If you've ever looked up on a clear, moonless night far from city lights, you know the awe-inspiring power of a star-filled sky. For those who find wonder in the twinkle of distant stars and the shimmer of the Milky Way, planning a trip specifically around stargazing can be an extraordinary experience. Here's your complete guide to celestial events in Cook County and when to plan your next adventure! 

This year will be busy for avid skywatchers, with some incredible opportunities to view constellations, planets, the moon, and meteor showers in the night sky.

 

What are Meteor Showers? 

They occur when Earth passes through the debris trail of a comet or asteroid. These tiny bits of space rock burn up in our atmosphere, producing beautiful streaks of light known as "shooting stars."

 

  • Upcoming meteor showers worth planning a trip around:  

    • Lyrids Meteor Shower | April 14 - 30, 2026 (Peak night April 21-22) Expect 10–20 fast, bright meteors per hour. 

    • Perseids Meteor Shower | July 17 - August 24, 2026 (Peak activity on the nights of August 11, 12, and 13) Expect up to 100 fast, bright meteors per hour.

    • ​Geminids Meteor Shower - December 4 - 17, 2026 (Peak night December 13-14): Expect 40 to 50 meteors per hour.

    • Ursids Meteor Shower - December 17 - 24, 2026 (Peak night December 23): This low-key meteor shower – which always peaks around the solstice – is somewhat overlooked due to the holiday season. Its hourly rate is lower than that of the Geminids shower, which peaked over a week before.

    • Quadrantids Meteor Shower - December 28, 2026 to January 12, 2027 (Peak night January 3-4, 2027): Expect fewer than than 10 meteors per hour.

 

What are Solstices & Equinoxes?  

Earth’s tilted axis is the reason for the seasons. Solstices mark the longest and shortest days of the year, it is also when the sun is either at its most northerly or southerly location in relation to the equator. Equinoxes signal days and nights of equal length. Join us for the Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival to celebrate the longest days of the year!

 

 

What are Eclipses? 

A Solar Eclipse happens when the moon blocks the sun’s light, casting a shadow on Earth. A Lunar eclipse is when Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon, casting a reddish shadow on the surface.

 

  • Upcoming Solar Eclipses

    • ​August 12, 2026: A total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal, while a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean.

 

  • Upcoming Lunar Eclipses

    • ​August 27-28, 2026: Partial lunar eclipse visible Americas, Europe, Africa, Western Asia.

 

What are Full Moons?

The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back to our planet changes. That creates different lunar phases. Almost every month’s Full Moon boasts a name sourced from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions, with their titles mirroring seasonal shifts and nature’s events.- www.astronomy.com

 

Full Moon Dates 2026:

* denotes a Super Moon (A Full Moon that aligns with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s nearest point to Earth in its orbit.)

  • Saturday, Jan. 3 — 4:03 a.m. — Wolf Moon* (Inspired by the cries of hungry wolves.)
  • Sunday, Feb. 1 — 4:09 p.m. — Snow Moon (A nod to the month’s often heavy snowfall.) 
  • Tuesday, March 3 — 5:38 a.m. — Worm Moon | Total lunar eclipse (Named after the earthworms that signal thawing grounds.)
  • Wednesday, April 1 — 9:12 p.m. — Pink Moon (In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.)
  • Friday, May 1 — 12:23 p.m. — Flower Moon (Celebrating the bloom of flowers.)
  • Sunday, May 31 — 3:45 a.m. — Blue Moon (The second Full Moon in a month that experiences two Full Moons.) 
  • Monday, June 29 — 6:57 p.m. — Strawberry Moon (Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.)
  • Wednesday, July 29 — 9:36 a.m. — Buck Moon (Recognizing the new antlers on bucks.)
  • Friday, Aug. 28 — 11:19 a.m. — Sturgeon Moon | Partial lunar eclipse (Named after the abundant sturgeon fish.)
  • Saturday, Sept. 26 — 11:49 p.m. — Corn Moon (Signifying the corn harvesting period.)
  • Monday, Oct. 26 — 11:12 p.m. — Hunter’s Moon (Commemorating the hunting season preceding winter.)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 24— 8:54 a.m. — Beaver Moon* (Reflects the time when beavers are busy building their winter dams.)
  • Wednesday , Dec. 23 — 7:28 p.m. — Cold Moon* (Evocative of winter’s chill.)

 

What are New Moon Nights?

A new moon starts immediately after a Full Moon occurs. It takes anywhere between 13 to 15 days following a Full Moon. New Moon nights are particularly wonderful opportunities for stargazing. With  no moonlight to wash out the fainter stars and other celestial objects, the ability to see stars, Northern Lights and the Milky way increases because of the clarity of the night sky during new moon nights.

 

What are Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)?

Charged particles from the sun excite atoms in our atmosphere, causing them to emit colorful light. 

  • Planning and Preparation:

    • Best viewing times occur in late fall and winter 

    • Click here to learn how to capture the magic of the Northern Lights!

    • Click here to plan your Northern Lights driving route today! 

    • Any exposure to artificial light may disrupt your night vision and could jeopardize your chance to see the northern lights.

    • Join us for our annual Dark Sky Festival! 

It's the very unpredictability of the northern lights – the thrill of not knowing when or if they will appear – that makes witnessing them such a magical experience!
 

Ready to Escape?

Planning a trip around the night sky is a unique and rewarding experience. With a little preparation and a sense of wonder, you'll unlock a whole new dimension of travel. The universe awaits! Ready to book a trip? Click here to view lodging options in Cook County, Minnesota! Find ideas to keep you busy leading up to your dark sky adventure and check out our event calendar and see what's going on around town!