Astronomy Calendar — Upcoming Events
Check out the dates and times for astronomical events like equinoxes, solstices, meteor showers, eclipses, supermoons, and more.
Astronomical Events in 2021
8/9 OctOct 8/9: Draconid Meteor Shower
The best time to see the shooting stars of the peaking Draconids is just after nightfall.
Oct 20: Hunter's Moon
20OctThe October Full Moon is traditionally called the Hunter's Moon. The month of October is a time to start preparing for the coming winter by hunting or slaughtering animals and preserving meat.
Oct 21/22: Orionid Meteor Shower
21 OctThe Orionids are the second meteor shower in October. The shower peaks on October 21-22 but usually remains active between October 2 and November 7. The best time to see these shooting stars is just after midnight and before the Sun rises.
Oct 25: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
25 OctThis might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
Oct 29: Venus at Greatest Elongation East
29 OctVenus shines brightly as the “evening star,” appearing at its farthest distance from the Sun.
Nov 4: Super New Moon
15 NovThis New Moon takes place very close to its perigee—the point on its orbit closest to the Earth.
Nov 17/18: Leonid Meteor Shower
17 NovThe Leonids' shooting stars are visible between November 6 and 30, and peak on the night of November 17 and early morning of November 18, 2020 with up to 15 meteors per hour.
Nov 19: Partial Lunar Eclipse
19 NovOn November 19, nearly the entire Moon will plunge into the Earth's umbra, the central, dark portion of its shadow. This partial lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Australia, and parts of Europe and Asia.
19 NovNov 19: Micro Full Moon / Beaver Moon
This is a Micro Full Moon—it occurs when the Moon is closest to its apogee. November's Full Moon is traditionally called a Beaver Moon, after beavers that build their dams during this time of the year.
4 DecDec 4: Total Solar Eclipse
You'll have to travel all the way to Antarctica to see the total phase of this total solar eclipse. Parts of southern Africa, including locations in South Africa and Namibia, will see a partial solar eclipse, if the weather permits.
Dec 4: Super New Moon
4 DecThis New Moon takes place very close to its perigee—the point on its orbit closest to the Earth.
Dec 13/14: Geminid Meteors
13 DecOne of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids peak on the night of December 13 and early morning hours of December 14, 2021, but will be visible from December 4-20.
19 DecDec 19: Micro Full Moon / Cold Moon
The 2021 December Full Moon is a Micromoon—it occurs when the Moon is closest to its apogee. One of the traditional names for the Full Moon in December is Cold Moon.
Dec 21: December Solstice
21 DecThe December solstice will take place at 15:59 UTC. Also known as the winter solstice, it is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year and is called the summer solstice.
Dec 22/23: Ursid Meteors
22 DecCatch the shooting stars of the last major meteor shower of the year, the Ursids, when it peaks between the night of December 22 and 23, 2021.
Astronomical Events in 2022
Jan 2: Super New Moon
2JanThe Moon will come between the Sun and the Earth, and the illuminated side of the Moon will face away from the Earth. This New Moon takes place close to its perigee, when it's closest to the Earth, making it a Super Moon.
Jan 3/4: Quadrantids Meteors
3JanThe first major meteor shower of 2022, the Quadrantids, peaks on the night of January 3 and early morning hours of January 4.
Jan 4: Earth's Perihelion
4JanAt 06:52 UTC, the Earth will reach its perihelion—the point on its orbit closest to the Sun.
Jan 7: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
7 JanThis might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
Jan 17: Wolf Moon
17JanThe first Full Moon of the year is colloquially known as Wolf Moon in many northern cultures. A Full Moon occurs when the Sun and the Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth.
Feb 1: New Moon
1 FEBTake advantage of the New Moon to check out the night sky, weather permitting, of course.
Feb 16: Snow Moon
16 FEBFebruary's Full Moon is also known as Snow Moon in many Northern Hemisphere cultures.
Feb 16: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
16 FebThis might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
March 2: New Moon
2 MarDark nights a few days before and after the Moon reaches its New Moon phase at 17:34 UTC on March 2 are the best nights to do some night sky watching.
March 18: Worm Moon
18 MarThe Full Moon in March is traditionally called Worm Moon, after earthworms that tend to appear around in this time in many locations in the Northern Hemisphere.
March 20: March Equinox
20 MarThe March equinox is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of fall in the Southern Hemisphere by astronomical definitions.
Mar 20: Venus at Greatest Elongation West
20 MarVenus shines brightly as the “morning star,” appearing at its farthest distance from the Sun.
April 1: Global Astronomy Month
1 Aprtimeanddate.com is proud to support Global Astronomy Month. Led by Astronomers Without Borders, a non-profit organization, the month-long event encourages people to share the sky.
April 1: New Moon
1 AprApril 4/5: Earthshine Nights
4 AprThe Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
April 16: Pink Moon
16AprApril's Full Moon is traditionally known as the Pink Full Moon.
April 22/23: Lyrid Meteor Shower
22 AprThe Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak around April 22 and 23, depending on your location.
April 26/27: Earthshine Nights
26 AprThe Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
Apr 29: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
29 AprThis might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
April 30: New Moon / Black Moon
30 AprThe second New Moon in single calendar month is known as a Black Moon.
April 30: Partial Solar Eclipse
30 AprThe first eclipse of 2022 is a partial solar eclipse visible from southern South America, parts of Antarctica, and over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
May 3/4: Earthshine Nights
3 MayThe Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
May 5/6: Eta Aquarid Meteors
5MayUse our handy Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to increase your chances of seeing shooting stars from the Eta Aquarids.
May 16: Flower Moon
16 MayMay's Full Moon is known as the Flower Moon after all the flowers that bloom around this time in the Northern Hemisphere.
May 16: Total Lunar Eclipse
16 MayThis total lunar eclipse of the Flower Moon will be visible from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
May 30: New Moon
30MayTonight's a good time to do some star and planet gazing! A New Moon means dark skies and plenty of opportunities to look for planets and stars.
June 14: Strawberry Moon
14JunJune's Full Moon is often called the Strawberry Full Moon, after the berries that grow in the Northern Hemisphere around this time of the year. In 2022, it is also a Supermoon.
Jun 16: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
16 JunThis might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
June 21: June Solstice
21JunThis solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it's the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.
June 29: New Moon
29JunMake the most of a moonlight-free night to look for some stars and planets in the skies. This month's New Moon is also a Micromoon.
July 13: Buck Moon
13 JulJuly's Full Moon is also known as Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, and Wort Moon. The Buck Moon for 2022 is also a Supermoon.
Jul 28: New Moon
28JulThe New Moon phase is the best time to explore the night sky. Find planets, stars, and constellations using our Interactive Night Sky Map!
Aug 12: Sturgeon Moon
12 AugAugust's Full Moon is traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon. Other names include the Green Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Fruit Moon, and Grain Moon.
Aug 12/13: Perseid Meteors
12 AugThe Perseid meteor shower is usually one of the most active and brightest meteor showers of the year. Alas, in 2022 the peak nights are around the time of Full Moon, which means many meteors will be lost in its bright glare.
Aug 14: Saturn at Opposition
14 AugThe ringed planet, Saturn, lies on the opposite side of Earth to the Sun, and is visible from sunset to sunrise.
August 27: New Moon
27 AugDark nights a few days before and after the Moon reaches its New Moon phase at 08:17 UTC on August 27 are the best nights to do some night sky watching.
Aug 27: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
27 AugThis might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
Sep 10: Harvest Moon
10SepIn many Native American cultures, September's Full Moon is called the Full Corn Moon. This year, it is also the Full Moon closest to the September equinox, making it 2022's Harvest Moon as well.
Sep 23: September Equinox
23 SepAlso known as the autumnal (fall) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, the September Equinox is considered by many as the first day of fall.
Sep 25: New Moon
25SepA New Moon in the sky means no moonlight to hinder your view of stars and planets. Use the Interactive Night Sky Map to find out what planets are visible tonight and where.
Sep 26: Jupiter at Opposition
26 SepThe largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, lies opposite the Sun in the sky, and is visible all night.
8/9 OctOct 8/9: Draconid Meteor Shower
The best time to see the shooting stars of the peaking Draconids is just after nightfall.
Oct 9: Hunter's Moon
9OctThe October Full Moon is traditionally called the Hunter's Moon. The month of October is a time to start preparing for the coming winter by hunting or slaughtering animals and preserving meat.
Oct 21/22: Orionid Meteor Shower
21 OctThe Orionids are the second meteor shower in October. The shower peaks on October 21-22 but usually remains active between October 2 and November 7. The best time to see these shooting stars is just after midnight and before the Sun rises.
Oct 25: New Moon
25OctThe New Moon phase is the best time to explore the night sky. Find planets, stars, and constellations using our Interactive Night Sky Map!
Note: All dates are UTC, unless otherwise stated.