Tonight's Sky.
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Masonboro faces open ocean, with no city glow to the east and no streetlights on the island. On a clear night the stars go all the way down to the water. Here's what's up there tonight, and when it's worth staying out for.
Launch tonight
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Tonight at the station
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Checking clouds, haze and moon…
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Clouds tonight, hour by hour
Taller, lighter bar = more cloud. Full dark.
Clouds and haze: Open-Meteo · Moon, sun and meteors: calculated for 34.115° N, 77.845° W · For the astronomer-grade forecast, see ClearDarkSky · Wilmington.
Florida launches you can see.
Night launches from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center show up from the Masonboro beach as a bright streak low in the south-southwest, a few minutes after liftoff. Daytime launches are left off, since you won't see them from here.
- Loading the launch schedule…
The year in meteors.
Peak rates are what you'd see under perfectly dark skies. The moon matters as much as the date: a bright moon at peak washes out all but the brightest meteors.
| Shower | Peak night | Per hour at peak | Moon at peak |
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A night trip is a different trip.
The dark is the point, but it changes the risks. Here's what's different.
Cross in daylight. Boat traffic doesn't stop at sunset, and it can't see a kayak in the dark. Get across before dark and plan to stay till morning, or come back early.
A headlamp per person, set to red. Red light keeps your night vision. On the beach in summer it matters more: white light near sea turtle nests disorients hatchlings.
File a float plan. Tell someone on shore where you're camping and when you'll be back. Rescue takes longer at night.
Dress for the overnight low. An open island loses heat fast after dark, even in the shoulder seasons.
We'll tell you when to look up.
Occasional emails when a good night lines up: a visible launch, a meteor peak under a dark moon, or a clear night worth the crossing. No spam.