The Top Astronomical Events of 2024: A Yearly Guide

These 2024 events promises a calendar filled with fascinating celestial events. From meteor showers to solar eclipses, each month offers something unique to witness in the night sky. Here's your monthly guide to the most notable astronomical events of 2024.

January

• Jan 3: Earth’s Perihelion - Earth at its closest to the Sun.

• Jan 3/4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower - Up to 40 meteors per hour.

• Jan 11: New Moon - Ideal for observing faint sky objects.

• Jan 12: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West - Best viewed before sunrise.

• Jan 25: Wolf Moon - The first Full Moon of the year.

February

• Feb 9: Super New Moon - A great night for stargazing.

• Feb 24: Snow Micromoon - Full Moon known as the Snow Moon.

March

• Mar 10: Super New Moon - Perfect for observing galaxies and star clusters.

• Mar 20: March Equinox - Equal day and night duration.

• Mar 22: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks - Potential visibility with the naked eye. offering a great 2024 event

• Mar 24: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East - Visible after sunset.

• Mar 24/25: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse - Visible across Americas.

• Mar 25: Worm Micromoon - full moon appearing smaller in the sky. Named after the earthworms that reappear at this time.

April

• Apr 1: Global Astronomy Month - A month-long celebration.

• Apr 8: Total Solar Eclipse - Visible in Mexico, USA, and Canada.

• Apr 8: Super New Moon - The final Super New Moon of 2024.

• Apr 21/22: Lyrid Meteor Shower - Produces about 20 meteors per hour.

• Apr 23: Pink Moon - Named after wild ground phlox.

Earth shine is when the dark part of the moon is illuminated by the light of the sun reflected off the Earth like in this photo

May

• May 4/5: Earthshine Mornings - Best time to see Earthshine on the Moon.

• May 5/6: Eta Aquarid Meteors - Up to 60 meteors per hour in the Southern Hemisphere.

• May 8: New Moon - A moonless night for sky observation.

• May 9: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West - View before sunrise.

• May 11/12: Earthshine Nights - Ideal for witnessing Earthshine.

• May 23: Flower Moon - Named after spring flowers.

June

• Jun 6: New Moon - Another opportunity for deep-sky observing.

• Jun 20: June Solstice - Longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Jun 22: Strawberry Moon - Named for strawberry harvesting season.

July

• Jul 5: Earth’s Aphelion - Earth farthest from the Sun.

• Jul 5: New Moon - Perfect for stargazing.

• Jul 21: Buck Moon - Named for new antlers on deer bucks.

• Jul 22: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East - Visible after sunset.

August

• Aug 4: New Moon - Dark skies for observing.

• Aug 12/13: Perseid Meteors - One of the brightest meteor showers.

• Aug 14: Conjunction of Mars and Jupiter - A notable close approach.

• Aug 19: Blue Sturgeon Moon - The third Full Moon of the season.

• Aug 21: Lunar Occultation of Saturn - The Moon passes close to Saturn.

• Aug 28: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - Expected to be near perihelion.

September

• Sep 3: New Moon - Ideal for observing faint objects.

• Sep 5: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West - Best in the morning sky.

• Sep 8: Saturn at Opposition - Best views of Saturn.

• Sep 17/18: Partial Lunar Eclipse - Visible from many regions.

• Sep 18: Super Harvest Moon - The Full Moon closest to the September equinox.

• Sep 22: September Equinox - Start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

October

• Oct 2: Annular Solar Eclipse - 'Ring of fire' eclipse.

• Oct 2: Micro New Moon - Coincides with the solar eclipse.

• Oct 8/9: Draconid Meteor Shower - Best after nightfall.

• Oct 17: Super Hunter’s Moon - Second Super Full Moon of the year.
  

November

• Nov 1: New Moon, an excellent time for stargazing.

• Nov 15: Full Beaver Supermoon, signaling the time to set beaver traps.

• Nov 17/18: Leonids Meteor Shower, known for its spectacular show.

December

• Dec 1: New Moon, providing an opportunity to observe galaxies.

• Dec 15: Full Cold Moon, representing the start of winter.

• Dec 21: December Solstice, the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Dec 22/23: Ursids Meteor Shower, the last major meteor shower of the year.

Each event offers a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of the night sky. 2024's celestial events are sure to inspire and amaze. book a program now at AstroTours.org/book to catch these events up close in a telescope and with a professional astronomer.