by The new year brings a new slate of exciting astronomical events in the night sky, one that will take place in the middle of the day and, for many, will be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
From planetary alignments to a “Super Harvest Moon Eclipse,” here are the top astronomical events to mark on your 2024 calendar:
Less than a week after the spring equinox, which will occur on March 19 at 11:06 pm EDT, stargazers will be able to see the first eclipse of the year.
A penumbral lunar eclipse will develop before dawn on Monday, March 25, and will be visible in North America, South America, Western Europe, West Africa, Japan, New Zealand and part of Australia.
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The Moon passes into Earth’s shadow during a lunar eclipse seen in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) |
This type of eclipse can be disappointing and difficult to notice since the Moon only passes through the Earth’s outer shadow, known as the penumbra, which is not as dark as its inner shadow, the umbra. However, it will be the precursor to an amazing spectacle that will unfold just two weeks later.
Millions of people will travel from around the world to see the main astronomical event of 2024 and, for North America, it will be arguably the best astronomical event of the decade.
For a few moments on Monday, April 8, the moon will completely block the sun to create a stunning total solar eclipse, the first in North America since 2017. It will only be visible along a narrow path from Texas to Maine and parts of Mexico and Atlantic Canada.
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People in the rest of North America will be able to view a stunning partial solar eclipse, although solar filters or eclipse glasses will be needed to view the event safely. Experts recommend purchasing eclipse glasses months in advance, as sellers may sell out as the event approaches.
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In this Aug. 21, 2017, file photo, the Moon nearly eclipses the Sun during a near-total solar eclipse as seen from Salem, Oregon. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File) |
After April, a total solar eclipse will not be visible from the contiguous United States until 2044.
After a period of almost four months without meteor showers, skywatchers will have the opportunity to see two in as many weeks.
The Lyrids will first light up the night sky and will peak on the night of Tuesday, April 22, into the early hours of Wednesday, April 23. Normally, the shower produces about 15 shooting stars per hour, but this year, a nearly full moon. It will outshine all but the brightest meteors.
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Two weeks later, from the night of Sunday, May 5, to the early hours of Monday, May 6, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower will reach its peak. This is the best meteor shower of the year for the southern hemisphere, when rates will reach 50 meteors per hour, while people in the northern hemisphere could count between 10 and 30 shooting stars per hour.
A striking astronomical alignment will take center stage in the early summer sky, although you’ll need to wake up before dawn to witness it.
The moon will align with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn before dawn on Saturday, June 29, in the eastern sky.
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No telescope is required to see the alignment, but having one will reveal two more planets, both too dark to see with the naked eye. Uranus will shine weakly between Jupiter and Mars, while Neptune will appear between Saturn and the Moon.
A dazzling spectacle will unfold in the skies in mid-August as the best meteor shower of 2024 peaks.
More than 50 meteors per hour will streak across the sky as the Perseids peak on the night of Monday, August 12, into the early hours of Tuesday, August 13, according to the American Meteor Society. The number of visible meteors could reach a maximum of about 100 per hour in dark areas without light pollution.
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In this 30-second camera exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) |
The best viewing conditions are expected during the second half of the night, after the moon has set, and when the shower’s radiant point, located near the constellation Perseus, rises high in the northeastern sky.
A week after the peak of the Perseids, a rare lunar event will take place with the rise of a Blue Moon.
Blue Moon is often the nickname given to the second full moon in a calendar month, but this year’s Blue Moon has a different definition. Most astronomical seasons feature three full moons, but when four fall in a season, as will happen this summer, the third of the quartet is called the Blue Moon.
Despite what the nickname suggests, the moon will not appear blue in the sky. The August full moon is also known as the Sturgeon Moon, Black Cherry Moon and Mountain Shadow Moon.
As the muggy summer nights begin to give way to cooler fall nights, one of the largest planets in the solar system will be the main attraction in the sky.
Saturn will reach opposition on Sunday, September 8, the point in its orbit at which it appears on the exact opposite side of the sky to the sun, and at about the same time it is closest to Earth. As a result, the planet will appear brighter than at any other time of the year.
You don’t need a telescope to spot Saturn, but having one can reveal its famous rings, which are the inspiration behind the planet’s nickname: The Jewel of the Solar System.
A confluence of three popular lunar events will create an exciting night of stargazing from the evening of Tuesday, September 17 to the early hours of Wednesday, September 18.
A partial lunar eclipse will coincide with the first supermoon of the year, causing part of the moon to temporarily darken as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. This event will be more impressive than the penumbral lunar eclipse in March, although it will be a far cry from a blood-red total lunar eclipse.
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A lunar eclipse advances in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo HW Chiu) |
September’s full moon will also be the famous Harvest Moon, leading to the long-running nickname of the “Super Harvest Moon Eclipse.”
Three months after Saturn’s opposition, it will be Jupiter’s time to shine in the sky as the largest planet in the solar system reaches its maximum brightness.
Jupiter will be visible throughout the night in December, but the first weekend of the month will be the best time to see the planet when it reaches opposition.
As with Saturn’s opposition, no telescope is needed to see Jupiter as it will eclipse all the stars in the sky, but spying on the planet with a telescope will reveal its largest moons, colorful clouds and even its famous red spot, a storm that has been ravaging the planet for centuries.
December features the longest nights of the year, and in the middle of the month, stargazers typically bundle up to enjoy the Geminids, one of the best annual meteor showers. However, the 2024 edition of the winter meteor shower will likely fizzle out rather than sizzle.
The night of Friday, December 13 through the morning of Saturday, December 14 will bring the peak of the Geminid meteor shower. Under ideal conditions, viewers can count more than 100 shooting stars per hour, but this year they will peak on the same night as the moon is almost full. The bright moonlight will make it difficult to see many of the meteors associated with the Geminids.
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The Geminid meteor shower is seen atop Niubei Mountain in Ya’an, Sichuan province, China, on December 14, 2023. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images) |
Some shooting stars may still be seen in darker areas of the sky where the moon is not visible. A much better light show is expected in 2025, as the Geminids will not be hindered by moonlight.
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