“There!” my brother shouted, pointing skyward.
One, then four meteors blazed across the night. A meteor shower. We gazed in silence punctuated by gasps of awe. Our Gran guided us through finding the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt. It was never as easy as “second star to the right and straight on till morning,” but I managed. The wishing was my strength. Looking up at all those stars, that vastness, always made me feel small.
I know I’m not the only one who wants to share that wonder with their kid. Here’s how to enjoy Kansas City’s patch of sky with yours.
Countdown to Cosmic Events
As the holiday season nears, Christmas lights aren’t the only spectacle! Meteor showers will streak across the night as the year ends and the new one begins. There will be special appearances from three distant planets: Uranus, Jupiter and Venus. Choose to bundle up and shuffle outside for one of these cosmic firework displays, and, if the hot chocolate is just right, you might orchestrate a little heaven on earth. Imagine the ear-to-ear grins of excitement, the up-too-late giggles, and the beautiful look of wonder all because you knew what was up — literally.
Do yourself a favor by marking down each of these peaks and events. If all is calm and bright, you’ll have the makings of a memory. If the evening is cloudy one way or another, there are plenty of future dates to anticipate.
Here are the can’t-miss nights ahead:
November 5, 2025: During Night at the Arboretum (5:00-9:00, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens), volunteers from the Astronomical Society of Kansas City set up telescopes for kids to peek at Jupiter’s moons, bright stars or even the distant Andromeda Galaxy. While you’re waiting to peer through the telescope, you can spot the Beaver Moon with the naked eye — it will be glowing golden that evening. The arboretum’s dark skies and kid-friendly talks make it a thrilling date. Bring blankets and cocoa, and maybe spot an early Leonid meteor.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Pop over to the Astronomical Society of Kansas City’s website (ASKC.org) or the arboretum’s site (OPABG.org) for viewing tips or event updates.
November 17-18, 2025: The Leonids Meteor Shower sprinkles up to 15 meteors per hour across the night. A thin crescent moon keeps the sky dark — ideal for kids to chase shooting stars after midnight.
November 21, 2025: Head back for another Night at the Arboretum (5:00-9:00), where you might catch Uranus at opposition, a faint, bluish-green dot 1.8 billion miles away. Use binoculars or a volunteer’s telescope — a stargazing app like Stellarium can point you to it near the Taurus star pattern.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Cozy up for Stars of Faith (November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026) at Gottlieb Planetarium, Union Station. This 25-minute show unravels the Star of Bethlehem’s science and story. Kids will love the starry dome. Book at UnionStation.org. General admission is $8.
December 7, 2025: Jupiter at opposition will glow like a bright beacon through a telescope, showing its cloudy bands or moons (find it near Taurus with an app).
December 4, 2025: Spot the Cold Moon.
December 13-14, 2025: The Geminid Meteor Shower, a crowd-pleaser, sparkles with up to 120 meteors per hour zipping across the sky, starting as early as 9:00. A bright moon might hide fainter ones, but vivid fireballs will have everyone cheering.
December 22-23, 2025, Before Christmas, the Ursid Meteor Shower on offers a quieter sprinkle of meteors, perfect for cozy winter break nights under the stars.
January 3-4, 2026: As winter break rolls on, the Quadrantids Meteor Shower bursts forth, flinging up to 100 meteors per hour across the night. The Wolf Moon, the first supermoon of the year, will be dazzling on the 3rd, and bright fireballs will keep kids glued to the sky.
January 24, 2026: During Venus at greatest eastern elongation, the “evening star” shines brilliantly in the western sky after sunset. No telescope needed — just point out its steady glow.
Of course, you’ll want the best vantage points for these cosmic events. Luckily, KC has several.
Discover Stargazing Sweet Spots
City lights can dim the stars, but a short drive away can bring out the best of the galaxy.
Just 25 miles south of KC, Powell Observatory in Louisburg houses a massive telescope, and while winter pauses public nights, the nearby Lewis-Young Park’s dark skies are perfect for spotting Jupiter or meteor showers. Of course, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens stands out during Nights at the Arboretum (November 5 and 21, 2025). Longview Lake Park in Lee’s Summit offers open fields and easy parking, ideal for Geminids. Northward, Smithville Lake’s Camp Branch Campground boasts dark skies for Venus or Quadrantids, with space for kids to roam on blankets. James A. Reed Wildlife Area, also in Lee’s Summit, dodges the city glow with wide fields, perfect for Uranus or meteors.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Fuel up with out-of-this-world treats from Donutology. While you’re there, marvel at their Space Donut that journeyed 97,000 feet above Earth, and let your budding astronomer pose in the astronaut photo op. It’s the perfect way to spark excitement for the coming night.
Stargazing is simple — no fancy telescope or expert know-how needed. You just, well, look up. Your family can catch meteor showers, watch planets glow at their brightest and discover constellations from your own backyard.
For us parents, these evenings become more than just science lessons. They’re moments of connection: a chance to slow down and answer our child’s curious questions.
This year, give your family the stars — and keep that look of amazement shining long after the night sky fades.