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Worth the Look

The High Country has some of the darkest skies in the East. Here's what's worth stepping outside and looking up for: meteor showers, full moons, eclipses, and the occasional aurora watch. We flag the nights the sky is actually worth a look, and tell you where to aim.

Celestial calendar · updated Oct 3, 9:19 AM ET

★ left917 recommends

The nights we'd step outside for.

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Now through Oct 19

Planets

Selfie at Vera Rubin Ridge

★ why look upOn sol 1943 of its journey of exploration across the surface of Mars, the Curiosity Rover recorded this selfie at the south rim of Vera Rubin Ridge. Of course a sol is a Martian solar day, about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day. - left917

On sol 1943 of its journey of exploration across the surface of Mars, the Curiosity Rover recorded this selfie at the south rim of Vera Rubin Ridge. Of course a sol is a Martian solar day, about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day.

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Oct 2026

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Wed, Oct 21

Meteor shower · after midnight

Orionids meteor shower

~20/hr, fast and bright. Look toward the southeast after midnight. Moon that night: 71% lit, a bright moon washes out the faint ones.

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Mon, Oct 26

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Nov 2026

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Tue, Nov 17

Meteor shower · the hours before dawn

Leonids meteor shower

~15/hr, famously fast. Look toward the east the hours before dawn. Moon that night: 46% lit, a half-lit moon, so the dimmest streaks hide.

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Tue, Nov 24

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Beaver Moon

The Beaver Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Dec 2026

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Mon, Dec 14

Meteor shower · all evening

Geminids meteor shower

~120/hr, the best shower of the year. Look toward nearly overhead all evening. Moon that night: 22% lit, dark skies, ideal.

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Tue, Dec 22

Meteor shower · before dawn

Ursids meteor shower

~10/hr, a quiet holiday shower. Look toward the north before dawn. Moon that night: 93% lit, a bright moon washes out the faint ones.

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Wed, Dec 23

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Cold Moon

The Cold Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Jan 2027

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Sun, Jan 3

Meteor shower · after midnight

Quadrantids meteor shower

Up to ~40/hr in a short, sharp peak. Look toward the northeast after midnight. Moon that night: 27% lit, a half-lit moon, so the dimmest streaks hide.

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Fri, Jan 22

Full moon · rises at sunset, up all night

Full Moon — the Wolf Moon

The Wolf Moon rises around sunset and is up all night. Beautiful to look at, but its glare washes out the Milky Way and meteors, so it's a night for the moon itself, not faint stuff.

Meteor showers, moon phases, and aurora watches are computed from published astronomical data and NOAA space-weather forecasts. Aurora this far south is rare and never guaranteed. Skies change fast, so always step out and see for yourself.