As autumn settles into Devil's Lake State Park and the surrounding Sauk County area, we're…
Now that comet Neowise is coming up in the evening sky, this weekend will be a great time to get out there and check out this once in about 6000 year opportunity. Well, if the weather holds out!
If you’re visiting Devil’s Lake this weekend and want to check out comet Neowise, you’ll want to get outside after sunset. Around 10 pm is ideal. You’ll want a clear view to the north-west. The trick around here is that you need to make sure the Baraboo Hills don’t get in your way! Luckily each evening until July 22nd, Neowise is getting slightly higher in the sky. If you look at the picture above, taken on Thursday, you can see the comet is now up over the bluffs just after sunset.
Best Locations?
We recommend heading over to Devil’s Lake’s south shore. Anywhere along South Shore Rd will be great. The more east than west. (See the photos above.) You’ll also get great views from the beach on the south shore as well. For the more adventurous there will be great views from the top of the East Bluff at the various outlooks. If you want to get a little further away from the busy park, you might want to try Roznos Meadow which should offer great views over the bluffs. We’d also recommend trying the village of Okee on Lake Wisconsin for shots of the comet over the lake and the town Merrimac.
Need To Know
- The park closes at 11 pm. This means that just when Neo is at it’s best the wardens will be out telling you to either leave or get back to your campsites. (Remember, however, that if you have a fishing license and take out a boat & rod, you’re exempt! Which is totally unfair to everyone else!). Wardens are also now patrolling the trails! You won’t be able to just stay up on the bluffs past 11 pm like you used to!
- It’s not as bright as it looks! Yeah, all the photos make Neo look really bright but it’s not. It’s about as bright as your average star and some folks will struggle to see it. You’ll see it best after the last light of the sun really fades away. City lights don’t help either. That said, just look up into the north-western sky and let your eyes relax. Scan the area slowly until it comes into view for you.
- The weather may not corporate! So this weekend’s weather forecast is pretty mixed. Friday & Saturday look good. Sunday looks sketchy. However, the heat and increased humidity can make the sky pretty thick which again can block your view, or make it very hard to see as well.
Get Out There!
Seeing a comet in the sky is a unique and often a once-in-a-lifetime event. Photos are great, but there’s something deeply touching and personal about experiencing these events in person, with your own eyes. Neo won’t be back around for thousands of years. So if you can, get out there!
Learn More
For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.
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