The Night Sky in Nebraska
This year's meteor showers, moon phases, and the darkest places to watch from in Nebraska.
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Tonight’s sky over Nebraska
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Data updated: October 2026Sources & method · Corrections
The best stargazing in Nebraska comes on clear, moonless nights, and January, November and December give you the most of them to work with: about 14.8 hours of darkness at the December peak, computed from Nebraska's own sun times. Below: this year's meteor-shower peaks and how bright the moon will be for each, a month-by-month new- and full-moon calendar, and the darkest places to watch from.
Nebraska offers some of the best stargazing in the central United States, thanks to its low population density, wide-open horizons, and relatively dry climate. Away from the Omaha-Lincoln corridor in the eastern part of the state, light pollution drops off quickly, especially across the Sandhills and the western Panhandle. The state's flat-to-rolling terrain leaves few obstructions blocking the horizon, and clear, dry nights are common outside of the summer storm season.
Dark-sky places in Nebraska
- Merritt Reservoir and the Nebraska Sandhills, Cherry County: This remote corner of north-central Nebraska, near the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, has long drawn amateur astronomers for an annual regional star party. Towns are small and far apart here, so the Milky Way is easy to pick out on clear, moonless nights.
- The Sandhills region: Covering roughly a quarter of the state, this vast expanse of grass-stabilized dunes has some of the lowest population densities in the country. Pulling off almost any rural road here puts you well away from any meaningful light source.
- Western Panhandle ranchland: The rural stretches around towns like Scottsbluff, Gering, and Chadron sit far from any major metro area. The dry, high-plains air common to this part of the state tends to make for especially crisp, clear conditions once you're outside town limits.
- State and national forest land outside the Omaha-Lincoln corridor: Public lands scattered through the Panhandle, Sandhills, and north-central Nebraska offer open fields and minimal nearby lighting, making for convenient, family-friendly stargazing without a long drive to a more remote site.
Ranger programs, star parties and opening hours change season to season: check with the site before you drive out.
The sky this month (October)
The moon in October: New moon Oct 10 · Full moon Oct 26. Darkest skies fall around Oct 5–Oct 15, near the new moon.
Meteor showers peaking in October:
| Meteor shower | Peak | Meteors/hr | Moon | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draconids | Oct 8 | 10 | 7% crescent | early evening |
| Orionids | Oct 21 | 20 | 74% gibbous | after midnight |
Meteor showers in 2026
| Meteor shower | Peak | Meteors/hr | Moon | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Jan 3 | 120 | 100% near-full | after midnight into dawn |
| Lyrids | Apr 22 | 18 | 29% crescent | after midnight |
| Eta Aquariids | May 6 | 50 | 83% gibbous | pre-dawn (better in the South) |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30 | 25 | 100% near-full | pre-dawn |
| Perseids | Aug 12 | 100 | 0% near-new | late evening to dawn |
| Draconids | Oct 8 | 10 | 7% crescent | early evening |
| Orionids | Oct 21 | 20 | 74% gibbous | after midnight |
| Southern Taurids | Nov 5 | 5 | 16% crescent | late evening (slow, bright fireballs) |
| Northern Taurids | Nov 12 | 5 | 8% crescent | late evening (slow, bright fireballs) |
| Leonids | Nov 17 | 15 | 48% quarter moon | after midnight |
| Geminids | Dec 14 | 150 | 22% crescent | evening to dawn (best all year) |
| Ursids | Dec 22 | 10 | 95% near-full | after midnight |
Moon phases in 2026
| Month | New moon (darkest) | Full moon |
|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 18 | Jan 3 |
| February | Feb 17 | Feb 1 |
| March | Mar 18 | Mar 3 |
| April | Apr 17 | Apr 1 |
| May | May 16 | May 1, May 31 |
| June | Jun 14 | Jun 29 |
| July | Jul 14 | Jul 29 |
| August | Aug 12 | Aug 28 |
| September | Sep 10 | Sep 26 |
| October | Oct 10 | Oct 26 |
| November | Nov 9 | Nov 24 |
| December | Dec 8 | Dec 23 |
Which Nebraska nights are worth the drive
The year's meteor peaks with the moon already worked out, and the darkest places in Nebraska to watch them from.
The complete The Night Sky over Nebraska
A stargazing companion for the state that does not expire: the meteor calendar, the darkest places, and how to read any year's sky.
Want it on paper? See the printable The Night Sky over Nebraska.