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Astronomical Events 2024

Check out the dates and times for astronomical events like equinoxes, solstices, meteor showers, eclipses, supermoons, and more.

Jan 11: New Moon

Couple sitting outside their camp in the mountains under a starry night sky.11Jan

A New Moon in the sky means no moonlight to hinder your view of stars and planets. Use our Interactive Night Sky Map to find out what planets are visible tonight and where.

Mar 10: Super New Moon

Starry night sky over the mountain city in the fog10 Mar

Dark nights a few days before and after the Moon reaches its New Moon phase at 09:00 UTC on March 10 are the best nights to do some night sky watching—see our map! Once again, this is a Super New Moon.

Apr 8: Super New Moon

Illustration of the eight phases of the Moon with an arrow showing the order they appear in, seen from Earth. 8 Apr

This is the third Super New Moon in a row, and the final one for 2024. (There will be Super Full Moons in September and October.)

Jun 6: New Moon

Illustration of the Moon's position in space in relation to Earth and the Sun at New Moon.6Jun

Make the most of a moonlight-free night to look for some stars and planets in the skies.

Jul 5: Earth’s Aphelion

Diagram showing the distance between the Sun and Earth at different times of the year (perihelion and aphelion).5Jul

At 05:06 UTC, the Earth will reach aphelion—the point in its orbit farthest from the Sun.

Jul 21: Buck Moon

Close-up shot of the rising Full Moon21 Jul

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.

Aug 4: New Moon

Starry night sky over the mountain city in the fog4 Aug

New Moon is at 11:13 UTC on August 4, marking the start of another lunar month.

New Moon is a good time to explore the night sky. Find planets, stars, and constellations using our Interactive Night Sky Map!

Aug 28: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

Illustration of a comet28 Aug

Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)—which was discovered at the beginning of 2023—is 30 days from perihelion, its closest point to the Sun. There is a chance it will become a naked-eye object, although comets are famously unpredictable.

Sep 3: New Moon

Couple sitting outside their camp in the mountains under a starry night sky.3Sep

A New Moon in the sky means no moonlight to hinder your view of stars and planets. Use our Interactive Night Sky Map to find out what planets are visible tonight and where.

Nov 17/18: Leonid Meteor Shower

Illustration image17 Nov

The Leonids shooting stars are visible between November 6 and 30, and peak on the night of November 17 and early morning of November 18, with up to 15 meteors per hour.

Dec 14/15: Geminid Meteors

Illustration image14 Dec

Normally one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids peak around the night of December 14 and early morning hours of December 15. This year, alas, a bright Full Moon will reduce the number of meteors that can be spotted.

Note: All dates are UTC, unless otherwise stated.

Topics: Astronomy, Eclipses, Equinox, Moon, Sun, Comets, Meteors, Solstice, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December