Monthly skywatcher's guide to 2024: Eclipses, full moons, comets and meteor showers

Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
Updated ·4 min read

Skywatchers in 2024 will have a bounty of astronomical phenomena to enjoy throughout the year, including two lunar eclipses, two comets, several meteor showers and four supermoons.

But it's the April 8 total solar eclipse that will be the one to remember for those lucky enough to see it in person. The eclipse will stretch all the way from Texas to Maine, and will be visible in cities such as Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Cleveland, Buffalo and Indianapolis — weather permitting, of course.

There's something unique to see in the sky every month — Here is USA TODAY's guide to sky spectacles this year:

January 2024

A British Airways Airbus A320 from Barcelona and preparing to land at Heathrow, flies past the full moon rising in the skye of London, on August 30, 2023.
A British Airways Airbus A320 from Barcelona and preparing to land at Heathrow, flies past the full moon rising in the skye of London, on August 30, 2023.

February 2024

March 2024

  • March 20: Spring equinox. The beginning of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when daylight is roughly equal to night.

  • March 25: The full moon will graze Earth’s shadow to create what's known as a penumbral lunar eclipse.

  • March 25: The first full moon of spring – the worm moon – rises in the eastern sky. It's named for the worms that typically come out in March.

October 14, 2023: A solar eclipse was visible in the Southwestern and Northwestern United States on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
October 14, 2023: A solar eclipse was visible in the Southwestern and Northwestern United States on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

April 2024

  • April 8: Total solar eclipse. Visible from Texas to Maine, it will be the astronomical event of the year in the U.S.

  • April 21: Comet Pons-Brooks, also known as the "devil comet" because of the shape of its glowing tail, makes its closest approach to the sun.

  • April 21-22: The first meteor shower of the spring, the Lyrids, flies across the night sky.

  • April 23: The appearance of the moss pink wildflower gives rise to the full pink moon.

May 2024

  • May 5-6: The Eta Aquarid meteor shower – which could be quite strong in 2024 – will be visible.

  • May 23: The full flower moon, named for the abundant flowers of May, appears in the sky.

Several meteors are seen streaking through the sky during the Leonid meteor shower over Joshua Tree National Park, Calif., in this approximately 25-minute time exposure on Nov. 18, 2001.
Several meteors are seen streaking through the sky during the Leonid meteor shower over Joshua Tree National Park, Calif., in this approximately 25-minute time exposure on Nov. 18, 2001.

June 2024

  • June 20: The summer solstice: The first day of summer and the longest amount of daylight of the year!

  • June 21: The full strawberry moon, named for the ripening strawberries common in June, graces the early summer sky.

July 2024

  • July 21: The full buck moon rises, named for the male deer's large antlers.

  • July 30-31: Two lesser-known summer meteor showers – the Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids – could be visible.

Eliot Herman, an amateur astronomer and retired professor in the University of Arizona's School of Plant Sciences, captured images of the Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks and its devil horns using two remote telescopes in Utah.
Eliot Herman, an amateur astronomer and retired professor in the University of Arizona's School of Plant Sciences, captured images of the Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks and its devil horns using two remote telescopes in Utah.

August 2024

  • Aug. 11-12: One of the year's most popular showers, the Perseid meteor shower, will streak across the warm summer night sky.

  • Aug. 19: The full sturgeon moon is also a blue moon as well as a supermoon. Named because the sturgeon fish is often caught at this time of year.

September 2024

  • Sept. 17-18: A partial lunar eclipse will occur and will be visible across most of the U.S.

  • Sept. 17: A full harvest or corn moon rises. The harvest moon is the full moon that's closest to the autumnal equinox. It's also a supermoon.

  • Sept. 22: Day is roughly equal to night on the autumnal equinox as astronomical summer comes to an end.

The moon crosses in front of the sun over Albuquerque, New Mexico, during an annular eclipse on October 14, 2023.
The moon crosses in front of the sun over Albuquerque, New Mexico, during an annular eclipse on October 14, 2023.

October 2024

  • Oct. 2: An annular solar eclipse will be visible in southern South America. It will not be seen in the U.S.

  • Oct. 7-8: The Draconid meteor shower peaks. It often appears brightest in the evening.

  • Oct. 12-13: Newly discovered Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comes closest to Earth.

  • Oct. 17: The Full hunter's moon rises. It's also another supermoon.

  • Oct. 20-21: The peak of the Orionid meteor shower, which appears courtesy of debris from Halley's Comet.

November 2024

  • Nov. 15: The full beaver moon rises, named for the beavers readying for winter at this time. It's the final supermoon of 2024.

  • Nov. 16-17: Among the fastest-moving showers, the Leonid meteor shower peaks.

On the winter solstice, the shadow you cast around noontime is the longest all year
On the winter solstice, the shadow you cast around noontime is the longest all year

December 2024

  • Dec. 13-14: The Geminid meteor shower could be hard to spot because of the nearly full moon.

  • Dec. 15: The final full moon appears: The full cold moon is named for the chilly time of year.

  • Dec. 21: The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

  • Dec. 21-22: The Ursid meteor shower, which can only be spotted in the Northern Hemisphere, peaks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Monthly astronomy guide to 2024: When are full moons, meteor showers?

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