Astronomy Events to Look Out For in 2023
What's in the Sky?
There are infinite targets to view and capture in the night sky. Some are only visible at a certain point in time. Which dates should you look out for? We've gathered some of the more prominent astronomy events. Click on a month below to see which dates to look out for!
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Breakdown
- 1/3-1/4 - The Quadrantid meteor shower: This shower runs annually from January 1-5, with the peak landing on the night of the 3rd and the morning of the 4th. The Quadrantids is usually an above average shower, with about 40 meteors at its peak. This year, the peak comes close to a full moon, meaning many of the fainter meteors will not be visible, but if you are patient you may still be able to catch some good ones!
- 1/6 - Full Moon: The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun, causing its face to be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps
- 1/14 - Moon at 3rd Quarter:When the Moon is in this phase, it has traveled three-quarters of its orbit. From our perspective, the moon will only appear to be half illuminated; which is why it is also referred to as a Half Moon. During this phase, the moon is perpendicular to the Earth and Sun, and it is 90 degrees west of the Sun. During the Last Quarter in the Northern Hemisphere, the left half of the Moon is illuminated.
- 1/21 - New Moon:The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This will be the best time of the month to observe fainter objects like galaxies and star clusters due to the lack of lunar interference.
- 1/28 - Moon at 1st Quarter:The Moon refreshed its orbit with the New Moon, making this the first quarter of its orbit. Similar to when the Moon is at 3rd quarter; the Moon is perpendicular to the Earth and Sun, and it is 90 degrees east from the Sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the right side of the Moon that is illuminated in the first quarter.
- 1/30 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation:The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 25 degrees from the Sun. This will be the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky.
Breakdown
- 2/1 – Comet C/2022 E3 (ZFT) Reaches its Brightest: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is forecast to reach its brightest on 1 February. At that time, it will make its closest approach to the Earth. This exotic comet has not passed the Earth since the time of Neanderthals, and it has reappeared in the sky nearing its closest approach on February 1st! Want to image this comet? Check out some of our C/2022 E3 Viewing and Imaging Recommendations!
- 2/5 - Full Moon: The full Snow Moon. Named by early Native American Tribes because snow falls heaviest around this time of year. The full moon of February has also been known by some tribes as the Hunger Moon, due to scarce hunting game around this time of year.
- 2/8 – Alpha Centaurid Meteor Shower: This shower will be active from January 28th through February 21st, with the peak rate of meteors occurring on February 8th. Alpha-Centaurid is a minor meteor shower, invisible to the naked eye, but you may be able to catch a few meteor with a small telescope. The shower will be visible from anywhere where the shower's radiant point (in the constellation Centaurus) is above the horizon.
- 2/13 – Moon at 3rd Quarter:The last half of the Moon to be seen in this lunar cycle.
- 2/20 - New Moon:Don’t Miss this imaging opportunity!
- 2/27 - Moon at 1st Quarter:This first half of the Moon to be seen in the next lunar cycle.
Breakdown
- 3/1 & 3/2 - Close approach of Venus and Jupiter: The planets Venus and Jupiter are expected to come close to each other, passing by at a distance of only 29.4 arcminutes. Venus and Jupiter will both be located in the Pisces constellation during this event, with Venus shining at magnitude -4.0 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.1. Although the planets will be close enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will also be easily visible to the naked eye or with the help of a pair of binoculars. In addition to their close approach, the planets will also share the same right ascension, which is referred to as a conjunction. Don't miss this exciting celestial event!
- 3/7 - Full Moon: The Worm Moon. Throughout the year, the succession of full moons are sometimes given names based on the month and season in which they occur. These names, such as "Worm Moon," have gained popularity in recent decades thanks to the Farmers' Almanac in the United States.
- 3/14 - Moon at Last Quarter: During this phase, the Moon will appear almost exactly half illuminated. The Moon rises in the middle of the night and reaches its peak in the sky by dawn before eventually setting around lunchtime.
- 3/15 - γ-Normid Meteor Shower: The γ-Normid meteor shower is expected to be active from February 25 to March 28, with the peak rate of meteors occurring around March 15. During this time, the shower's radiant point, located in the constellation Norma, will need to be above the horizon for a chance to see the γ-Normid meteors. To increase the chances of seeing the most meteors, it is recommended to look towards a dark patch of sky that is approximately 30-40° away from the radiant point, rather than directly at the radiant itself.
- 3/20 - March Equinox: The March equinox is significant as it marks the start of spring for those residing in the northern hemisphere, while it signals the beginning of autumn for those in the southern hemisphere.
- 3/21 - 1 Ceres at Opposition: 1 Ceres will achieve opposition when it appears opposite to the Sun in the sky. This celestial object is situated in the constellation Coma Berenices and will remain visible for most of the night, with its highest point in the sky being attained around midnight, as per the local time.
- 3/24 - Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: The Moon and Venus are set to coincide in the same right ascension, with the Moon passing to the south of Venus by 6'31". This event will involve an appulse between the Moon and Venus, with the Moon being a mere 3 days old. Although visible to the naked eye and through binoculars, they will also be close enough to fit in the field of view of a telescope.
- 3/28 - Moon at First Quarter: During this phase, it will be almost exactly half illuminated as it orbits the Earth once every 29.5 days. As it moves through its cycle, the Moon is visible at different times of the day. At first quarter, it can be seen high in the sky during sunset before descending towards the horizon and setting in the middle of the night.
- 3/28 - Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The Moon and Mars are expected to be at the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 2°17' to the north of Mars. The age of the Moon during the event will be 7 days. Around the same time, the two celestial bodies will make a close approach, technically called an appulse. The Moon will be at mag -11.7, and Mars at mag 0.9, both located in the Gemini constellation. While the pair will be too widely separated to fit within a telescope's field of view, they will still be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
Breakdown
- 4/5 Full Moon: The Moon will be at its fullest and visible for a significant portion of the night, rising at dusk and setting at dawn. The full moon in the month of April is called the "Pink Moon".
- 4/13 Moon at Last Quarter: The moon will appear almost exactly half-illuminated at this time in its monthly cycle of phases. At last quarter, it rises in the middle of the night and appears high in the sky at dawn before setting around lunchtime. Elsewhere in the world, the Moon will be visible in the dawn sky.
- 4/15 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The 26-day-old Moon will pass 3°29' to the south of Saturn, sharing the same right ascension and making a close approach known as an appulse. Although the pair will not fit in the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or binoculars.
- 4/19 New Moon: During new moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun align in a roughly straight line, with the Moon in the middle and appearing to block out the Sun's glare. This alignment reveals the unilluminated side of the Moon to us, making it doubly challenging to observe.
- 4/19 Hybrid Solar Eclipse: A hybrid total/annular solar eclipse will be visible from Western Australia, East Timor, and Eastern Indonesia between 19:36 and 00:59 MDT as the Moon passes in front of the Sun.
- 4/21 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury: The Moon and Mercury will have the same right ascension. Both the Moon and Mercury will be in the constellation Aries, with the Moon shining at mag -8.1 and Mercury at mag 2.1. While a telescope cannot capture both in a single field of view due to their wide separation, a pair of binoculars should suffice to observe them.
- 4/23 Lyrid Meteor Shower: From April 16 to April 25, the Lyrid meteor shower will be active, reaching its peak rate of meteors around April 23. When the shower's radiant point is above the horizon, visible meteors can be seen, with the number of visible meteors increasing as the radiant point rises higher in the sky. The radiant point of the Lyrid meteor shower is located in the constellation Hercules.
- 4/23 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: The Moon and Venus will be in the same right ascension and will have an appulse as the Moon passes 1°18' north of Venus. The Moon will be three days old during this event. Although the pair will be too wide to fit in the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible through a pair of binoculars or to the naked eye.
- 4/24 π-Puppid Meteor Shower: The shower will be active as long as its radiant point, located in the Puppis constellation, is above the horizon during this period, with the number of meteors increasing the higher the radiant point is in the sky. For some areas of the world, the radiant point of the π-Puppid shower will only be visible during the daytime, and thus no meteors will be visible. Nevertheless, radio antennas can still detect the meteors even during the day as they produce ionization trails that cause radio bursts.
- 4/25 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The Moon will be 6 days old and will appear at a magnitude of -11.4, while Mars will shine at a magnitude of 1.3. Both objects will be in the constellation Gemini and visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 4/27 Moon at First Quarter: The moon will be almost exactly half illuminated. At first quarter, it rises high in the sky during sunset before descending towards the horizon and setting in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, the Moon will be visible in the evening sky.
Breakdown
- 5/5 Full Moon: The Moon will be reaching full phase, providing a breathtaking sight that can be enjoyed for much of the night. The full moon that falls in May is often referred to as the "Flower Moon".
- 5/6-7 η-Aquariid Meteor Shower: The peak of the η-Aquariid meteor shower is expected around 6 May, and it will be active from 19 April to 28 May. During this time, the shower's radiant point - located in the Aquarius constellation - will be visible above the horizon, with the number of visible meteors increasing as the radiant point rises higher in the sky.
- 5/9 η-Lyrid Meteor Shower: The η-Lyrid meteor shower is set to be active from May 3rd to May 14th, with its peak expected around May 9th. During this period, there will be a chance to spot η-Lyrid meteors when the shower's radiant point is above the horizon in the constellation Lyra. The number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point climbs higher in the sky.
- 5/12 Moon at Last Quarter: During the last quarter phase, the Moon rises in the middle of the night and appears high in the sky by dawn, setting around midday. It's an excellent time to observe the Moon's unique features and explore the mysteries of the lunar surface.
- 5/13 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon and Saturn will have the same right ascension with the Moon passing 3°17' south of Saturn. This event will occur when the Moon is 23 days old. At approximately the same time, the Moon and Saturn will make a close approach, which is technically known as an appulse. Although the Moon and Saturn will be too far apart to be observed together through a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 5/17 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing just 47 minutes north of Jupiter. At that moment, they will also have a close approach, referred to as an appulse. Although the pair will be a bit too widely separated to fit comfortably within the field of view of a telescope, they can still be observed with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars.
- 5/17 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury: The Moon and Mercury will be in the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 3°35' to the north of Mercury. The Moon will be 28 days old. Both the Moon and Mercury will be located in the constellation Aries, with the Moon shining at mag -8.8 and Mercury at mag 1.6. Although the pair will be too far apart to fit comfortably in the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars. It is important to exercise caution when trying to observe the Moon during the daytime while the Sun is still above the horizon.
- 5/19 New Moon: At new moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are nearly aligned, with the Moon positioned between the Earth and the Sun. As a result, the unilluminated side of the Moon faces Earth, making it invisible due to the bright glare of the Sun.
- 5/23 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: The Moon and Venus will come together in the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 2°12' to the north of Venus. This phenomenon is also known as an appulse. Both the Moon and Venus will be in the constellation Gemini. The Moon will have a magnitude of -10.4 while Venus will shine much brighter at a magnitude of -4.2. Although the pair will be too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will still be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 5/24 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The Moon and Mars will be aligned in the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 3°45' to the north of Mars. The Moon will be 5 days old at this time. Additionally, the two celestial objects will make a close approach, known as an appulse. The Moon will be shining at mag -11.0, while Mars will appear at mag 1.5, both in the constellation Cancer. Although the Moon and Mars will be too far apart to fit in a telescope's field of view, they will still be visible to the naked eye or with binoculars.
- 5/27 Moon at First Quarter: During this phase of the Moon's cycle, it appears to be approximately half illuminated.
- 5/29 Messier 4 is Well Placed: the Scorpius globular cluster M4 (NGC 6121; mag 5.6) will be favorably positioned in the evening sky. M4 is best observed from the southern hemisphere, with a declination of 26°31'S, and is not visible from latitudes much north of 43°N. It has a magnitude of 5.4, making it too dim to be seen with the naked eye from most locations, but can be spotted through a pair of binoculars or small telescope.
Breakdown
- 6/3 Full Moon: The upcoming lunar phase will be the full Moon, which will be visible for much of the night. It is expected to rise at dusk and set at dawn. This lunar cycle is commonly known as the "Strawberry Moon," which is the name given to any full moon that occurs in the month of June.
- 6/3 Conjunction of Mercury and Uranus: On the upcoming celestial event, Mercury and Uranus will share the same right ascension, with Mercury passing 2°54' south of Uranus. Mercury, located in the constellation Aries, will shine at mag 0.0 while Uranus, with a magnitude of 5.9, will be visible in the same constellation. Although they will be too far apart to fit within a telescope's field of view, they can still be observed through a pair of binoculars.
- 6/4 Messier 12 is Well Placed: Over the next few weeks, stargazers will have a prime opportunity to observe the globular cluster M12 (NGC 6218; mag 6.7) in Ophiuchus. On June 3, it will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight local time, with a four-minute earlier culmination time each subsequent evening. With a magnitude of 6.1, M12 may be too dim for the naked eye but can still be enjoyed through a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.
- 6/9 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: On the upcoming evening, the Moon and Saturn will coincide in right ascension, with the Moon passing 2°58' to the south of Saturn. The Moon will be a mature 21 days old. This event will also result in an appulse, or a close approach, between the two celestial bodies. Both the Moon and Saturn will be situated in the constellation Aquarius, with magnitudes of -12.2 and 0.7, respectively. While the pair will not fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 6/10 Moon at Last Quarter: During this phase of its monthly cycle of phases, it will appear to be almost exactly half illuminated. In the coming days, the Moon will rise later each day and become visible for less time before sunrise. It will also rise less far above the eastern horizon before dawn. By the time it reaches new moon, it will only be visible during the daytime, rising around dawn and setting around dusk.
- 6/13 Close approach of Venus and M44: Venus and M44, two celestial objects in the sky, will come very close to each other, with a separation of only 47.9 arcminutes. Venus, the brighter of the two objects, will shine at magnitude -4.4, and M44, a star cluster, will have a magnitude of 3.1. Both will be located in the constellation Cancer. Although they will be a bit too far apart to fit in the field of view of a telescope, they will still be easily visible through a pair of binoculars.
- 6/13 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter: On the upcoming date, the Moon and Jupiter will have a conjunction, passing within a distance of 1°22'. The Moon will be in its 26th day of the lunar cycle. Furthermore, at the same time, the Moon and Jupiter will also share the same right ascension. While the conjunction will be too far apart to fit in a telescope's field of view, it will still be easily visible with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars.
- 6/17 New Moon: During the new moon phase, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are approximately aligned, with the Moon positioned between the Earth and Sun, blocking much of the Sun's light. The side of the Moon that we see is not illuminated by the Sun, making it challenging to observe.
- 6/21 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: The Moon and Venus will be in the same right ascension, and the Moon will pass 3°41' north of Venus during a close approach, also known as an appulse. The Moon will be 4 days old during this event. Both the Moon and Venus will be located in the Cancer constellation, with the Moon at mag -10.3 and Venus at mag -4.4. Although they will be too far apart to fit comfortably within the field of view of a telescope, the naked eye or binoculars will suffice to observe the Moon and Venus.
- 6/22 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The Moon and Mars will be in the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 3°47' north of Mars. The Moon will be just 4 days old. At the same time, the two celestial bodies will also make an appulse, meaning they will come close to each other. Both objects will be located in the constellation Leo, with the Moon shining at mag -10.5 and Mars at mag 1.7. Although they will be too far apart to fit into a telescope's field of view, they can still be seen with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars.
- 6/26 Moon at First Quarter: During this phase, the Moon will appear to be approximately half illuminated. Observing the Moon during the first quarter phase is a treat as it sets later each day, becoming visible for longer periods of the night. Within a few days, it will not rise very high above the eastern horizon before nightfall. By the time it reaches full phase, it will be visible for much of the night, rising at dusk and setting at dawn.
- 6/27 June Bootid Meteor Shower: The June Bootid meteor shower is set to occur from 22 June to 2 July, with the peak rate of meteors being observed around 27 June. During this time, the chances of viewing June Bootid meteors are high whenever the radiant point of the shower, located in the constellation Bootes, is above the horizon.
- 6/30 Neptune Enters Retrograde Motion: Neptune is about to undergo retrograde motion, reversing its usual course from eastward to westward movement through the constellations. This is a natural occurrence that all the outer planets of our solar system go through a few months before reaching opposition.
Breakdown
- 7/3 Full Moon: The Farmers' Almanac designates any full moon in July as the "Buck Moon"
- 7/6 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon and Saturn will be positioned in the same right ascension. Both the Moon and Saturn will be situated in the Aquarius constellation, with the Moon having a magnitude of -12.5 and Saturn having a magnitude of 0.6. Although too far apart to fit in the view of a telescope, the Moon and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 7/9 Moon at Last Quarter: At this phase of the lunar cycle, the Moon appears half illuminated.
- 7/11 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 2°13' to the north of Jupiter. Both will be in the constellation Aries, with the Moon at mag -11.3 and Jupiter at mag -2.3. While a telescope won't be able to fit both objects in the same field of view, they can still be seen with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars.
- 7/12 Comet 185P/Petriew Passes Perihelion: Comet 185P/Petriew will reach its closest distance to the Sun at 0.93 AU.
- 7/17 New Moon: During a new moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are approximately aligned in a straight line, with the Moon situated between the Earth and the Sun. This alignment causes the Moon to be hidden in the Sun's glare, and since we can only see the unilluminated side of the Moon, it becomes even more difficult to observe.
- 7/19 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury: Both the Moon and Mercury will be in the constellation Cancer, with the Moon having a magnitude of -8.5 and Mercury having a magnitude of -0.4. While they will be too far apart to fit in the field of view of a telescope, they will still be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars. It is important to exercise extreme caution if attempting to observe the Moon during the daytime while the Sun is still above the horizon.
- 7/20 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: Both celestial bodies will be located in the constellation Leo, with the Moon shining at magnitude -9.5 and Venus at magnitude -4.4. Although they will be too far apart to be seen through a telescope or binoculars, they will be visible to the naked eye. It is important to exercise caution when attempting to observe the Moon during the daytime while the Sun is still in the sky.
- 7/20 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The two celestial bodies will come into close proximity, known as an appulse. In the constellation Leo, the Moon will be at mag -10.0, and Mars will be at mag 1.8. While the two objects will be too far apart to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars. It is important to be extremely cautious when attempting to observe the Moon during daylight hours while the Sun is still above the horizon.
- 7/25 Moon at First Quarter: During this phase, the Moon appears to be almost exactly half-illuminated.
- 7/26 Conjunction of Venus and Mercury: Venus and Mercury will have the same right ascension, with Venus passing 5°17' south of Mercury. In the constellation Leo, Venus will have a magnitude of -4.3, while Mercury will have a magnitude of -0.1. Although they will be too far apart to fit within the field of view of a telescope or binoculars, they will still be visible to the naked eye.
- 7/29 Piscis Austrinid Meteor Shower: During this period, there is a chance to see Piscis Austrinid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point is above the horizon in the Piscis Austrinus constellation. The visible meteor count increases as the radiant point gets higher in the sky. It's essential to note that the Moon will be in Ophiuchus, just two days before the full phase at the shower's peak. This will significantly interfere throughout the night.
- 7/30 Southern δ-Aquariid Meteor Shower: The Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower will be active, with the peak number of meteors expected around July 30. If the radiant point of the shower, located in the Aquarius constellation, is above the horizon, there will be an opportunity to witness these meteors. The higher the radiant point is in the sky, the greater the number of visible meteors.
- 7/30 α-Capricornid Meteor Shower: The α-Capricornid meteors can be observed whenever the shower's radiant point - located in the Capricornus constellation - is above the horizon.
Breakdown
- 8/1 Full Moon: The Moon's elliptical orbit will make its closest approach to Earth, also known as perigee, at around the same time as the full moon. This phenomenon has come to be known as a "supermoon".
- 8/3 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon will be shining at a magnitude of -12.7, while Saturn will be at magnitude 0.5, both located in the constellation Aquarius. While the distance between the two objects will be too great to fit into a telescope's field of view, they will be visible through the naked eye or a pair of binoculars.
- 8/8 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: The Moon and Jupiter will be in the same right ascension. Both the Moon and Jupiter will be in the constellation Aries, with the Moon shining at mag -11.9 and Jupiter at mag -2.5. While the pair will be too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will still be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 8/8 Moon at Last Quarter: The Moon appears almost exactly half illuminated.
- 8/13 Perseid Meteor Shower: If the radiant point of the Perseid meteor shower, situated in the constellation Perseus, is visible above the horizon, there is a possibility of witnessing Perseid meteors, and the quantity of visible meteors rises as the radiant point ascends higher in the sky.
- 8/16 New Moon: The Earth, Moon, and Sun are in almost a straight line at new moon, with the Moon in the middle, obscuring the Sun's glare. Since the side of the Moon facing Earth is not illuminated, it is doubly unobservable.
- 8/18 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury: The Moon and Mercury will be aligned in the same right ascension. The Moon will appear at mag -9.0 and Mercury at mag 0.6, both situated in the constellation Leo. Although the pair will not fit in the field of view of a telescope or binoculars, they will be visible to the naked eye.
- 8/18 κ-Cygnid Meteor Shower: Whenever the radiant point of the κ-Cygnid meteor shower, situated in the Draco constellation, is visible above the horizon, there is a possibility to witness κ-Cygnid meteors, and the number of observable meteors escalates as the radiant point elevates in the sky.
- 8/18 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The Moon and Mars will be in the same right ascension. Both celestial bodies will be in the constellation Virgo, with the Moon shining at mag -9.4 and Mars at mag 1.8. While a telescope is insufficient to capture the entire pair, they can still be observed with the naked eye or binoculars.
- 8/24 Moon at First Quarter: At this stage of its monthly phase cycle, the Moon will be almost exactly half-illuminated.
- 8/30 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension. Although the pair will be too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 8/30 Blue Moon: A blue moon is any full moon that occurs as the second full moon within a single month.
Breakdown
- 9/1 Aurigid Meteor Shower: During this period, the meteor shower's radiant point, which is located in the Auriga constellation, will be above the horizon. As the radiant point rises higher in the sky, the chances of seeing Aurigid meteors increases.
- 9/4 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: Both the Moon and Jupiter will be located in the constellation Aries, with the Moon shining at magnitude -12.3 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.7. Although the pair will be too widely spaced to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will be visible with the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 9/6 Moon at Last Quarter: During this phase in its monthly cycle, it will appear almost exactly half-illuminated.
- 9/9 September ε-Perseid Meteor Shower: September ε-Perseid meteors can be observed whenever the shower's radiant point, located in the Perseus constellation, is above the horizon, with the peak rate of meteors expected to occur on this day.
- 9/13 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury: The Moon and Mercury will be located in the constellation Leo, with the Moon having a magnitude of -8.1 and Mercury having a magnitude of 2.0.
- 9/14 New Moon: During the new moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are nearly aligned, with the Moon positioned in front of the Sun's glare. At this point, we see almost the opposite half of the Moon compared to the Sun, making it doubly unobservable because the side we see is not illuminated.
- 9/16 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars: The Moon and Mars will be located in the constellation Virgo and will have magnitudes of -8.7 and 1.7, respectively. Although the pair will be too widely separated to fit in a telescope's field of view, they will be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars. Observing the Moon during daylight hours requires extreme caution to avoid looking at the Sun.
- 9/22 Moon at First Quarter: The Moon will be in a phase where it appears almost exactly half-illuminated.
- 9/23 September Equinox: The September equinox marks the beginning of autumn for those residing in the northern hemisphere and the start of spring for those living in the southern hemisphere. During this equinox, there is almost an equal duration of day and night, lasting for about 12 hours each, as the Sun's journey through the zodiac constellations brings it across the celestial equator.
- 9/26 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon and Saturn will be in the same right ascension, they will also have a close approach, which is technically called an appulse. Both Moon and Saturn will be in the constellation Aquarius, with the Moon shining at mag -12.7 and Saturn at mag 0.4. Although the pair will be too widely separated to fit in the field of view of a telescope, they will still be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars.
- 9/28 Daytime Sextantid Meteor Shower: During this time, observers may spot Daytime Sextantid meteors when the radiant point, located in the constellation Sextans, is visible above the horizon. The number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point moves higher in the sky.
- 9/29 Full Moon: The upcoming full moon will mark the point in the lunar cycle where the Moon is fully illuminated and visible for most of the night. The "harvest moon" is said to be the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox.
Breakdown
- 10/1 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: The Moon and Jupiter will coincide in right ascension, with the Moon passing 3°23' north of Jupiter. Additionally, they will make a close approach, known as an appulse. In the constellation Aries, the Moon will shine at mag -12.6 and Jupiter at mag -2.8. While they will be too far apart to fit in a telescope's field of view, they will be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars.
- 10/6 October Camelopardalid Meteor Shower: The number of visible meteors increases as long as the shower's radiant point – located in the constellation Draco – rises higher in the sky, making it possible to spot October Camelopardalid meteors when it is above the horizon.
- 10/6 Moon at Last Quarter: At this phase of the lunar cycle, the Moon appears half illuminated.
- 10/9 Draconid Meteor Shower: During this time, the shower's radiant point - located in the constellation Draco - will offer an opportunity to observe the meteors whenever it is above the horizon. The higher the radiant point is in the sky, the greater the number of visible meteors.
- 10/10 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: On the day when the Moon will be 25 days old, it will share the same right ascension with Venus. They will also make a close approach known as an appulse. Although too widely separated for telescopes or binoculars, they will still be visible to the naked eye.
- 10/10 Southern Taurid Meteor Shower: During this time, Southern Taurid meteors can be observed when the radiant point - located in the constellation Cetus - is above the horizon, with more meteors visible as the radiant point is higher in the sky.
- 10/11 δ-Aurigid Meteor Shower: Whenever the shower's radiant point is above the horizon in the constellation Auriga, there will be a chance of seeing δ-Aurigid meteors. Fortunately for some parts of the world, the radiant point will be visible all night, meaning the shower will be active throughout the hours of darkness.
- 10/14 New Moon: During the new moon phase, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are roughly aligned, with the Moon located in the middle, blocking the Sun's light. As a result, the Moon's illuminated side faces away from us, making it invisible due to its unilluminated side facing us.
- 10/14 Annular Solar Eclipse: An annular solar eclipse will occur, wherein the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, resulting in the Moon blocking the central part of the Sun's disk, creating a ring of fire effect.
- 10/18 ε-Geminid Meteor Shower: During this time, the shower's radiant point in the constellation Gemini will be visible above the horizon, and the number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point gets higher in the sky.
- 10/21 Moon at First Quarter: During this time, it will appear to be almost exactly half illuminated.
- 10/22 Orionid meteor shower: Whenever the shower's radiant point, located in the constellation Orion, is above the horizon during this period, there will be a chance of seeing Orionid meteors. The higher the radiant point is in the sky, the greater the number of visible meteors.
- 10/22 Comet 2P/Encke passes perihelion: Comet 2P/Encke will reach its closest point to the Sun at a distance of 0.34 AU.
- 10/24 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon and Saturn will have the same right ascension and will be in close proximity, an event called an appulse. Both objects will be located in the constellation Aquarius, with the Moon having a magnitude of -12.4 and Saturn with a magnitude of 0.5. While they will not fit into the field of view of a telescope due to their distance from each other, they will be visible to the naked eye or with binoculars.
- 10/25 Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower: The radiant point, located in the constellation Leo Minor, will be above the horizon during this period, offering a chance to witness these meteors.Although the radiant point will be too wide for telescopes to observe, it will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 10/28 Partial Lunar Eclipse: A partial lunar eclipse will occur as the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. This event will be visible from any location where the Moon is above the horizon, including Asia, Russia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, Antarctica, and Oceania.
- 10/28 Full Moon: During the upcoming full moon phase, the moon will be visible for a significant portion of the night, rising around dusk and setting near dawn. The full moon occurring in October or November is often called the "Hunter's Moon", one of several names assigned to full moons throughout the year based on the month or season they fall in.
- 10/29 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: On a certain night, the Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension and the Moon, which will be 15 days old, will pass 3°08' north of Jupiter, resulting in a close approach known as an appulse. Both objects will appear in the constellation Aries, with the Moon shining at mag -12.7 and Jupiter at mag -2.9, making them visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
Breakdown
- 11/5 Moon at Last Quarter: During this phase in its monthly cycle of phases, the moon appears to be almost exactly half illuminated.
- 11/9 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: During this celestial event, the Moon and Venus will have the same right ascension, this occurrence is also known as an appulse. The Moon and Venus will both appear in the constellation Virgo with magnitudes of -10.6 and -4.3, respectively. While the pair will be too far apart to fit into a telescope's field of view, they will still be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars.
- 11/12 Northern Taurid Meteor Shower: During this period, Northern Taurid meteors can be observed whenever the shower's radiant point is visible in the constellation Taurus.
- 11/13 New Moon: During a new moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun align in a nearly straight line configuration, with the Moon positioned between the Earth and the Sun, causing the Moon to be visible against the Sun's brightness.
- 11/14 Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury: During the Moon's first day, it will share the same right ascension with Mercury. Both will be located in the constellation Scorpius. Although they will be too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, they can be seen with the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 11/18 Leonid Meteor Shower: Whenever the shower's radiant point in the constellation Leo is above the horizon, there will be a chance of seeing Leonid meteors. The number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point gets higher in the sky.
- 11/20 Moon at First Quarter: During this phase in its monthly cycle of phases, the moon appears to be almost exactly half illuminated.
- 11/20 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: The Moon and Saturn will coincide in right ascension and at the same time the two celestial bodies will have a close approach, which is technically known as an appulse. Both the Moon and Saturn will be in the constellation of Aquarius. Although the pair will not fit within a telescope's field of view, they will be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars.
- 11/22 α-Monocerotid Meteor Shower: During this period, there will be a possibility of observing meteors from the α-Monocerotid shower whenever its radiant point, located in the Canis Minor constellation, is visible above the horizon. The number of visible meteors is expected to increase as the radiant point moves higher in the sky.
- 11/25 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: When the Moon and Jupiter rise, they will have the same right ascension. At this time, there will also be a close approach, known as an appulse. Both objects will be located in the constellation Aries. Although the objects will be too far apart to be seen in a telescope, they will be visible to the naked eye or with binoculars.
- 11/27 Full Moon: The Moon will be at its full phase, shining brightly throughout the night and setting around dawn after rising at dusk. Any full moon in November is typically called the "Beaver Moon" according to the Farmers' Almanac.
- 11/28 November Orionid Meteor Shower: During this time, there will be a chance to see meteors from the shower whenever the shower's radiant point, located in the Orion constellation, is visible above the horizon. The number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point rises higher in the sky.
Breakdown
- 12/4 Moon at Last Quarter: During this phase in its monthly cycle of phases, the moon appears to be almost exactly half illuminated.
- 12/6 December φ-Cassiopeid Meteor Shower: During this time, viewers will have the opportunity to witness the December φ-Cassiopeid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point, located in the Andromeda constellation, is above the horizon. The number of visible meteors will increase the higher the radiant point is in the sky.
- 12/9 Monocerotid Meteor Shower: During this time, viewers have the opportunity to see Monocerotid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point, located in the Monoceros constellation, is above the horizon. The visibility of the shower will increase as the radiant point rises higher in the sky.
- 12/9 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus: On a particular day, the Moon and Venus will have the same right ascension and the Moon will pass 3°38' to the south of Venus. At this time, the Moon will be 26 days old. Additionally, the two objects will also have a close approach, or appulse. Both objects will be in the constellation Virgo, with the Moon having a magnitude of -10.3 and Venus a magnitude of -4.1. While they will be too far apart to fit into a telescope's field of view, they will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars. It is important to exercise caution when observing the Moon during the day while the Sun is above the horizon.
- 12/12 σ-Hydrid Meteor Shower: During this time, viewers will have a chance of observing the σ-Hydrid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point, located in the constellation Hydra, is visible above the horizon. The number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point rises higher in the sky.
- 12/14 Geminid Meteor Shower: During this period, viewers have a chance of witnessing Geminid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point - located in the constellation Gemini - is above the horizon. The number of visible meteors will increase as the radiant point ascends higher in the sky.
- 12/16 Comae Berenicid Meteor Shower: During this time, there will be an opportunity to witness Comae Berenicid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point, situated in the constellation Leo, is visible above the horizon. The number of visible meteors is likely to increase as the radiant point climbs higher in the sky.
- 12/17 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn: On a certain date, the Moon and Saturn will have the same right ascension. Moreover, the two objects will also experience a close approach, technically known as an appulse. Both located in the constellation Aquarius. While the pair will be too distant to fit within the field of view of a telescope, it will still be visible through a pair of binoculars or to the naked eye.
- 12/19 Moon at First Quarter: During this phase in its monthly cycle of phases, the moon appears to be almost exactly half illuminated.
- 12/20 December Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower: During this time, there is a possibility of observing December Leonis Minorid meteors whenever the shower's radiant point is above the horizon in the constellation Leo Minor, and the number of visible meteors increases as the radiant point elevates in the sky.
- 12/21 December Solstice: The northern hemisphere will experience its shortest day of the year, also known as midwinter day. On this day, the Sun's annual journey through the constellations of the zodiac will reach its most southerly point in the sky, located in the constellation of Capricornus at a declination of 23.5°S. This day is recognized by astronomers as the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. Conversely, the southern hemisphere will experience the Sun above the horizon for longer than any other day of the year, marking the first day of summer as defined by astronomers. Observing from locations on the tropic of Capricorn at a latitude of 23.5°S, the Sun will appear overhead at noon during the solstice.
- 12/22 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: On a certain day, the Moon and Jupiter will have the same right ascension. The two objects will approach each other closely, which is called an appulse. Both the Moon and Jupiter will be in the constellation Aries. Although the pair will not fit within the field of view of a telescope, they will be easily visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.
- 12/23 Ursid Meteor Shower: During this period, the chances of witnessing Ursid meteors increase as long as the shower's radiant point, situated in the Ursa Minor constellation, is visible above the horizon. The higher the radiant point, the more visible the meteors will be.
- 12/26 Full Moon: The Moon will soon be at full phase, making it visible for most of the night, from dusk until dawn. Despite the diverse names throughout history, the Farmers' Almanac's labels any full moon in December as the "Cold" Moon.
Do you know of any upcoming events that we missed? Be sure to comment below and spread the word!
Most of these events are visible to the naked eye however, if you wish to view these in detail, check out our large selection of telescopes! If you have any questions about purchasing a telescope or need to know more, please contact us. The OPT team will be glad to steer you towards the best possible telescope to begin your journey into the world of astronomy. Happy observing!
2 Responses
Dave Nicholson
Anything new with the approaching comet?
Joe Miles
January 11, 2023
One of those stargazers who live ‘downunder’, so its good to see you mention which Hemisphere you need to be in when stating which side of moon appears illuminated. Appreciated.