Astronomical Calendar

Keep looking up, there’s lots to see in 2024!

A month by month guide to exploring the sky.  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.

New Moon

11 January – 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.

First Full Moon of 2024

25 January – The first Full Moon of the year, traditionally known as the Wolf Moon, will occur on Thursday, January 25th. The Full Moon is the most spectacular Moon phase when the entire face of the Moon is lit up.  Some of the Moon’s features can be seen with the naked eye. Its landscape is largely covered by craters, but like Earth there are also mountain ridges and plains.  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.


February


New Moon

9 February – 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.

Conjunction of Moon and Jupiter

15 February – The 6 days old Moon will pass by just over 3 degrees to the north of Jupiter. The pair will be too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, but will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.

Full Moon

24 February – February’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Snow Moon.


March


New Moon

10 March – 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.

Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter

13 March – The Moon and Jupiter will make a close approach, passing within 3°19′ of each other. The Moon will be 3 days old. They’ll be visible from sunset until they both set around 11:15pm, as seen from Beaghmore.

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.

Full Moon / Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

25 March – Traditionally known as the Worm Moon because this is the time of year the ground would begin to soften, and the earthworms would reappear. Its sometimes also called the Lenten Moon and the Sap Moon.  People living in North, Central and South America will be able to observe a penumbral lunar eclipse on this date, when the Moon will pass through the Earth’s shadow and darken slightly, but not completely.


April


New Moon and Total Solar Eclipse

8 April – Observers in North America will be able to see a total solar eclipse on this date, a rare event in which the Moon completely blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun’s corona, its outer atmosphere.

Conjunction of Moon and Jupiter

10 April – A very slim, 2 days old crescent Moon will pass 3°59′ to the north of Jupiter on this evening. They’ll be visible from sunset until they both set just before 11pm.

International Dark Sky Week

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. You can find out more about International Dark Sky week and what’s on where you are by visiting idsw.darksky.org 

Lyrids Meteor Shower

22 to 23 April – Meteor season is back with the peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower. 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. Unfortunately, this year’s shower coincides with Full Moon, which will wash out a lot of fainter meteors. You’ll have to stay up until after midnight to get the best views!

Full Moon

23 April – April’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Pink Moon. This is the full moon that marks the welcome return of Spring.


May


Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower

6 to 7 May – The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has been observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The nearly new moon means dark skies for what should be an excellent show this year. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

New Moon

8 May – 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.

Full Moon

23 May – The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon. Other names include the Planting Moon, and the Milk Moon, while some named it the Hare Moon.


June


Close approach of Moon and Mars

2 June – The Moon and Mars will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 2°24′ to the north of Mars. The Moon will be 25 days old. From Beaghmore, they’ll be visible together they rise at 3:20am until around 4:30am when sunlight will obscure Mars.

New Moon

6 June – 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.

Summer Solstice

20  June – This is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.  The summer solstice, which falls on 20th 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. Some of the stone rows at Beaghmore, created over 3500 years ago, align with the sunrise on the solstice. 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.

Full Moon

22 June – June’s Full Moon is known as the Strawberry Moon.

Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

27 June – The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 4’38” to the north of Saturn. The Moon will be 21 days old.  From Beaghmore, the pair will be visible from they rise at around 1am until the dawn.


July


Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter

3 July – The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 5°01′ to the north of Jupiter. The Moon will be 27 days old. From Beaghmore, they’ll be visible together from their rise at around 2:50am until the dawn.

New Moon

5 July – 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.

Full Moon

21 July – This Full Moon is known as the Buck Moon.

Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

24 July – The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 23′ to the north of Saturn. The Moon will be 19 days old. From Beaghmore, they’ll be visible from their rise at 11:15am until the dawn of the 25 July.

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 reasonable – the Moon is at waning crescent phase. The early hours of the morning is the best time for viewing the meteors.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars, with Jupiter and M45 nearby

30 July – The Moon and Mars will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 5°01′ to the north of Mars. The Moon will be 25 days old.  From Beaghmore, they’ll be visible together from 1am. The star cluster M45, better known as the Seven Sisters, will be near the Moon also, and Jupiter will lie roughly 7° south-east of Mars.


August


New Moon

4 August – 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.

Perseids Meteor Shower

13 August – The famous Perseid meteor shower has a very high hourly rate (up to 100!), so this should be a spectacular sight. The waxing gibbous Moon sets around 11:20pm, so there’ll be dark skies from then. No better place to watch them than from OM Dark Sky Park!

Close Approach of Jupiter and Mars

15 August – Jupiter and Mars will share the same right ascension, with Jupiter passing 18′ to the south of Mars. From Beaghmore, they’ll rise at 12:30am and be visible all night.

Full Moon

19 August – This month’s Full Moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon.

Lunar Occultation of Saturn

21 August – The Moon will pass in front of Saturn, creating a lunar occultation visible from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. From Beaghmore, the occultation will begin at 4:27am and conclude at 5:12am.

Conjunction of Moon and Jupiter

27 August – The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 5°40′ to the north of Jupiter. The Moon will be 23 days old. They’ll be visible together from around midnight until the dawn.


September


New Moon

3 September – 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 at Opposition

8 September – Saturn will reach opposition, when it lies opposite to the Sun in the sky. Lying in the constellation Aquarius, it will be visible for much of the night, reaching its highest point in the sky around midnight local time.  From Beaghmore, it will be visible between 8:22pm and 6:26am.

Conjunction of Moon and Saturn

17 September – The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 18′ to the north of Saturn. The Moon will be 14 days old. From Beaghmore, the pair will be visible from around 8pm until around 6am.

Full Moon / Partial Lunar Eclipse

18 September – This Full Moon is known as a Harvest Moon. Between 3:13am and 4:14am, the Moon will pass through the Earth’s shadow, creating a partial eclipse.

Autumnal Equinox

22 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 almost equal length.  After the autumn equinox days get shorter and nights longer.


October


New Moon

2 October – 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.

Draconids Meteor Shower

7 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 five days after New Moon, meaning no scattered moonlight from around 8pm onwards.

Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

14 October – The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 6’45” to the north of Saturn. The Moon will be 12 days old. From Beaghmore, they will become visible after sunset at around 6:45pm and will set shortly after 4am.

Full Moon

17 October – This month’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Hunter Moon.

Orionids Meteor Shower

21 & 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 won’t be very favourable, since a 75% illuminated waning gibbous Moon will rise just before 8pm and be in the sky all night.


November


New Moon

1 November – 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.

South Taurids Meteor Shower

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, falling five days after New Moon.

Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

11 November – The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 5’18” to the north of Saturn. The Moon will be 10 days old. They’ll be visible after sunset around 5pm until around 1am.

North Taurids Meteor Shower

13 November – The North Taurids peak on this date. A minor meteor shower, expect to see around 5 shooting stars per hour. The waxing gibbous moon sets around 4:15am, so viewing should improve after that.

Full Moon

15 November – This month’s Full Moon is known as the Beaver Moon.

Leonids Meteor Shower

17 November – The Leonids is an average shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. Unfortunately the nearly full moon will block all but the brightest meteors this year. If you are patient, you may still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.


December


New Moon

1 December – 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.

Jupiter at Opposition

7 December – Jupiter will reach opposition, when it lies opposite to the Sun in the sky. Lying in the constellation Taurus, it will be visible for much of the night, reaching its highest point in the sky around midnight local time.

Conjunction of Moon and Saturn

8 December – The Moon and Saturn will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 18′ to the north of Saturn. The Moon will be 7 days old.

Geminids Meteor Shower

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. Unfortunately the nearly full moon will block all but the brightest meteors this year.

Full Moon

15 December – This month’s Full Moon is known as the Cold Moon.

Winter Solstice

21 December – Saturday 21 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

21 & 22 December – A minor meteor shower, the Ursids peak on this date.

New Moon

30 December – 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.


Credit to in-the-sky.org and their 2024 calendar of astronomical events.