Astronomical events to look for in 2020

The calendar will flip to 2020 on Wednesday, and there’s a lot to look forward to in the sky.

For all our skywatchers, this article is one you’ll want to save and reference throughout the year. From meteor showers to supermoons and eclipses to planets aligning, this year has it all. Here are just a few of the standouts:

Quadrantids meteor shower, Jan. 4

The Quadrantids have been known to produce over 100 meteors per hour, but the peak of this shower only lasts a few hours. The meteors radiate from the constellation

Quadrans Muralis the Mural Quadrants, located near the Big Dipper in the north-northeaster sky. The best time to view will be after midnight and highest before dawn.

Supermoon, Feb. 9, March 9, April 8, May 7

A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. It may appear slightly larger and brighter in the night sky. There are four supermoons in 2020.

Lyrid meteor shower, April 22

The Lyrid meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers of the year. About 10 to 15 meteors per hour can be expected around the shower’s peak. They’ve also been known to have surges of meteors that could produce as many as 100 shooting stars per hour. Radiating from the constellation Lyra in the northeast, and rising around 10 p.m., the shower will last for several days between April 16 to 25. The peak is predicted to be shortly before dawn on April 22. Also, the moon will be entering a New Moon phase, so the sky will be very dark.

Penumbral lunar eclipse, July 4-5

The penumbral lunar eclipse will begin at 11:07 p.m. on the Fourth of July and end at 1:52 a.m. on July 5 for Dayton. Only part of the moon will be eclipsed as the Earth’s main shadow will not cast directly over the moon. Unlike a typical lunar eclipse, it may be difficult to see as only a little bit of the moon is eclipsed and will only appear a bit fainter than the rest of the moon.

Perseid meteor shower, Aug. 11, 12, 13

The Perseid meteor shower dazzles the sky every year and may be considered the favorite amongst stargazers. These meteors radiate from the constellation Perseus the Hero, but you don’t need to know where this constellation is located because meteors can be spotted throughout the sky. This meteor shower intensifies late night through the predawn hours.

Orionids meteor shower, Oct. 21

The Orionids can produce around 10 to 20 meteors per hour. This year they will occur after the crescent moon has set in the evening, allowing for a very dark, moonless sky. The Orionids have also been known to produce bright fireballs. The best time to view them is in the wee hours before dawn.

Blue moon, Oct. 31

The second full moon of a month is called a “blue moon.” That’s what will happen on Oct. 31, Halloween night, making it an extra eerie night.

Leonids meteor shower, Nov. 17

The Leonids are one of the most active meteor showers of the year. Radiating from the constellation Leo, the Leonids can produce up to 15 meteors per hour. Like many meteor showers, the intensity will pick up after midnight and into the predawn

hours of Nov. 17.

Penumbral lunar eclipse, Nov. 30

Another penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on Nov. 30, beginning at 2:32 a.m. and last until 6:53 a.m. for Dayton. As stated above, penumbral means only part of the moon will be eclipsed as the Earth’s main shadow will not cast directly over the moon.

Geminid meteor shower, Dec. 13-14

The Geminids radiate from the constellation Gemini. These meteors are known to be bold and bright. You can sometimes catch as many as 50 meteors per hour streaming across the sky on a dark night. The peak of this shower will fall around 2 a.m. between Dec. 13-14. An almost new moon will provide a dark sky.

Great solstice conjunction, Dec. 21

Every 20 years the planets Jupiter and Saturn appear to be right on top of one another in the sky. This year on the winter solstice the two giant planets will look to be just 0.06 degrees apart in the western sky after sunset. This won’t happen again until 2040.