You’ve still got a solar eclipse and the chance to see a brand new meteor shower.
Every twelvemonth feature ups and downs forstargazersand distance fancier . In 2022 , there was theArtemis launching , along with some beautiful eclipses , a lovely lunar eclipse ofMars , and other outcome that keep us looking up to the sky . The downs were largely about meteoroid showers . For two years , meteor shower peaks were landing awfully stuffy to a full moon , making them not quite as spectacular as we like .
In 2023 , things have changed and they ’ve also remain the same , as you might expect . There have been some beautiful events to overtake and quite a few meteor showers that have shown off a small more than they have in recent years . Those events have include approximate - thoroughgoing condition forthe Perseid meteoroid shower bath , somestunning supermoons , and lot more to keep us stargazer pig out .
Although summertime ’s almost done and the year is almost half over , there ’s still plenty more to come . There’sa " ring of ardor " solar eclipse , the electric potential to becharm an entirely new meteor cascade , and much more .
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Do n’t lack any of the alluring drawing card in the dark sky yet this year . Here are the most exciting meteor rain shower and stargazing effect use up position afterwards in 2023 .
A Rare Blue Supermoon
When : August 30The third of four supermoonsfor 2023 will be the year ’s biggest and brightest . What exactly qualify as a supermoon ? It is8 % bigger and 16 % brighterthan a typical full Sun Myung Moon , due to its propinquity to the Earth , as NPR notes . It is a rare occurrence to see a low-spirited supermoon , and the next prison term we ’ll be able-bodied to delight one will be August 2032 , nine twelvemonth from now . The moon will peak at 9:36 premier ET on August 30 , and you canuse this moonrise calculatorto see when it will be most visible where you live .
Draconids Meteor Shower
Peak : October 8 - 9Unlike the Perseids , the Draconids meteoroid shower is n’t typically a huge celestial event , but it ’s still something to be delirious about this fall . The Draconids this yr fall between October 6 and 10 ( with the summit falling between October 8 and 9 ) , and they commonly have a rate of 10 meteors per hour . otherwise than most showers , the best prison term to catch the Draconids is in the early evening rather than early in the morning .
A Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse
When : October 14There is no total solar eclipse in 2023 , but there is a fond occultation that will be visible across the US . Even substantially , a stretch from southern Oregon , through Nevada , and into southerly Texas will see an annularring of flack occultation . The lunar month will pass right through the centre of the sun , allow a ring of solar blast burning in the sky around the moon ’s shadow . This will be a skillful teaser forthe 2024 total solar eclipsethat will blotch across the US .
Orionids Meteor Shower
Peak : October 21 - 22This is an other break of day shower . Head out very recently at night or too soon in the dawn to see this fireball - plentiful shower that stems from Halley ’s Comet . At that time , the first quarter moon will have ready , providing good conditions for meteor take in . require to see around 20 - 30 shooting star per hour .
Leonids Meteor Shower
flush : November 17 - 18With up to 15 meteors per hour during its peak , the Leonids is an medium shower , but it has a peculiar trait . About every 33 years , it has a " cyclonic peak , " where it flaunts hundreds of meteors per hr . The last one occurred in 2001 , so unfortunately , there ’s still a few eld to go until the next one . This year , the Leonids will run from November 6 to November 30 , peaking on the night of November 17 and the next break of the day .
A Brand New Meteor Shower
visor : December 11 - 12This is a " altogether new meteor shower , " Bill Cooke of NASA ’s Meteoroid Environment Office tell apart Thrillist , with meteor come from the debris of Comet 46P / Wirtanen . It is not entirely known what we ’ll see . We could have a new meteoroid shower that put on a decent display , or we might not see a whole tidy sum , Cooke say . It ’s a minute of a head mark at the moment . That ’s why there is n’t a projection on how many meteors per time of day you ’ll see . Cooke says that your best stake for seeing this new showing will be viewing from Asia and the Pacific coasts . You might get a bit of a eyeshot from the west coast of the US as well .
Geminids Meteor Shower
vertex : December 13 - 14The Geminids are one of two showers — along with the Perseids — that are pretty reliably the most exciting of the year . Cooke says that " atmospheric condition are quite favourable " for the Geminids in 2023 . You wo n’t be competing with moonlight and could see upwards of 100 meteors per hour . Jay Cooke mention that he would urge stargazers get out on the Nox of December 13 , but that there will be good viewing on the night of December 14 as well .
Here’s What You Missed
A Celestial Trio Met Up
When : January 22 & 23On January 22 , the Venus and Saturn got close to one another . EarthSkynoted that they would be less than one-half of a level asunder in the sky . That ’s closemouthed enough that you could see them simultaneously through field glasses . The night after that get together , they were a little further apart , but were bring together by a tenuous crescent moon , form a lovely tableau .
A Lunar Occultation
When : January 30We understand alunar occultation in Decemberwhen the Sun Myung Moon eclipsed Mars . That occur once more in January . As the night proceeded , the moon moved towards Mars , covering it up for a while . The eclipse was visible in the southern US , as well as throughout Mexico and Central America .
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Peak : April 22 - 23This was the first expert chance to see a meteor shower in 2023 . Cooke predicted " excellent conditions " for the Lyrids on the night of April 22 into the morning of April 23 . The shower bath landed " right around the fresh moon " supply nearly perfect atmospheric condition for the video display . Though , the Lyrids still only showed about 10 meteors per hour .
Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower
superlative : May 5 - 6The video display that rains down from the debris of Comet Halley had an outburst this year . When a exhibitioner has an outburst , the meteor charge per unit blow up . Though , bear your excitement for the mo . The Eta Aquariids usually have 30 - 40 meteors per hour under perfect conditions . This twelvemonth , that pace was up 100 per hour . However , the fast - moving meteors arrive near a full moon , which significantly reduced the number of meteors that were actually visible . It was still deserving a look .
Two Planets, the Moon, and the Solstice
When : June 21On the night of the summer solstice , there was a nice scene in the western sky . The waxing crescent Sun Myung Moon sat next to bright Venus and the pretty dimmer Mars .
Even More Planets Came Together
When : July 19 - 21For three nights , a mickle of planets was hanging out together in the west . Venus was shinny brilliantly scummy in the sky . A little high in the sky , there was find Mars . Slightly brilliant than Mars was the impressively lambent genius Regulus . And , if you were under clear sky and experience out right around twilight , you might have even spotted Mercury , which never gets too high in the sky . Mercury sat near the visible horizon right about where the sunshine sets . to boot , astronomer could discover the lunation connect that foursome , arise higher and showing a little more of its surface on each of the three nights . On July 20 , it sat just above Regulus and to the right of ruby-red Mars . It start up commit away a bit and sitting higher than the planets and wizard on July 21 .
Perseids Meteor Shower
Peak : August 12 - 13This is almost always a highlight of the stargazing calendar . Cooke told Thrillist that " observing conditions [ were ] fantabulous " in 2023 . Stargazers could catch around 100 meteors per hour at a great time of yr to be outdoors looking up . Cooke recommend stargazers to head out the night of August 12 . However , there were good conditions on the nighttime of August 13 as well .
Ready to go stargazing?
Here are allthe dear stargazing eventsthat you could get out and see this month or you could stay in astream the northerly lightsfrom abode . If you ’re just getting started , stop out ourguide to uranology for beginnersoreasy stargazing road trip from big US cities .
Photo by Gabriel Gonzalez (noctografia) / 500px via Getty Images
