Look up, there’s lots to see in 2023!
A month by month guide to exploring the sky in 2023. Meteor showers, super-moons, conjunctions, eclipses and so much more! Find out what to see in the sky this year or join us at one of our special observing events.
January
Quadrantids Meteor Shower
4 January – While there are many meteor showers throughout the calendar year, most have very low rates. The Quadrantids is an above-average shower, thought to have come from dust grains left from a now-extinct comet, 2003 EH1. In this shower, you might be able to see a meteor every minute or so, and the really bright ones are known as fireballs. The Quadrantids make an appearance every year at the start of January.
Wolf Moon
6 January – The first Full Moon of the year is traditionally known as the Wolf Moon. Some of the Moon’s features can be seen with the naked eye. The dark patches are plains of basalt – similar to the rock that the Giant’s Causeway is made of. They are hardened pools of lava, ejected from the Moon’s molten core by the impact of giant asteroids a long time ago.
Moon at Perigee / New Moon
21 January – Perigee describes the point in the Moon’s orbit around the Earth at which the two bodies are closest, in this case 356570 km – the nearest they’ll be in 2023. The Moon will be at New Moon phase – an ideal time to observe faint Deep Sky Objects like galaxies and nebulae since there’ll be no scattered light from the Moon to wash them out.
Saturn in conjunction with Venus
22 January – Saturn and Venus will appear very close together in the evening sky, visible low on the horizon after sunset. Saturn is to upper right of Venus.
Pleiades very close to Moon
30 January – The Open Star Cluster M45, better known as The Pleiades or The Seven Sisters, will be very close to the Moon tonight, lying roughly 5° from the upper right of the Moon, with Mars just a few degrees East too.
February
Snow Moon
5 February – The moon is very close to Apogee, the point at which it is furthest from the Earth. This will be the furthest Full Moon of the year, a whopping 405829 km away. February’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Snow Moon.
New Moon
20 February – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Venus and Jupiter in conjunction with the Moon
22 February – A very thin waxing crescent Moon will be joined in the sky by the planets Venus and Jupiter on this date. Jupiter will be placed 3.5° above the Moon, while Venus will be 4.5° to the lower right of the Moon. Should make for some lovely views!
Pleiades very close to Moon
26 February – The Open Star Cluster M45, better known as The Pleiades or The Seven Sisters, will be very close to the Moon tonight – just 2.5° from its upper right.
Mars in conjunction with the Moon
28 February – Mars will be less than 1° from the Moon as it sets in the very early morning.
March
Jupiter in conjunction with Venus
2 March – Both planets will appear less than 1° apart in the sky, before setting in the late evening around 8:45pm.
Worm Moon
7 March – March’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Worm Moon. This will be the third and last full moon of the Winter season as it occurs before the spring equinox.
March Equinox
20 March – An equinox is when the sun shines directly onto the equator, meaning there are nearly equal amounts of day and night around the world. It also marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Irish Astronomy Week
20 to 26 March – A new annual event. Look for astronomical-themed events across the whole island of Ireland, including at OM! Details of our event schedule for the week to follow.
New Moon
21 March – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Mars Passes Above Betelgeuse & Crescent Moon Between Venus and Jupiter
23 March – Two of the reddest objects in the night sky, the planet Mars and the supergiant star Belegeuse will appear close together on this date and shine at similar brightness. The Waxing Crescent Moon lies between Venus and Jupiter on this night too. Lots of interesting things to look up at!
April
Pink Moon
6 April – April’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Pink Moon. This is the first full moon that marks the welcome of the Spring season.
Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky
11 April – The smallest planet in the solar system, Mercury will be 11.5° (about the size of a closed fist at arm’s length) from the horizon at the end of civil twilight. Civil twilight describes how low the sun has dipped out of view after sunset.
International Dark Sky Week
15 to 22 April – International Dark Sky Week, held during the week of the new moon in April, is a week during which people worldwide turn out their lights so as to observe the beauty of the night sky without light pollution. Check back for International Dark Sky Week events at OM.
New Moon
20 April – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Lyrids Meteor Shower (Peak)
22 to 23 April – Meteor season is back with the peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower. The moon won’t be an issue for this year’s peak since it falls only a couple of days after New Moon. The Lyrids, which are active each year from about 14th – 30th April, can produce around 20 meteors per hour and originate from particles left by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. Meteors will be most visible during its peak, which will be the evening of April 22nd into the early morning hours of April 23rd. You’ll have to stay up until after midnight to get the best views!
Venus in Conjunction with the Moon
23 April – Venus will appear 3° from the lower right of the Moon. Venus will also be at its highest altitude in the evening sky, appearing 27.3° above the horizon at the end of civil twilight (around 9:25pm). Civil twilight describes how low the sun has dipped out of view after sunset.
Mars in Conjunction with the Moon
25 April – Mars will appear very close to the Moon on this date, just 4.5° from the lower left of the Moon.
May
Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
6 to 7 May – The Eta Aquarids is one of two meteor showers created by debris from Comet Halley. This shower favours the Southern Hemisphere and will appear low in the sky for northerly latitudes in the early predawn hours.
Saturn in Conjunction with the Moon
13 May – Saturn will appear close to the Moon on this date, just 7° to the upper left of the Moon, as seen from Beaghmore.
New Moon
19 May – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Venus in conjunction with Moon
23 May – Venus will appear close to the Moon on this date, just 4° to the upper left of the Moon, as seen from Beaghmore.
June
Strawberry Moon
4 June – June’s Full Moon is known as the Strawberry Moon. In 2023, the June Full Moon will be the last full moon of the Spring 2023 season. It will occur before the Summer Solstice in 2023.
New Moon
18 June – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Summer Solstice
21 June – This is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice, which falls on 21st June, has special significance for us at OM. From what may have been the first observatory at Beaghmore Stone Circles, to our modern day version in Davagh. Many believe that Beaghmore was designed over 3500 years ago to align with the sun during the solstice, to celebrate the start of summer and the return to light.
It is a day that has been celebrated since ancient times and is one of the earliest astronomical observations in human history. When we visit ancient sites we often look up in wonder at the sky and reflect that the people that built the monuments observed the same sky, sun, moon and stars.
July
Super Moon
3 July – The Moon will be very close to Earth on this date, at just 361934 km distant, meaning its disk will appear larger than usual. This Full Moon is known as the Buck Moon.
Earth at Aphelion
6 July – Earth is at aphelion on this date, its distance from the Sun will be 1.0166806 Astronomical Units (AU), the furthest it’ll reach this year. The variation is due to the Earth’s elliptical orbit around the Sun.
Venus at it’s Brightest
7 July – Venus will shine very brightly in the evening sky, appearing at Magnitude -4.7. The magnitude scale is a means of measuring the brightness of an object in the sky – the more negative the value the brighter it appears to us!
Jupiter in conjunction with Moon
11 July – Jupiter will appear 7.75° to the left of the Moon, as viewed from Beaghmore.
Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower
28 July – The Delta-Aquariids meteor shower is set to peak on this date. You can expect to see around 25 shooting stars per hour, making this shower a fairly prolific one. Conditions for viewing are quite favourable – the Moon is at waxing gibbous phase, but it will have set by the early hours of the morning, which is the best time for viewing the meteors.
August
Super Full Moon
1 August – Full Moon and a super-moon on this date, due to the Moon’s proximity to the Earth (357530 km). The Moon’s disk will appear larger than usual. This month’s Full Moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon.
Saturn in conjunction with Moon
3 August – Saturn will appear close to the Moon on this date, just 7° to the upper right of the Moon, as seen from Beaghmore.
Jupiter in conjunction with Moon
8 August – Jupiter will appear close to the Moon on this date, just 8.5° to the right of the Moon, as seen from Beaghmore.
Perseids Meteor Shower (peak)
13 August – This is a great year for catching the famous Perseid meteor shower, since the peak occurs just three days before New Moon. With a very high hourly rate (up to 100!), this should be a spectacular sight. The Perseids is one of the highlights of the meteor shower calendar due to its high hourly rate and bright meteors, caused by the debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. No better place to watch them than from an International Dark Sky Park!
New Moon
16 August – The Moon is at Apogee on this date, the part of its orbit most distant from Earth: 406635km, making it the furthest New Moon of the year.
Saturn at opposition in Aquarius
27 August – Saturn at opposition in Aquarius – 8.76 AU distant. N. aspect of rings are tipped 8.991° earthward. Mag 0.4 / Globe 19″.
Saturn in conjunction with the Moon
30 August – Saturn is 3.5° upper right of Moon.
Super Full Moon
31 August – Full moon and a super-moon, also a Blue Moon. This will be the closest Full Moon of the year, with it placed at 357340km from the Earth.
September
New Moon
15 September – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Autumnal Equinox
23 September – The autumnal equinox is an astronomical event that marks the start of autumn. At the equinox the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length. After the autumn equinox days get shorter and nights longer.
Super Full Moon
29 September – Full moon and a super-moon, with the distance between Earth and the Moon clocking in at 361552km. This Full Moon is known as a Harvest Moon.
October
Draconids Meteor Shower (peak)
9 October – The Draconids is a minor meteor shower of about 10 meteors per hour. This one comes from the dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner. The comet was first discovered in 1900. It’s an unusual shower in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning. The shower runs annually from October 6 – 10. This year’s viewing is favourable, since the peak occurs three days after the Last Quarter Moon, meaning less scattered light to wash out fainter meteors.
New Moon
14 October – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Orionids Meteor Shower (peak)
22 October – The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It’s another product of comet Halley, and runs from October 2 to November 7. This year’s viewing will be favourable, with the First Quarter moon fully set as the radiant (the region from which the meteors appear to originate and the height of which is a good measure of how many to expect to see) gains altitude.
Partial Lunar Eclipse / Full Moon
28 October – There will be a Partial Lunar Eclipse on this date, with a small region of the Moon’s disk passing into the Earth’s shadow. It will be visible from the eastern Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The eclipse commences at 8:36pm as viewed from OM.
This month’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Hunter Moon.
November
South Taurids Meteor Shower (peak)
6 November – The South Taurids peak on this date. A minor meteor shower, expect to see around 10 shooting stars per hour. Viewing conditions are favourable this year as the Moon approaches New Moon on the 13th of the month.
North Taurids (peak) / New Moon
13 November – The North Taurids peak on this date. A minor meteor shower, expect to see around 5 shooting stars per hour. Viewing conditions are favourable this year since it coincides with the New Moon.
Beaver Moon
27 November – This month’s Full Moon is known as the Beaver Moon.
December
New Moon
12 December – This is the best time of the month to go stargazing! During a new moon, the Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so will not be visible in the night sky. It’s the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Geminids Meteor Shower (peak)
14 December – The Geminids are a prolific meteor shower caused by the object 3200 Phaethon, an asteroid. This would make the Geminids, together with the Quadrantids, the only major meteor showers not originating from a comet. The meteors from this shower are slow moving, can be seen in December and usually peak around December 4th–16th, with the date of highest intensity being the morning of December 14th. The shower is thought to be intensifying every year and recent showers have seen 120–160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, generally around 02:00 to 03:00 local time. This year’s viewing conditions are very favourable, with the peak coming two days after New Moon.
Winter Solstice
22 December – Friday 22nd December is the shortest day of the year. Known as the Winter Solstice, it has been marked throughout Ireland for over 5000 years. The word ‘solstice’ is derived from the Latin ‘sol’ (sun) and ‘sistere’ (to stand still), referring to the moment when the sun reaches its most southerly point before reversing direction.
Our ancient ancestors at Beaghmore reflected a knowledge of the sun and the stars. The Solstice played an important part in their lives, knowing when the seasons were changing, growing crops and tending to animals – longing for the return of light and warmth. After the Winter Solstice, days start becoming longer and nights shorter as spring approaches.
Beaghmore Stone Circles is described as the most extensive concentration of stone circles in Ireland. Some archaeologists believe that the circles have been constructed in relation to the rising of the sun at the solstice, or to record the movements of the sun and moon acting as observatories for particular lunar, solar or stellar events.
Ursids Meteor Shower (peak)
23 December – A minor meteor shower, the Ursids peak on this date. Viewing conditions aren’t favourable since the Moon is in waxing gibbous phase.
Cold Moon
27 December – This month’s Full Moon is known as the Cold Moon.
Credit to John Flannery at the Irish Astronomical Society for his 2023 Astronomical Calendar, which was used as the basis for this. Some text paraphrased from Wikipedia.