Quadrantids 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 Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza 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 Highlands Plaza from Willard 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. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza 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 Willard, Highlands Plaza 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
Wait for the planet to reach its highest point in the sky to minimize atmospheric 'shimmer'. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Stable, Arctic air masses in the Midwest can offer rock-solid seeing, though be prepared for extreme equipment 'cool-down' times. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Moon & Mars Conjunction
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza will reveal the full depth of the target. Stable, Arctic air masses in the Midwest can offer rock-solid seeing, though be prepared for extreme equipment 'cool-down' times. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Shortly after sunset
Recommended Gaze
Southwest sky
Six-Planet Evening Alignment
Start from the brightest planet and use it as a 'jumping point' to find the fainter ones in the line. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Heritage Center 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 Willard, Heritage Center 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
Capture the stages of the eclipse with a telephoto lens, keeping your exposure settings flexible as it darkens. The Class 3 skies at Astro Program Hill are a total game-changer for this Eclipse; you'll see details urbanites miss. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill 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
Wide-field eyepieces are best here to frame both celestial bodies in the same view. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza will reveal the full depth of the target. High-pressure winter systems often bring the steadiest air for capturing planetary cloud belts. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza are a justified reward for this view.
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. Because Heritage Center 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. While it's a drive from Willard, Heritage Center 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
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. Because Highlands Plaza 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 Highlands Plaza from Willard 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
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. The Class 3 skies at Highlands Plaza are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; 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 Willard; the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza are a justified reward for this view.
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 Highlands Plaza are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Late summer nights after a thunderstorm offer the best transparency as the rain washes the atmosphere. The journey to Highlands Plaza from Willard 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
Look about 45 degrees away from the radiant point for the longest, most dramatic tail streaks. The Class 3 skies at Astro Program Hill are a total game-changer for this Meteor Shower; you'll see details urbanites miss. Late summer nights after a thunderstorm offer the best transparency as the rain washes the atmosphere. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Aug 11 through dawn Aug 12
Recommended Gaze
Northeast sky
Partial Lunar Eclipse
The temperature may drop noticeably during the event; having an extra layer ready is a veteran move. Because Highlands Plaza offer such pristine regional darkness, expect this event to have significantly higher contrast. Midwest summer humidity can trap urban light; head to a rural clearing to get above the local ground-haze. The journey to Highlands Plaza from Willard 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
This is the best time for high-magnification viewing. Use a 2x Barlow lens if you have one. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill will reveal the full depth of the target. Stable, Arctic air masses in the Midwest can offer rock-solid seeing, though be prepared for extreme equipment 'cool-down' times. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Sunset through sunrise
Recommended Gaze
East after sunset, south at midnight
Four-Planet Morning Alignment
This parade of worlds is best viewed 45 minutes after sunset before the lower planets set. The Class 3 skies at Heritage Center are a total game-changer for this Planetary Alignment; you'll see details urbanites miss. Look for 'Blue Sky' days that lead into deep-black nights; this indicates the lowest possible water vapor. While it's a drive from Willard, Heritage Center 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
Check the alignment early; some conjunctions happen low on the horizon and set quickly. The Class 3 skies at Highlands Plaza are a total game-changer for this Conjunction; you'll see details urbanites miss. Stable, Arctic air masses in the Midwest can offer rock-solid seeing, though be prepared for extreme equipment 'cool-down' times. The journey to Highlands Plaza from Willard 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
Lie flat on your back to take in as much of the sky as possible. No telescope needed! The Class 3 skies at Astro Program Hill 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. Pack some snacks for the drive from Willard; the dark horizons at Astro Program Hill are a justified reward for this view.
Optimal Window
Late night Dec 13 through dawn Dec 14
Recommended Gaze
East to overhead
December Supermoon
Perfect for binocular viewing. Look at the 'terminator' line (where light meets shadow) for the best crater detail. This is a high-magnitude event for Willard residents, as the dark horizons at Highlands Plaza 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 Willard, Highlands Plaza offers the isolation needed for spectacular views of tonight's target.
Optimal Window
Evening through dawn
Recommended Gaze
East at moonrise, west at moonset