| Image |
Date |
Event |
Description |
| January |
 | 01 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
 | 01 | Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 22.7 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise. |
 | 03 | Quadrantids Meteor Shower. | The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. Unfortunately the nearly full moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. If you are patient, you should still be able to catch some of the brightest ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
 | 08 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
 | 16 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
 | 24 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 31 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
 | 31 | Total Lunar Eclipse | A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of western North America, eastern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean. |
| February |
| 07 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 15 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
 | 15 | Partial Solar Eclipse | A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun's reflection. This partial eclipse will only be visible in parts of Chile, Argentina, and Antarctica. |
| 23 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| March |
| 01 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 09 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 15 | Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 18.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset. |
| 17 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
 | 20 | March Equinox | The March equinox occurs at 16:15 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 24 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 31 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| April |
| 08 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 15 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 22 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 22 | Lyrids Meteor Shower | The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies for the what could be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 29 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 29 | Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 27 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise. |
| May |
| 06 | Eta Aquarids | The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The waning gibbous moon will block most of the fainter meteors this year, but you should be able to catch quite A few good ones if you are patient. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 07 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 09 | Jupiter at Opposition | The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet. |
| 15 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 21 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 29 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| June |
| 06 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 13 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 20 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 21 | June Solstice | The June solstice occurs at 10:07 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 27 | Saturn at Opposition | The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings and a few of its brightest moons. |
| 28 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| July |
| 06 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 12 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 12 | Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 26.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset. |
| 13 | Partial Solar Eclipse | A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun's reflection. This partial eclipse will only be visible in extreme southern Australia and Antarctica. |
| 19 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 27 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 27 | Total Lunar Eclipse | A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of Europe, Africa, western and central Asia, the Indian Ocean, and Western Australia. |
| 27 | Mars at Opposition | The red planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars. A medium-sized telescope will allow you to see some of the dark details on the planet's orange surface. |
| 28 | Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower | The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The nearly full moon will be a problem this year, blocking out all but the brightest meteors. But if you are patient, you should still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| August |
| 04 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 11 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 11 | Partial Solar Eclipse | A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun's reflection. The partial eclipse will be visible in parts of northeast Canada, Greenland, extreme northern Europe, and northern and eastern Asia. It will be best seen in northern Russia with 68% coverage. |
| 12 | Perseids Meteor Shower | The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 17 | Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation | The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 45.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset. |
| 18 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 26 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 26 | Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 18.3 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise. |
| September |
| 02 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 07 | Neptune at Opposition | The blue giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes. |
| 09 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 16 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 23 | September Equinox | The September equinox occurs at 01:54 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 24 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| October |
| 02 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| 08 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 08 | Draconids Meteor Shower | The Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other showers. The shower runs annually from October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the night of the 8th. This will be an excellent year to observe the Draconids because there will be no moonlight to spoil the show. Best viewing will be in the early evening from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 16 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 21 | Orionids Meteor Shower | The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The nearly full moon will block some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Orionids tend to be fairly bright so it could still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 23 | Uranus at Opposition | The blue-green planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes. |
| 24 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 31 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| November |
| 05 | Taurids Meteor Shower | The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of November 5. The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for viewing. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 06 | Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 23.3 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset. |
| 07 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 15 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 17 | Leonids Meteor Shower | The Leonids is an average shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. The waxing gibbous moon will set shortly after midnight leaving fairly dark skies for what could be a good early morning show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 23 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 29 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
| December |
| 07 | New Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunrise) |
| 13 | Geminids Meteor Shower | The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent early morning show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 15 | First Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at noon) |
| 15 | Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation | The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 21.3 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise. |
| 21 | December Solstice | The December solstice occurs at 22:23 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 21 | Ursids Meteor Shower | The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. This year the glare from the full moon will hide all but the brightest meteors. If you are extremely patient, you might still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky. |
| 22 | Full Moon | Moon Phase (Rises at sunset) |
| 29 | Last Quarter | Moon Phase (Rises at midnight) |
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