The Summer Triangle is a famous asterism, consisting of 3 bright stars overhead in northern summer. But you can also easily see it through the northern autumn, and even into winter.
The Summer Triangle and its 3 stars
The Summer Triangle is the signature star formation in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer sky. However, as the September equinox comes and goes – and as the weeks of autumn begin to slide by – you’ll still notice this famous trio of stars. So, look for the Summer Triangle after dark in early November. It will actually continue to shine after dark in November and December, and is even visible still in January. Look for it tonight in the early evening, high in your western sky.
By the way, the Summer Triangle isn’t a constellation. It’s an asterism, or an obvious pattern or group of stars with a popular name. In fact, the Summer Triangle consists of three bright stars in three separate constellations. The bright star Vega is in Lyra the Harp. Deneb is in Cygnus the Swan. And Altair is in Aquila the Eagle.
In the month of June – around the June solstice – the Summer Triangle pops out in the east as darkness falls and shines all night long. But now – after sunset in November – the Summer Triangle appears high in the western evening sky. As evening deepens, the Summer Triangle descends westward, with all three of its stars staying above the horizon until mid-to-late evening.
Altair – the Summer Triangle’s southernmost star – will set around 10 to 11 p.m. tonight at mid-northern latitudes. Notice where you see the Summer Triangle at a given time this evening. The Summer Triangle will return to this same place in the sky some four minutes earlier with each passing day, or two hours earlier with each passing month.
The 2024 lunar calendars are here! Best Christmas gifts in the universe! Check ’em out here.
Look for Orion, too
Then as the Summer Triangle sinks close to the western horizon around mid-evening, turn around to see Orion the Hunter – the signpost constellation of winter – rising in the east.
Bottom line: Look westward this evening for the three brilliant stars of the humongous Summer Triangle: Vega, Deneb and Altair. In fact, you can still see the Summer Triangle through January.
Originally published by Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Astronomy.
💫 Watch the Sky! Comet Lemmon is brightening quickly as it approaches a close pass of the earth this month, according to astronomy.com. The first half of November is the best time to catch comet H2 Lemmon. Currently flying beneath the curved handle of the Big Dipper, Lemmon is highest in the early-morning hours before sunrise. Skywatchers should step outside any time after about 5 A.M. while the sky is still dark. Look north, where you’ll see the Big Dipper standing upright on the end of its handle. Right where the handle kinks is the famous naked-eye double of Mizar and Alcor. From this pair, swing binoculars or a telescope about 6° south-southwest to land smack dab on Lemmon.
No matter when you see it in the sky, Orion’s Belt always points to the sky’s brightest star, Sirius. On October mornings, Sirius and Orion can be found in the south before dawn. Southern Hemisphere? Look north and turn this chart upside down.
Watch for the brightest star, Sirius
The planet Venus is up at dawn now. And it’s very bright, much brighter than any other planet or star. But – at this time of year – we always get questions about another bright object in the dawn sky. Andy wrote:
Early this morning, looking south, I saw a beautiful star, bright and multicolored … Can you identify it for me?
And Paula wrote:
This morning two of us got up early. We found a pulsing star straight down the sky below Orion’s Belt. It was pulsing the colors of green, yellow, blue and red like a strobe light. I will search for it every morning as it was so enchanting.
If you’re up before daybreak on these October mornings, take a moment to see this star, which is the sky’s brightest star, Sirius. This star is so brilliant that you can even see it from a light-polluted city. And you can see it if you stay up late, too! It’s rising in the middle of the night now, as seen from around the globe, and is high in the sky – at its best – by dawn.
Want a specific view from your location on the globe? Visit Stellarium and enter your location.
What is that bright twinkling star?
This star is enchanting, so much so that – every year, beginning in Northern Hemisphere autumn – we get many, many questions about a multicolored star twinkling in the southeastern to southern sky after midnight. This star typically turns out to be Sirius, which is in the constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog and is sometimes called the Dog Star.
Why does Sirius twinkle so much?
Sirius appears to flash different colors when it’s low in the sky. Really, all the stars are flashing different colors, because light is composed of all the colors of a rainbow, and the journey through our atmosphere breaks starlight into its component colors via refraction. But you don’t notice the colors of the other stars much, because they’re not as bright as Sirius, which is the brightest star visible from anywhere on Earth.
Since our atmosphere is causing the light to break into its colors, and since Sirius is often seen low in the sky now (where you are peering at it through a thicker layer of atmosphere than when it’s overhead), the flashing colors of Sirius are very obvious. When Sirius is higher in the sky – which it is close to dawn in the month of October – or in the evening sky in January and February – you’ll find that Sirius shines with a steadier, whiter light.
So, on these October mornings, watch as Sirius winks at you in the wee hours before dawn!
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Daniel Friedman captured this shot from Montauk, New York, on December 13, 2020. Note bright Sirius is on the left, and Orion’s Belt points to it. Thank you, Daniel!
Bottom line: We get many questions about a bright, colorful, twinkling star on these October mornings. It’s the star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major, and the brightest star in the sky. Plus, you’ll know it’s Sirius, because Orion’s Belt always points to it.
Watch the Sky! It’s an exciting time for skywatchers as the “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse takes place on Saturday, October 14. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes over the sun, partially or completely blocking the sun’s rays. Although Maryland residents will only be able to see a partial eclipse, 30-40% depending on your location, it’s still an incredible sight – just remember to protect your eyes. Even viewing a partial eclipse requires some form of eye protection; it is never safe to look directly at the sun.
The bright star Capella in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer is the star in the northeast that flashes red, green and blue. Capella is bright at magnitude 0.24 and it’s low in the northeastern sky in the evenings. Around October in the Northern Hemisphere, many people look at this star and wonder if they’re seeing a UFO. To be sure you’ve found Capella, look for a little triangle of stars nearby. Capella is sometimes called the Goat Star, and this little asterism is called The Kids.
Capella is the colorful, twinkling star in the northeast
This evening, check out one of the flashiest stars in the sky. It’s so bright that every year in northern autumn, we get questions from people in the Northern Hemisphere who see a star twinkling with colorful flashes. It lies low in the northeastern sky at nightfall or early evening as seen from mid-northern locations. That star is Capella. The reason it’s so flashy is because it’s a bright star shining near the horizon, its light coming to us through our thick atmosphere. The wavering air makes its point of light jump around, split into colors and appear to flash.
If you could travel to it in space, you’d find that Capella is really two golden stars, both with roughly the same surface temperature as our local star, the sun … but both larger and brighter than our sun.
Capella is in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. Since antiquity, Capella’s nickname has been the Goat Star. You might pick it out just by gazing northeastward from a Northern Hemisphere latitude during the evening hours in October. Capella climbs upward through the night, and this month soars high overhead in the wee hours before dawn.
Why stars twinkle or flash
So, Capella is a golden point of light that flashes red and green when it’s low in the sky. Why does it do that?
The reality is that every star in the sky undergoes the same process as Capella when it twinkles. That is, every star’s light must shine through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching our eyes. But not every star flashes as noticeably as Capella. The flashes happen because Capella is low in the sky in the evening at this time of year. And, when you look at an object low in the sky, you’re looking through more atmosphere than when the same object is overhead.
The atmosphere splits or refracts the star’s light, just as a prism splits sunlight.
So that’s where Capella’s red and green flashes are coming from – not from the star itself – but from the refraction of its light by our atmosphere. When you see Capella higher in the sky, you’ll find that these glints of color will disappear.
By the way, why are these flashes of color so noticeable with Capella? The reason is simply that it’s a bright star. It’s the sixth brightest star in Earth’s sky, not including our sun.
Here are 2 other flashing stars of autumn
If the flashy star you’re seeing doesn’t seem to be Capella (wrong time, wrong location?), here are a couple other options. Arcturus is in the northwest at this time of year. Follow the curving handle of the Big Dipper toward the horizon, and if it hits the star you’re wondering about, then you’re looking at Arcturus in Boötes.
Another option is Sirius. If you’re waking before dawn this time of year, you’ll find Sirius toward the south. Check out the maps below to see which star is twinkling at you.
Look northwest soon after sunset in October to find the star Arcturus in the constellation Boötes and the Big Dipper asterism. The curve in the Dipper’s handle always points to Arcturus, one of autumn’s 3 flashiest stars. Just be sure to look not long after nightfall. Unlike Capella, which ascends in the northeastern sky throughout the evening, Arcturus sets not long after sunset.
Look southward before dawn to see the star Sirius in October. At this time of year, we get many, many questions about a multicolored star twinkling in the southeastern to southern sky after midnight. This star typically turns out to be Sirius, which is in the constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog and is sometimes called the Dog Star. Notice that a line from Orion’s Belt points to Sirius.
Bottom line: If you’re in Earth’s Northern Hemisphere and see a bright star twinkling with red and green flashes low in the northeast on October evenings, it’s probably Capella.
It’s tough to see on this chart (unless you already know it). But the huge asterism known as the Winter Circle is fully up in the morning sky now. And the waning crescent moon will pass in front of it, beginning Tuesday morning, September 5, 2023. Watch the moon that morning … and also September 6, 7, 8, and 9. The bright planets Venus and Jupiter will be nearby. And you might glimpse Comet Nishimura on those mornings.
Summer is drawing to a close for us in the Northern Hemisphere. Although it’s still hot outside across much of northern Earth, our days are rapidly shortening now and our nights are getting longer. Meanwhile, a major sign of winter looms large now in the predawn sky, as it does every year at this time. The waning crescent moon can guide your eye to this large lasso of stars – the Winter Circle – on the mornings of September 6-9, 2023.
The Winter Circle – also called the Winter Hexagon – is not a constellation. Instead, it’s an asterism, or recognizable pattern of stars. It consists of six stars in six different constellations. They are all associated with the winter sky for us in the Northern Hemisphere (summer sky for Southern Hemisphere).
Although it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, a major sign of winter now looms large in the morning sky. Let the waning crescent moon guide you to this great big lasso of stars known as the Winter Circle on the mornings of September 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2023. See the animation above showing the position of the moon.
Winter Circle’s 6 (or 7) bright stars
Do you know the constellation Orion the Hunter? It’s one of the best-known constellations in the night sky. Orion is big, but the Winter Circle is much bigger! Orion is in the southwest portion of the Winter Circle (lower right on our chart above). If you’ve never seen the Winter Circle, but are acquainted with Orion, this constellation presents a great jumping-off place for identifying these stars.
So look at our chart above and notice the star Rigel in Orion. Then start moving around the Circle clockwise. You’ll encounter Sirius in the constellation Canis Major the Big Dog, Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor the Smaller Dog, Pollux (and Castor) in the constellation Gemini the Twins, Capella in the constellation Auriga the charioteer, and Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Nearly all of the Winter Circle stars are 1st-magnitude stars. And that means they’re bright and easy to see.
The exception is the star Castor in Gemini. It’s not a 1st-magnitude star and not as bright as the other stars in the Winter Circle. But it’s pretty bright! In fact, it’s the sky’s brightest 2nd-magnitude star. If you include Castor as a Winter Circle star, then there are seven stars in the Circle.
When to see the Winter Circle
By the way, we don’t see the Winter Circle in June and July because it’s lost in the glare of the sun. However, in late August, the Winter Circle returns to the morning sky. So months from now, when it’s the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, we’ll see the Winter Circle in the evening sky.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jose Zarcos Palma in Mina Sao Domingo, Mertola, Portugal, took this image of the winter hexagon on December 26, 2022. Jose wrote: “I planned this composition to catch the great Winter Circle in an early stage of its ascension. We can clearly see Sirius in Canis Major the Greater Dog near the chimney on the right side. It’s just below Orion the Hunter. On top of the image, the planet Mars is near Aldebaran in Taurus the Bull.” Thank you, Jose!
Bottom line: The moon will be passing through the Winter Circle from September 5-9, 2023. Look east before dawn. The brilliant planet Venus and bright planet Jupiter are nearby.
The Perseid meteor shower is taking place now and peaks the night of August 12-13. This year, viewing should be great because the moon will only be about 10% full at that time, and the new moon takes place on August 17. While most of our public lands close at sundown, a few have opportunities for night sky viewing – check with your nearest Maryland State Park to find out where!
The August full moon happens twice in 2023! The 1st happens on August 1, and the 2nd on August 30-31. This chart shows the August 1 full moon. Like all full moons, it rises in the east around sunset. Bonus! This full moon lies near Saturn.
The 1st full supermoon on August 1
What is it? It’s the first of two full moons of August 2023. And it’s the second of four full supermoons in a row this year. It falls on August 1.
Where and when to look: Look for the bright, round moon in the east shortly after sunset on August 1. It’s highest in the sky around midnight. And it’s low in the west before sunrise on August 2.
Crest of the first full moon in August 2023 falls at 18:32 UTC (1:32 p.m. CDT) on August 1. So the fullest moon – for us in the Americas – comes around midday when the moon is below our horizon. No matter. The moon will still be plenty round and full-looking when it rises around sunset tonight. And it’ll be extra-bright, as all supermoons are (after all, to be a supermoon, the moon has to be extra close).
That’s right. To be a supermoon, the full moon must also be close to perigee, the point in its orbit where it comes nearest to Earth. So in addition to its two full moons, August 2023 also has two lunar perigees.
The first August 2023 lunar perigee happens about 12 hours after the crest of the August 1 full moon. It falls at 6 UTC (1 a.m. CDT) on August 2. Indeed, it comes close enough that Fred Espenak and others list this full moon on their supermoon tables. You might know that a supermoon doesn’t look bigger to the eye alone. But it does look brighter. And sometimes particularly high tides will follow supermoons by a day or so.
The 2nd full supermoon on August 30-31
This will be closest full moon, and, therefore, the largest supermoon of the year. So not only does it appear to be the biggest full moon of the year, but it also appears to be the brightest. However, only truly experienced lunar observers will notice a supermoon appearing slightly bigger. But everyone can notice the supermoon appearing brighter (by 16%) than an average full moon.
Where and when to look: Look for the bright, round moon in the east shortly after sunset on August 30, 2023. It’s highest in the sky around midnight. Conversely, it’s low in the west before sunrise on August 31.
Crest of the second full moon in August 2023 falls at 1:36 UTC on August 31 (8:36 p.m. CDT on August 30). That means that the moment when full moon occurs is near when it rises on August 30.
The second August 2023 lunar perigee happens about 12 hours after the crest of this full moon. It falls at 16 UTC (or 11 a.m. CDT) on August 30.
At full moon, the sun, Earth, and the moon are aligned with Earth in the middle. The moon’s day side – its fully lighted hemisphere – directly faces us.
Rise in the east, set in the west
For locations outside of the polar regions, all full moons rise in the east close to the time of sunset. And likewise, all full moons set in the west close to the time of sunrise. At full moon, the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned in space, with Earth in the middle. Therefore, the moon is opposite the sun, visible all night. And, the moon’s day side – its fully lighted hemisphere – directly faces us. That is, therefore, why the moon appears full.
August’s first full moon is the Corn Moon, or Sturgeon Moon
All the full moons have names. Popular ones for this August’s first full moon include Corn Moon and Sturgeon Moon. The name Sturgeon Moon recognizes the August peak of the sturgeon fish catch in the waters of North America’s Great Lakes. In addition, we’ve also heard the name Flying Up Moon for the August full moon.
The 1st full moon of August 2023 falls near midday on August 1 at 1:32 p.m. CDT (18:32 UTC) and lies in the constellation Capricornus.
Corn Moon in Capricornus
This August’s first full moon can lie in front of one of two constellations of the zodiac. Most often it’s in front of Capricornus the Sea-goat, and sometimes it’s in front of Aquarius the Water Bearer. As seen from the Americas, the full moon on the overnight of August 1 will be located in the direction of Capricornus.
The 2nd full moon of this August occurs at 1:36 UTC on August 31, 2023 (8:36 p.m. CDT on August 30). The moon rises in the east just after sunset and lies near Saturn.
August’s second full moon is the Blue Moon
If a month has two full moons, as this August does, the second one is called – by some people – a Blue Moon. So, this August has two supermoons with one of them being the Blue Moon.
Blue Moon meets Saturn
The August 30 Blue Moon will light the sky around it, blotting out all but the brightest stars. This month, however, a point of light shines nearby. Look carefully in the bright moonlight, and you’ll see not a star, but Saturn, the 6th planet from the sun. Also, Saturn lies opposite the sun, as seen from Earth, three days earlier on August 27. In other words, Earth passes between Saturn and the sun. For this reason, astronomers call it an opposition to Saturn.
The 2nd August full moon falls on August 31 at 1:36 UTC (August 30 at 8:36 p.m. CDT) when it occurs near sunset in the central part of the United States. It lies in the constellation Aquarius, and is near Saturn.
August’s second full moon, the Blue Moon falling on August 30, lies in the direction of Aquarius. It appears near Saturn. You should be able to pick Saturn out in the moon’s bright glare.
Bottom line: This August sees two full moons, both of them supermoons. The full Corn Moon or Sturgeon Moon happens on August 1, 2023. The second full moon, a Blue Moon, occurs overnight on August 30-31, 2023.
FILE – An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is seen in the night sky in the early morning hours of Monday, April 24, 2023, near Washtucna, Wash.–
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A solar storm forecast for Thursday is expected to give skygazers in 17 American states a chance to glimpse the Northern Lights, the colorful sky show that happens when solar wind hits the atmosphere.
Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are most often seen in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, but an 11-year solar cycle that’s expected to peak in 2024 is making the lights visible in places farther to the south. Three months ago, the light displays were visible in Arizona, marking the third severe geomagnetic storm since the current solar cycle began in 2019.
The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks has forecast auroral activity on Thursday in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Indiana, Maine and Maryland.
Light displays are expected to be visible overhead in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Helena, Montana, and low on the horizon in Salem, Oregon.; Boise, Idaho; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Annapolis, Maryland; and Indianapolis, according to the institute.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said people wanting to experience an aurora should get away from city lights and that the best viewing times are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
Northern Lights occur when a magnetic solar wind slams into the Earth’s magnetic field and causes atoms in the upper atmosphere to glow. The lights appear suddenly and the intensity varies.
A geomagnetic index known as Kp ranks auroral activity on a scale from zero to nine, with zero being not very active and nine being bright and active. The Geophysical Institute has forecast Kp 6 for Thursday’s storm.
According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) – founded in 1988 and based in Tucson, Arizona – light pollution is increasing at a rate two times that of population growth, and 83% of the global population lives under a light-polluted sky. That’s why the group has established an International Dark Sky Week, which in 2023 falls on April 15 to 22. Goals for the week include turning off unneeded exterior lights and considering leaving them off all year long. The group also hopes you’ll learn the stars and constellations, and teach them to others, and join the global dark sky movement to protect and celebrate our shared heritage.
According to the IDA:
It may seem harmless, but light pollution has far-reaching consequences that are harmful to all living things. Effective outdoor lighting reduces light pollution, leading to a better quality of life for all. The dark sky movement is working to bring better lighting to communities around the world so that all life can thrive.
Poor lightning in cities leads to larger amounts of light pollution. From a dark country sky, you can see the river of stars that makes up our galaxy, the Milky Way. Image via IDA.
Ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week
Looking for ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week? Find International Dark Sky Week events all over the world, organized by astronomy clubs, schools, universities, communities and more.
Paul Bogard has written extensively on the importance of darkness. His book is titled The End of Night. His TEDx Talk focuses on why we need darkness. You’ll find his TEDx Talk here.
Curbing light pollution also benefits wildlife. Image via IDA.
Imagine being able to see more than half the planets of the solar system at once.
That’s what’s going to happen for several days next week.
Five planets — Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and Mars — will be forming a semi-circle in the sky, and the moon will be joining them for good measure.
Business Insider reports in order to see Jupiter and Mercury, folks should get to a dark place, away from city lights, before sunset. Look to the west with a clear view of the horizon. That means no clouds, trees, buildings, or mountains. Then, shortly after the sun dips below the horizon, peer low on the horizon to spot that pair. There won’t be much time. They won’t even last an hour.
The moon, Venus, and Jupiter all shone on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (Kathy Dunn via Chime In)
Venus should be the easiest to see since it’s the third-brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon. It’ll be located above Jupiter.
The Daily Mail reports Mars, the red planet, will be a bit fainter but still easily observed with the naked eye. It’ll be near the moon, which will be showing its first quarter.
The hardest planet to see will be Uranus and most people will need binoculars or a telescope to see the far-off ice giant.
Don’t worry if there’s a problem seeing what’s in space one night. The so-called “parade of planets” will last almost a week.
The planets will make their debut on Saturday, March 25. The best opportunity to see them will be next Tuesday, March 28, and the show will end on Thursday, March 30.
By the way, five planets in alignment is not a record. It happened in 2016, 2020, and again last year — but they’re not always the same five planets.
The conjunction is over. Venus and Jupiter passed each other on our sky’s dome at 11 UTC (6 a.m. ET) on March 2. But these 2 worlds are the brightest visible in Earth’s skies. And Venus will shine brilliantly in the west after sunset – our bright “evening star – for several more months! Meanwhile, Jupiter – though edging toward the sunset glare in March – is bright enough to remain visible for a few more weeks, perhaps into mid- to late March. How will you know if you can still see Jupiter? Watch after sunset as the 2 worlds draw apart. And see how long you can track Jupiter before it drops into the sunset glare. For more sky events, visit EarthSky’s night sky guide. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
On the evenings of February 2 and 3, the bright waxing gibbous moon climbs in the east, near the twin stars of Gemini. The brighter star is golden Pollux, and the fainter one is white Castor. Although the twin stars don’t look alike, they’re noticeable near each other in the sky for being bright and close together. Also nearby is Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. Read more about the moon near Castor and Pollux. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ Theresa Wiegert/ EarthSky.
Moon near Castor and Pollux
Look east in the early evening on February 2 and 3, 2023. You’ll find the waxing gibbous moon near the bright stars of Gemini the Twins, Castor and Pollux. The waxing gibbous moon doesn’t set until almost sunrise the following morning, so you can see the moon near the “twin” stars most of the night.
Although the twin stars don’t look alike, they are quite noticeable near each other in the sky, because they’re bright and close together. Castor is the slightly dimmer star of the pair, and Pollux is more golden in color. Also nearby is Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. With the nickname of the Little Dog Star, it rises before the Dog Star, Sirius.
Castor and Pollux
Castor and Pollux are each interesting stars on their own. Despite being labeled as twins, Castor and Pollux are not gravitationally bound. Yet Castor is gravitationally bound into a multiple system of its own. It’s six stars in one!
Castor is about 51 light-years away. Pollux is only 34 light-years away. So Pollux is closer to us. And their distances also show Pollux and Castor aren’t gravitationally bound, but only appear near each other along our line of sight.
Pollux pumps out a good bit of energy in non-visible infrared radiation. With all forms of radiation counted, Pollux is about 43 times more energetic than our sun. And that infrared radiation is showering down upon a planet. In 2006, astronomers confirmed that Pollux has a planet at least 2 times the mass of Jupiter. The International Astronomical Union announced a proper name for this planet in 2015: Thestias.
Bottom line: You can spot the waxing gibbous moon near Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins on the evenings of February 2 and 3, 2023.
Keep your eyes on the sky in December! The following celestial phenomenon is sure to fill your chilly evenings with a bit of wonder and awe. Read on to learn more about the Geminids, and prepare for a spectacular light show that only Mother Nature can provide.
During the month of December, there will be plenty of man-made light shows to see. But how about a light show that only nature can provide? Just look up, and you may see something shoot across the sky.
The Geminids are one of the most reliable meteor showers, happening every year during mid-December. Not only is this annual light show reliable, but it’s also one of the brightest.
The meteor shower runs from the end of November through the end of December, but you may not see much until its predicted peak on December 14.
You may spot some meteors mid-evening, but things get really bright around 2:00 AM. You can try to view the light show from your home, but be aware that light pollution can lessen the effect.
For truly breathtaking views, head someplace dark. You could spot over 100 Geminid meteors per hour if you’re lucky.
This natural wonder is a stargazer’s dream, and we’re so lucky that we get the opportunity to see it above Maryland. Save the date, and look up!
November’s nighttime sky will be a treat for star-gazers. There’s a full lunar eclipse on the way, a couple of meteor showers, and the year’s best view of Uranus. Below are all the details, so you can plan your sky-watching schedule and manage your expectations.
November 4-5: Taurids Meteor Shower
The Taurids shower is an annual light show in which shooting stars are produced by dust from two separate sources: Asteroid 2004 TG10 and Comet 2P Encke. It sounds more impressive than it’s likely to look, though. It’s a minor storm in which we can expect to see five to 10 meteors per hour at its peak on Nov. 4, but the moon will be nearly full, so only the brightest meteors will be visible. For the best shot of seeing a couple meteors, look toward the constellation Taurus just after midnight—that’s where many of the meteors will seem to originate.
November 8: Full Moon and Full Lunar Eclipse
At around 6 a.m. on Nov. 8, the moon will be at its fullest. November 2022’s “Beaver Moon,” will be more than just full moon. It’ll be a “blood moon,” a full lunar eclipse in which the shadow of Earth will seem to bathe the Moon in a rusty red color. The blood moon will be visible across most of North America, and will reach its peak at around 6 a.m., when the moon is just getting ready to set.
November 9: Uranus Shining Brightly
On Nov. 9, the planet Uranus will be as close to Earth as it gets all year, with its face fully illuminated by the sun. Uranus is so big and bright this time of year, people with good vision might be able to see it without binoculars or a telescope, even with the nearly full moon shining. For best viewing, look eastward at around 2 a.m. on the ninth. The blue-green dot of Uranus should appear right near the star Pleiades in the Taurus constellation.
November 17-18: Leonid Meteor Shower
The Leonid meteor shower happens between Nov. 6 and 30, and can produce up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This year, the peak is going to be on the night of Nov. 17 and morning of the 18th, when the Earth is passing the middle of the trail of dust left by the comet Tempel-Tuttle. Leonid meteors are bright enough that the light from the moon won’t drown most of them out. They’re often colorful and sometimes unpredictable enough to surprise us with an exceptional show. For best viewing, look to the east for the constellation Leo, although meteors will be visible in other parts of the sky, too.
Every 33 years or so, the Leonid meteor shower goes batshit and becomes a meteor storm in which hundreds or even thousands of shooting stars can be seen per hour. The last Leonid “cyclonic peak” was in 2001, so mark your calendars for 2034.
November 23: New Moon
After all the excitement of meteor showers and a lunar eclipse, the calm of dark night sky with no visible Moon will give us all a chance to reset and rest. This month, the new moon happens on Nov. 23. The darkened sky makes the 23rd the perfect night to view more distant celestial objects like galaxies and star clusters.
