Celestial calendar: Biggest ’24 astronomical events
The upcoming year has lots to offer skywatchers and stargazers: a total solar eclipse and two lunar eclipses and a dozen meteor showers, along with a year’s worth of full moons.
This 2024 celestial calendar offers a comprehensive overview of key astronomical events throughout the year. It includes the dates and names of every full moon, meteor shower and eclipse in the coming year.
Full moons brighten the night sky and offer monthly reminders of lunar phases. Meteor showers, including stunners such as the Perseids and Geminids, promise moments of awe and inspiration as shooting stars streak across the heavens. And the solar and lunar eclipses will offer remarkable opportunities to witness celestial alignments.
We hope this roundup of 2024 astronomical events helps you connect with the cosmos and marvel at the wonders of our universe.
Full moon schedule 2024
Beyond their cultural and aesthetic appeal, full moons have practical implications in fields like astronomy, ecology and even folklore, where they influence animal behavior and farming practices. Full moons serve as a natural calendar, helping humans track the passage of time and marking significant dates for various cultural, religious and practical purposes.
Jan. 25: Wolf Moon.
Feb. 24: Snow Moon.
March 25: Worm Moon.
April 23: Pink Moon.
May 23: Flower Moon.
June 21: Strawberry Moon.
July 21: Buck Moon.
Aug. 19: Sturgeon Moon
Sept. 17: Harvest Moon.
Oct. 17: Hunter’s Moon.
Nov. 15: Beaver Moon.
Dec. 15: Cold Moon.
Solar and lunar eclipses in 2024
The 2024 total solar eclipse will likely be the highlight of the year for many skywatchers, offering a rare chance to witness the sun completely blocked by the moon.
But let us not forget about the two lunar eclipses, which occur when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to be cast on the moon’s surface. Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun are closely aligned, typically during a full moon.
March 25: Penumbral lunar eclipse: This eclipse will be subtle, visible from the Americas, western Europe
● April 8: Total solar eclipse: This solar eclipse will be visible in North America. The path of totality will stretch from the southwestern United States through the central and northeastern parts of the country and up into eastern Canada.
● Sept. 17: Penumbral lunar eclipse: This lunar eclipse will be visible from the Americas, Europe and Africa.
Every meteor shower in 2024
Meteor showers offer a spectacular display of bright, fast-moving fireballs streaking across the night sky. These celestial events provide a tangible connection to our solar system’s past and ongoing activities, as the meteors are remnants of comets and asteroids. Here are the peak dates of 2024 meteor showers.
● Jan. 3-4: Quadrantid meteor shower: Quadrantids are known for their short, intense peak. They are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere.
● April 21-22: Lyrid meteor shower: The Lyrids are usually a moderate meteor shower, best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.
● May 6-7: Eta Aquariid meteor shower: The Eta Aquariids are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere and can be a prolific, producing fast and bright meteors.
● July 30-31: Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower: The Southern Delta Aquariids, associated with comet 96P/Machholz, can be seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Their fast, faint meteors radiate from the constellation Aquarius.
● July 29: Alpha Capricornid meteor shower: The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is known for producing a relatively small number of meteors but is notable for its bright, slow-moving fireballs. They can be seen in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
● Aug. 12-13: Perseid meteor shower: The Perseids are one of the most popular meteor showers of the year, offering a good show for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere. They are known for their bright meteors and are often a favorite for meteor enthusiasts.
● Oct. 7: Draconids meteor shower: The Draconids is a minor meteor shower
producing about 10 meteors per hour that can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere.
● Oct. 21-22: Orionid meteor shower: The Orionids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere and are known for their fast-moving meteors associated with Halley’s Comet.
● Nov. 4-5: Taurid meteor shower: The Taurids are known for their long duration and relatively low meteor rate. They are visible in the Southern and Northern hemispheres.
● Nov. 17-18: Leonid meteor shower: The Leonids have produced some of the most impressive meteor storms in history. While such storms are infrequent, the Leonids are worth watching and can be seen in both hemispheres.
● Dec. 13-14: Geminid meteor shower: The Geminids are one of the most reliable and active meteor showers of the year, producing a high number of bright meteors. The Geminid meteor shower is most prominent in the Northern Hemisphere but can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
● Dec. 21-22: Ursid meteor shower: The Ursids are associated with the comet 8P/Tuttle and the shower’s radiant point appears to originate from the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). The Ursid meteor shower is visible in the Northern Hemisphere.