it's a drive from Virginia, Voyageurs Forest Overlook 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
A moon filter for your telescope can help reduce the glare and reveal subtle lunar textures. Because Voyageurs Forest Overlook offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. The journey to Voyageurs Forest Overlook from Virginia 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