🔭

Sky Events & Star Parties

Major celestial events, meteor showers, eclipses and the best star parties across North America for 2026 and 2027 — including August 2027's total eclipse of the century. Plan ahead — the best nights don't give much notice.

⚠️

Star party dates marked TBC have not yet been officially announced. Always verify dates and registration details on the official event website before making travel plans. Links are provided for each event.

🌌

Celestial Events — The Rest of 2026

What's left to catch before the year's out

🌠

Planning to watch a meteor shower?

See what's active tonight, plus when, where & how to watch — no telescope needed.

Full meteor guide →

Nov

☄️Leonid Meteor Shower Peak

Famous for the legendary 1966 storm that produced thousands of meteors per hour. Modern years are typically quieter at 15 meteors per hour — but Leonids are among the fastest and brightest. Persistent glowing trains are common. Best viewed after midnight when Leo rises in the east. Watch from a dark location away from city lights.

Naked Eye Northern Hemisphere

Dec

13–14

☄️Geminid Meteor Shower Peak ⭐ Best Annual Shower

Consistently the best meteor shower of the year — up to 150 multicoloured meteors per hour under dark skies. Unlike most showers the Geminids are active all night long since the radiant rises early. The source is asteroid 3200 Phaethon rather than a comet — giving it unique bright and varied colours. Bundle up and watch from a reclining lawn chair.

Naked Eye Active All Night North America

✨

2027 — The Year Ahead

The full year's highlights — crowned by August's total eclipse of the century

Jan

3–4

☄️Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peak ⭐ Strong Opener

The year's first major shower — and an underrated one. Its sharp peak lasts only a few hours but can deliver up to 120 meteors per hour under dark skies, with bright fireballs. 2027 is favourable, with little Moon to interfere. The catch is timing and cold: the radiant climbs after midnight, so bundle up and watch the pre-dawn hours.

Naked Eye Favourable Moon Northern Hemisphere

Feb

🌗Annular Solar Eclipse — “Ring of Fire”

The Moon sits too far from Earth to cover the Sun completely, leaving a brilliant ring of sunlight around a black disc. The annular path crosses southern Chile, Argentina and coastal West Africa; much of South America and Africa see a partial eclipse. Not visible from North America. Because the Sun is never fully covered, certified solar filters are essential for every second.

South America / W. Africa Solar filter required

Feb

10–11

🪐Jupiter at Opposition

The king of planets reaches its closest and brightest for the year — up all night, rising at sunset and setting at sunrise. The best time to catch the cloud bands, the Great Red Spot and the dance of the four Galilean moons. Easy to spot from any backyard; a small telescope shows real detail.

Naked Eye Telescope for detail Worldwide

Feb

🔴Mars at Opposition ⭐ Best Mars of 2027

Mars reaches opposition only about every 26 months — so this is the best Mars viewing until 2029. The Red Planet is at its brightest, rising at sunset and up all night, glowing distinctly orange to the naked eye. A telescope may reveal a polar ice cap and dark surface markings when the air is steady. Don't wait — it fades quickly after opposition.

Naked Eye Telescope for surface detail Worldwide

Apr

22–23

☄️Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak

One of the oldest recorded showers, watched for more than 2,500 years. Reliable rates of around 20 meteors per hour under dark skies, with the occasional bright fireball. The radiant rises in the northeast after midnight, so the pre-dawn hours are best. Debris from Comet Thatcher.

Naked Eye Northern Hemisphere

May

5–6

☄️Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak

Debris from Halley's Comet striking the atmosphere at 66 km/s — fast meteors with long, glowing trains. Up to 50 per hour under ideal skies, best in the pre-dawn hours as the radiant climbs. Strongly favours lower latitudes: the farther south you are, the better the show.

Naked Eye Best from Southern US & below

Jul

29–30

☄️Southern Delta Aquariid Peak

A steady, modest shower — around 20 faint meteors per hour — that rewards southern observers most. Its broad peak overlaps the build-up to the Perseids, so late July is a fine time to be under dark skies anyway. Best after midnight from a truly dark site.

Naked Eye Best in Southern Hemisphere & southern US

Aug

🌑Total Solar Eclipse — Longest of the Century ⭐ Event of the Decade

The longest total solar eclipse visible from land this century — up to 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality, a duration not matched again until 2114. The Moon, near its closest approach to Earth, sweeps a 258 km-wide shadow across southern Spain, North Africa (Egypt sees over six minutes) and the Middle East. Not visible from North America — but if there's one eclipse to travel for in a lifetime, this is it. Always use certified solar glasses outside the brief moments of totality.

Totality: Spain · N. Africa · Mid-East Not visible from North America

Aug

12–13

☄️Perseid Meteor Shower Peak ⭐ Crowd Favourite

The most-watched shower of the year, and 2027 is a good one — the Moon stays out of the way for a dark peak. Up to 100 swift, bright meteors per hour under dark skies, many leaving persistent glowing trains. Comet Swift-Tuttle debris at 60 km/s. Warm nights, no equipment needed — just a dark field and a reclining chair.

Naked Eye Favourable Moon Northern Hemisphere

Oct

🪐Saturn at Opposition

The ringed planet at its brightest and best — fully lit, rising at sunset and up all night. The most jaw-dropping sight in any telescope; even a small 60mm refractor shows the rings clearly. The rings keep opening wider again after the 2025 edge-on period, making this a fine year to revisit Saturn.

Naked Eye Rings in any scope Worldwide

Oct

☄️Orionid Meteor Shower Peak

The year's second helping of Halley's Comet debris — fast meteors, around 20 per hour, often with persistent trains. Active for several nights so there's more than one chance. The radiant rises late, so the hours before dawn are best. Watch from a dark location away from city lights.

Naked Eye Both Hemispheres

Nov

☄️Leonid Meteor Shower Peak

Famous for the legendary storms of 1833 and 1966 that filled the sky with thousands of meteors an hour. Ordinary years are quieter — around 15 per hour — but the Leonids are among the fastest and brightest, often leaving glowing trains. Best after midnight when Leo climbs in the east.

Naked Eye Northern Hemisphere

Nov

🔵Uranus at Opposition

The ice giant at its closest and brightest — and the realistic window to actually find it. At magnitude 5.6 Uranus is just barely naked-eye from a very dark site, but easy in binoculars as a tiny blue-green “star” that doesn't twinkle. A telescope reveals its small, distinctly coloured disc. A star chart helps you pin it down.

Binoculars Telescope for the disc Worldwide

Dec

14–15

☄️Geminid Meteor Shower Peak ⭐ Best of 2027

Reliably the best shower of the year — up to 120+ multicoloured meteors per hour under dark skies, and 2027 has a favourable Moon. Unlike most showers the Geminids run all night, since the radiant rises early in the evening. The source is asteroid 3200 Phaethon, giving them slow, bright, richly coloured streaks. Bundle up and settle in.

Naked Eye Active All Night · Favourable Moon Worldwide

🔭

Star Parties 2027

North America's best astronomy gatherings — confirmed dates where announced, the rest marked TBC

Winter Star Party

🇺🇸

Feb 1–7, 2027

📍 West Summerland Key · Florida

Warm winter observing Low southern horizon Lottery entry — sells out

The legendary warm-weather escape for northern astronomers — a week under the dark, steady subtropical skies of the Florida Keys while the rest of the continent freezes. The low southern horizon brings up objects you'll never see from Canada. Demand far outstrips space, so entry is by lottery.

scas.org →

NEAF — Northeast Astronomy Forum

🇺🇸

Apr 10–11, 2027

📍 Suffern, New York

World's largest astronomy expo Gear, talks & vendors Daytime indoor event

Not a star party but the biggest astronomy event of its kind — every telescope maker, eyepiece brand and accessory vendor under one roof, plus talks from leading astronomers and a solar-observing area outside. If you're buying gear or just want to geek out for a weekend, this is the one. Hosted by the Rockland Astronomy Club.

neafexpo.com →

Texas Star Party

🇺🇸

May 2–9, 2027

📍 Prude Ranch · Fort Davis, Texas

Bortle Class 2 5,000 ft elevation Near McDonald Observatory Running since 1979

One of the oldest and most prestigious star parties in North America — a full week under some of the darkest skies on the continent, in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Guest speakers, an astrophotography contest, vendors and tours of nearby McDonald Observatory. An experience every serious observer should have at least once.

texasstarparty.org →

AstronoMAY

🇨🇦

May 2027

Exact dates TBC

📍 Alberta, Canada

RASC Calgary Centre Open to the public Galaxy season

RASC Calgary's spring star party, open to everyone — escape the city lights for late-spring nights under Alberta skies with galaxy season at its finest. On-site camping and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that suits beginners and veterans alike.

rasc.ca/star-parties →

Cherry Springs Star Party

🇺🇸

Jun 3–6, 2027

📍 Cherry Springs State Park · Pennsylvania

International Dark Sky Park Milky Way casts a shadow Sells out fast

Pennsylvania's legendary dark-sky destination and one of the darkest sites in the eastern US — under the best conditions the Milky Way casts a discernible shadow. Guest speakers, vendors and hot food on site; registration sells out quickly, so book early.

Official Site →

Grand Canyon Star Party

🇺🇸

May 29 – Jun 5, 2027

📍 Grand Canyon National Park · Arizona

Both rims, 8 nights Free & public Dozens of telescopes

A week-long public event on both the South and North Rims, with dozens of amateur astronomers setting up telescopes for visitors each night and ranger-led constellation talks. Dark canyon skies in one of the most spectacular settings on Earth — and it's free with park admission.

grandcanyon.org →

Mount Kobau Star Party

🇨🇦

Jul 31 – Aug 8, 2027

📍 Mount Kobau · British Columbia

6,800 ft summit skies New Moon Aug 2 Running since 1984

Western Canada's premier high-altitude star party, on a 6,800-foot mountaintop in the Okanagan with superb transparency above much of the atmosphere. The 2027 edition is timed to the August 2 New Moon — the same dark window as the great eclipse half a world away — for a full week of pristine skies.

mksp.ca →

Nebraska Star Party

🇺🇸

Aug 1–6, 2027

📍 Merritt Reservoir · Valentine, Nebraska

Bortle Class 1 skies Sand Hills dark site New Moon week

Held under some of the darkest skies in the central US — the remote Sand Hills around Merritt Reservoir rate a near-perfect Bortle 1. A relaxed week of serious observing timed to the New Moon, with daytime swimming and lake activities to pass the sunlit hours.

nebraskastarparty.org →

Saskatchewan Summer Star Party

🇨🇦

Aug 3–8, 2027

📍 Cypress Hills · Saskatchewan

30th annual Dark Sky Preserve RASC Saskatoon

The 30th edition of the prairies' flagship star party, in the Cypress Hills Dark Sky Preserve — one of the darkest, highest spots on the Canadian plains. Timed to the New Moon, with speakers, workshops and a welcoming community under genuinely black skies.

sssp.saskatoon.rasc.ca →

Stellafane Convention

🇺🇸

Aug 5–8, 2027

📍 Springfield, Vermont

Since 1926 Telescope-making mecca Historic pink clubhouse

The oldest and most storied gathering of amateur telescope makers in the world, held on Breezy Hill since 1926. Famous for its homebuilt-telescope competition, where hand-figured mirrors and ingenious mounts are judged under the stars. A pilgrimage for anyone who's ever ground their own optics.

stellafane.org →

Starfest

🇨🇦

August 2027

Exact dates TBC

📍 Mount Forest · Ontario, Canada

Canada's largest star party NYAA hosted Perseids season

Canada's largest annual star party and conference, ranked among North America's best by Sky & Telescope and hosted by the North York Astronomical Association. Held in the dark fields near Mount Forest in Perseid season, with speakers, workshops, beginner activities and a big commercial exhibit hall.

nyaa.ca →

Okie-Tex Star Party

🇺🇸

Sep 24 – Oct 2, 2027

📍 Camp Billy Joe · Kenton, Oklahoma

Bortle Class 1 Oklahoma panhandle Week-long

Tucked in the far tip of the Oklahoma panhandle, Okie-Tex delivers some of the darkest, driest autumn skies in the country — a true Bortle 1 site far from any city glow. A week of superb transparency, guest speakers and a tight-knit community of serious observers.

okie-tex.com →

Black Forest Star Party

🇺🇸

September 2027

Exact dates TBC

📍 Cherry Springs State Park · Pennsylvania

Running since 1999 500+ attendees Public night included

A relaxed autumn gathering at Cherry Springs hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Observers, known for the remarkable variety of equipment on the field — 20-inch Dobsonians are commonplace. Draws serious observers from across the US and Canada, with a public viewing night open to all.

bfsp.org →

Northern Prairie Star Party

🇨🇦

Sep 21–26, 2027

Dates tentative

📍 Black Nugget Lake · Alberta, Canada

RASC Edmonton Centre Lakeside camping 1 hour from Edmonton

RASC Edmonton's annual star party at Black Nugget Lake — on a fall bird-migration flyway with canoeing, fishing and exceptional dark skies. A relaxed week blending astronomy with the outdoors, with guest speakers and a warm community atmosphere.

edmontonrasc.com →

🌃

Dark Sky Sites Worth Visiting

Some of the best places to observe across North America

One of the darkest sites in the eastern US. An International Dark Sky Park where the Milky Way casts a shadow on clear nights. 2,300 feet elevation with an open field free from obstructions. No better dark sky site this accessible in the northeast.

Bortle Class 2Int'l Dark Sky ParkCamping

The world's largest dark sky preserve — over 11,000 square kilometres of protected dark skies in the Canadian Rockies. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with dramatic mountain backdrops. Annual Dark Sky Festival every October draws astronomers from around the world.

World's Largest DSPUNESCO SiteAnnual Festival

The closest dark sky reserve to Toronto — just two hours north in cottage country Muskoka. A provincially protected dark sky reserve open year round. Flat open barrens give an unobstructed horizon. A favourite for Ontario observers wanting to escape the city glow quickly.

2hrs from TorontoDark Sky ReserveYear Round

The world's first International Dark Sky Reserve — established in 2007. Home to a working research observatory. The region around the observatory is strictly light-pollution regulated. Stunning views of the Milky Way and a beautiful destination in the Eastern Townships.

World's First IDSRResearch ObservatoryQuebec

A designated dark sky preserve in the heart of Nova Scotia — one of the best dark sky sites in eastern Canada. Canoe the lakes under the Milky Way or observe from the park's astronomy field. A Parks Canada dark sky preserve with regular public astronomy programs.

Dark Sky PreserveParks CanadaNova Scotia

One of the best dark sky destinations in North America — a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park with some of the darkest skies in the American Southwest. At over 8,000 feet elevation the air is thin, dry and crystal clear. The iconic red and orange hoodoos under the Milky Way create one of the most photographed astronomy scenes on earth. Ranger-led astronomy programs run year-round including telescope viewings at the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival each June.

Gold Tier Dark Sky Park8,000 ft ElevationAnnual Astronomy FestivalYear Round

Arguably the darkest accessible place in the Maritimes — home to the highest peak in Atlantic Canada at 820 metres. No housing development in the park means darkness as far as the eye can see, with lakes surrounded by mountains and zero light pollution. The RASC New Brunswick Centre holds its annual star party here every August. Remote, wild and breathtaking under a clear sky.

RASC Dark Sky PreserveDarkest in MaritimesAnnual Star Party

Stretching along the Acadian coastline with golden sand dunes, lagoons and salt marshes — and some of the most magical dark skies in eastern Canada. Designated a RASC Dark Sky Preserve in 2009 and called "one of the most magical astronomy parks in North America" by Sky News. Kelly's Beach offers a stunning open horizon for meteor showers and Milky Way photography. Stargazing programs run from spring through fall.

RASC Dark Sky PreserveAcadian CoastSandy Beach HorizonPublic Programs

A world-class research observatory open to the public — nightly star parties available year round. Bortle Class 2 skies at 6,800 feet elevation in the Davis Mountains. One of the most accessible professional observatories in North America. Regular public programs and special viewing nights through their large research telescopes.

Bortle Class 26,800 ft ElevationPublic Programs

🔭

Check the Sky for Your Event Night

Planning a trip to Cherry Springs or heading to a star party? Check the weather forecast, moon phase and what's visible for any location and date up to 14 days ahead.

Check Tonight's Sky →