Do you love catching glimpses of celestial bodies in the open sky? Then get ready, because an exciting planetary event is coming to Iowa in 2023. While stargazing in Iowa, you can usually catch glimpses of a planet or two – but an unexpected planet will be joining the party for three days this year. January 30th, May 29th, and September 22nd are the best times to catch a glimpse of Mercury with the naked eye, as the planet closest to the sun will be at its greatest western elongation. You’ll be able to catch a glimpse of this planet just about anywhere with a telescope, but if you want the best view possible, you’ll want to head to one of Iowa’s best spots for stargazing.

Astronomy buffs, get ready - Mercury will be making its grand appearance in the skies of Iowa three times in 2023.
NASA/Wikipedia
The smallest planet in the solar system and the closest to the sun, Mercury can usually only be seen with the aid of a telescope.
CactiStaccingCane/Wikipedia
But as it reaches the height of its western elongation, it will be able to be seen with the naked eye on January 30th, May 29th, and September 22nd.
AmyM Howard/Flickr

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The best time to see this phenomenon is in the early morning, just before the sun lights up the night sky.
Michael Leland/Flickr
To find the best place to watch, you'll want to head to the best park for stargazing - Nine Eagles State Park, the closest Iowa has to a dark-sky reserve.
Margaret C/TripAdvisor
Marked as the only 2 on the Bortle Scale in Iowa, this wide-open rural park will have a night sky full of stars when it's clear.
TravelIowa
If you want to ensure a closer look, you can head to Ashton Observatory and arrange a private tour to get access to Iowa's best telescopes for an up-close view.
Ashton B Crew/Wikipedia

Are you planning to go stargazing in Iowa when Mercury is in the air this year? Tell us where you’re going and how you’re going to make it a memorable event in the comments section! If you want to learn more about Iowa’s most famous observatory, you can visit the Ashton Observatory website. You can also find out more about Nine Eagles State Park on the official state website. For more unexpected adventures in 2023, check out this list of hidden gems.

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Featured Addresses
Nine Eagles State Park, 23678 Dale Miller Rd, Davis City, IA 50065, USA
Ashton Observatory, 0122100004, Mingo, IA 50168, USA