Astronomy 2024: Check the dates and times of astronomical events such as equinoxes, solstices, meteor showers, solar eclipses, supermoons and more. International Astronomy Day 2024 is a celestial event or celebration that invites everyone of all ages to explore, analyze and appreciate the wonders of the universe. This annual event encourages curiosity about space and provides an opportunity to learn more about astronomy and space science.
As International Astronomy Day approaches, let’s take a look at what the day it’s on means, how you can get involved, what its historical significance is, and how to connect with other astronomy enthusiasts using hashtags.
What is International Astronomy Day 2024?
International Astronomy Day 2024 is a day dedicated to promoting the study of astronomy and inspiring people to gaze in wonder at the night sky. It encourages people to study astronomy, learn about celestial objects and appreciate the beauty of space.
Astronomy clubs, observatories, planetariums and science centers often host special events and activities to engage the public and stimulate their interest in space and the universe.
When is International Astronomy 2024?
International Astronomy Day is usually celebrated on the Saturday closest to the first quarter of the month, which ensures optimal visibility for stargazing. In 2024 , International Astronomy Day falls on April 22, making it a great opportunity to observe the night sky and participate in astronomical activities.
Astronomical events in 2024
January 3:
Diagram of the Earth’s perihelion showing the distance between the Sun and the Earth at different times of the year (perihelion and aphelion).
3 JANUARY At 00:38 UTC Earth reaches perihelion – the closest point in its orbit to the Sun. 3rd/4th: Quadrantids Meteors Image of a Quadrantids meteor.
January 3: The Quadrantids, the first major meteor shower of 2024 , will peak during the night of January 3 and the early morning hours of January .
January 11:
A new moon couple sits outside their camp in the mountains under a starry sky. A new moon in the sky means that the moonlight will not block your view of the stars and planets. Use our interactive night sky map to find out which planets are visible tonight and where.
January 12:
Mercury at greatest elongation West Planet Mercury in detail. This can be a good time to spot Mercury: the planet appears farthest from the Sun in the morning sky.
January 25:
Wolf Moon howls a lone gray wolf in a snow-covered landscape.25 The first full moon of the year is colloquially known as the dragon moon in many northern cultures.
February 9:
Super new moon image of the Moon and its position in space in relation to the Earth and Sun during the new moon.9 Take advantage of the new moon and explore the skies with our interactive night sky map, weather permitting of course. This month’s new moon is a supermoon.
February 24:
Snow micro moon The moon rises over snowy mountains. The February full moon is also known as the Snow Moon in many Northern Hemisphere cultures. In 2024 it will be a Micromoon.
March 10:
Super New Moon Starry night sky over mountain town in fog. The dark nights a few days before and after the Moon reaches new moon phase on March 10 at 09:00 UTC are the best nights to view the night sky – see our map! Again, it’s over a new moon.
March 20:
March solstice snowdrops grow through the snow. According to astronomical definitions, the March equinox is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Equinox and equinox times around the world.
March 22:
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Image of the comet Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is 30 days away from perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun. The comet may become visible to the naked eye – even during the total solar eclipse on April 8.
March 24:
Mercury at Greatest Elongation East Planet Mercury in detail. This can be a good time to spot Mercury: the planet appears farthest from the Sun in the evening sky.
Find Mercury on our interactive night sky map
Mar 24/25:
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Penumbral Lunar Eclipse from the location of the Sun, Earth and Moon in space. The first eclipse of 2024 is the Worm Moon Lunar Eclipse visible in North and South America.
March 25:
Worm Micromoon The spring web draws the worm. The full moon in March is traditionally called the worm moon after the earthworms that appear in many places in the northern hemisphere at this time. For the second month in a row, it’s the Micromoon.
April 1:
World Astronomy Month Three people look at the night sky. We are proud to support Global Astronomy Month.
April 8:
Total Solar Eclipse Black background with rays coming out of the circle and bright light from the top of the circle. A total solar eclipse will occur in Mexico, the United States and Canada. About 5 million people will live in the path of perfection for this eclipse. Protect your eyes. Never look directly at the sun!
April 8: Super New Moon Image of the eight phases of the moon with an arrow showing the order in which they appear from Earth. This is the third super new moon in a row and the last one will be in 2024 . (There is a super full moon in September and October.) What is a supermoon?
Apr 21/22:
Lyurid meteor shower Dark and starry sky and shooting star.
The Lyurid meteor shower is expected to peak on April 21 and 22, depending on your location. What is a meteor shower?
April 23rd:
Pink Moon The pink wild mallow is a flower native to North America. The April Full Moon is traditionally known as the Pink Full Moon.
Also Read:
May 4/5:
Earthshine Mornings Crescent Moon against a dark blue sky. The unlit part of the moon has a dim glow. A bright star appears to the left of the moon.
The waxing and waning crescent phase in April and May is the best time to see an earthquake, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. This is also known as the Da Vinci glow.
Click Your Zodiac Sign and Get Your Horoscope
♈ Aries (Ram): March 21–April 19
♉ Taurus (Bull): April 20–May 20
♊ Gemini (Twins): May 21–June 21
♋ Cancer (Crab): June 22–July 22
♌ Leo (Lion): July 23–August 22
♍ Virgo (Virgin): August 23–September 22
♎ Libra (Balance): September 23–October 23
♏ Scorpius (Scorpion): October 24–November 21
♐ Sagittarius (Archer): November 22–December 21
♑ Capricornus (Goat): December 22–January 19
♒ Aquarius (Water Bearer): January 20–February 18
♓ Pisces (Fish): February 19–March 20
What is on the other side of the moon?
May 5/6: Eta Aquarid Meteors Eta-aquarids Meteor Show Use our handy interactive meteor shower sky map to increase your chances of seeing the Eta Aquarids shooting star.
May 8:
new moon in the starry sky above the mountain town in the fog. This month’s new moon is May 8 at 03:21 UTC.
May 9:
Mercury at greatest elongation West Planet Mercury in detail. This can be a good time to spot Mercury: the planet appears farthest from the Sun in the morning sky.
May 11/12:
Earthshine Nights Crescent Moon with dark blue sky in the background. The unlit part of the Moon has a dim glow. Bright star shines to the left of the Moon.11 The 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.
What’s on the far side of the Moon?
May 23:
Flower Moon Full Moon behind blooming flowers.
Jun 6:
New Moon Illustration of the Moon’s position in space in relation to Earth and the Sun at New Moon. Make the most of a moonlight-free night to look for some stars and planets in the skies.
Jun 20:
June Solstice People around the world converge at the Stonehenge, England to celebrate the June Solstice. This solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year.
Jun 22:
Strawberry Moon Paddle boarders below the strawberry moon at Barceloneta beach, Barcelona, Spain. Traditional Full Moon names
Jul 5:
Earth’s Aphelion Diagram showing the distance between the Sun and Earth at different times of the year (perihelion and aphelion). New Moon Picture of night sky with the milky way in focus and trees. The period around New Moon can be a good time to look at the night sky—without a bright Moon around to lighten the sky. New Moon – the invisible phase.
Jul 21:
Buck Moon Close-up shot of the rising Full Moon July’s Full Moon is known as the Buck Moon, signifying the new antlers that emerge on deer buck’s foreheads around this time. This year, it falls at 10:17 UTC on July 21.
Jul 22:
Mercury at Greatest Elongation East Planet Mercury in detail.
Aug 4:
New Moon Starry night sky over the mountain city in the fog. New Moon is at 11:13 UTC on August , marking the start of another lunar month.
Find planets, stars and constellations with an interactive map of the night sky.
August 12 / 13:
Perseid meteor image. The Perseid meteor shower is usually one of the most active and brightest meteor showers of the year.
August 14:
Conjunction of Mars and Jupiter. Mars and Jupiter pass at 0.31 degrees in the predawn sky. In our presentation at the 20242 Europlanet Science Congress, we highlighted it as one of seven important “close approaches” by 2040.
What is a conjunction? August 19: Blue Sturgeon Moon A woman goes paddle boarding on a small lake in Ontario, Canada during a full moon overnight. The August full moon is traditionally called the Taurus Moon. This year is also a seasonal Blue Moon – the third full moon in a season of four full moons.
What is a Blue Moon?
August 21: Vector image of the full moon covering Saturn’s moon. An almost full moon passes near Saturn. In parts of South America, Africa and Europe, the Moon will pass in front of Saturn, an event known as a lunar eclipse. Eclipses, traffics and concealments.
August 28:
Comet Tsuchinshan – ATLAS image of the comet. Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) – discovered in early 2024 – is 30 days from perihelion, its closest point to the Sun. It is possible that it will become an object with the naked eye, although comets are notoriously unpredictable.
September 3:
A new moon couple sits outside their camp in the mountains under a starry sky.3 A new moon in the sky means that the moonlight will not block your view of the stars and planets. Use our interactive night sky map to find out which planets are visible tonight and where.
September 5:
Mercury at greatest elongation West Planet Mercury in detail. This can be a good time to spot Mercury: the planet appears farthest from the Sun in the morning sky.
September 8:
A mosaic of Saturn at Saturn opposition, made up of images taken by the Cassini spacecraft in October 2016. The ringed planet Saturn is located on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun and is visible from sunset to sunrise.
September 17 / 18:
Partial Lunar Eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse. This partial lunar eclipse of the Harvest Moon will be visible from North and South America, Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.
September 18:
Super Harvest Moon A full moon appears over a corn field ready for harvest. Dark blue night sky in the background. In many indigenous cultures, a full moon in September is called a full moon. This year, it’s also the closest full moon to the September equinox, so also the harvest moon of 2024 . It’s also a supermoon.
September 22:
Earth’s September solstice and its position in relation to the sun and the sun’s rays during the September solstice. The autumnal solstice is also known as the autumnal solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and many consider the autumnal solstice to be the first day of autumn. September solstice celebration around the world. An image of the December 2019 annular solar eclipse as seen from Malaysia.
October 2:
Annular Solar Eclipse Weather permitting, a “ring of fire” will be visible in the sky over Easter Island and southern Chile and Argentina. October 2: Micro New Moon Starry night sky over mountain town in fog. The first of October’s two new moons is a micro moon, which explains why today’s solar eclipse is annular rather than total.
What is Micromoon?
October 8 / 9:
Draconid meteor shower
The best time to see the Draconid shooting stars at their peak is just after dusk.
October 17:
Super Hunter’s Moon Deer in grass field at dawn. The October full moon is traditionally called the hunting month. In 2024 , this will be the second and final super full moon of the year. How to photograph the full moon?
Oct 20 /21:
Shower of Orionid meteors20 The Orionids are the second meteor shower in October. The peak of the rain is 20-21. in October, but usually remains active from October 2nd to November 7th.
Related: Meteorite calendar
November 1st:
New moon in the starry sky above the mountain town in the fog1 The new moon phase is the best time to explore the night sky. Find planets, stars and constellations with an interactive map of the night sky! A swimming beaver.
November 15th
Full Moon/Beaver Moon The full moon in November is traditionally called beaver month after the beavers that build their dams at that time of year. Can you see the far side of the moon?
November 16:
Mercury at Greatest Elongation East Planet Mercury in Detail16 This can be a good time to spot Mercury: the planet appears farthest from the Sun in the evening sky. Find Mercury on our interactive night sky map
Nov 17-18:
Leonid meteor shower. The Leonids will be visible on November 6th and 30th, with a peak on the night of November 17th and early morning of November 18th, with up to 15 meteors per hour.
December 1:
New moon in the starry sky in the fog above the mountain town. There will be two new moons in December 2024 . The first falls on the first day of the month at 06:21 UTC.
December 7:
Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, is opposite the Sun in the sky and is visible all night.
December 14-15.
Illustration of the Geminid meteors. Typically one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids will peak on the night of December 14th and the early morning hours of December 15th. This year, a bright full moon will unfortunately reduce the number of visible meteors. Moonrise over the peaks of the Alps in Utah.
December 15:
Cold month One of the traditional names of the December full moon is Kylmäkuu.
December 21:
Christmas solstice Image of the December solstice The December equinox is at 09:20 UTC. Also known as the winter solstice, it is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, this is the longest day of the year and is called the summer solstice.
Dec 22 / 23:
Ursid Meteors Dark sky with tree silhouette and shooting stars. Catch the stars of the last big meteor shower of the year, the Ursi, when it peaks on the 22nd-23rd. December night.
December 25:
Mercury at greatest elongation West Planet Mercury in detail. For the seventh and final time this year, Mercury will reach its furthest point from the Sun in the sky. The only other planet with the greatest elongation (as seen from Earth) is Venus, but in 2024 it will have none.
December 30:
Black New Moon: A dark new moon night with a starry sky in the background and fir trees in the foreground. The second new moon of the month, making it a black moon.
How to participate in the International Day of Astronomy 2024?
Participating in International Astronomical Day can be an exciting and educational ideas, thoughts and experience.
Here are some ways to get involved:
Attend local events:
Check to see if your local astronomy club, observatory or planetarium hosts special events, stargazing sessions or workshops for the public.
Stargazing from home:
Even if you don’t have access to a telescope, you can still enjoy stargazing from your backyard or dark spot. Identify constellations and planets with stargazing apps.
Learn more about astronomy:
Explore astronomy ideas, everts, information, books, documentaries, and online resources to deepen your knowledge of the universe.
Get involved on social media:
Share your stargazing experience, star photography, or astronomy-related artwork on social media, using relevant hashtags (see below).
Host a Stargazing Party:
Invite friends and family to a stargazing party with snacks, telescopes and educational materials.
History of International Astronomy Day
The history of International Astronomy Day can be traced back to the early 1970s, when California high school teacher Doug Berger organized the first event with the help of the Northern California Astronomical Society.
Since then, International Astronomy Day has grown into a global celebration with many organizations and individuals participating in educational and stargazing activities.
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