The total solar eclipse on April 8 will grab most of the sky watching headlines this year, but there are plenty of other good astronomical events on the calendar for those who will be nowhere near the path of totality.
Pacific Northwest stargazers could see two comets, plenty of meteors and a supermoon eclipse in 2024, which should be enough to set your cosmic heart aflutter.
One date you’ll want to circle on your calendar is Sept. 17, when a supermoon will rise already in eclipse. While only a partial lunar eclipse, it should still be a beautiful sight, rising just after sunset. You should also mark Oct. 12, which is when Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will pass close to Earth. Astronomers are speculating that this could be the next “great comet” and could put on a spectacular show – though comets are notoriously hard to predict.
Here’s what else to look out for this year:
Jan. 3-4
Quadrantid Meteor Shower
A short but powerful meteor shower, the Quadrantids typically peak at 25 meteors per hour for only about six hours. This year’s event will be accompanied by a half moon that should rise just as the meteors are expected to peak, which may drown out much of the show.
Jan. 27
Conjunction of Mercury and Mars
In the early morning hours, Mercury and Mars will appear to pass very close to one another, visible low on the southeast horizon just before dawn. Both planets should be visible by the naked eye. It’s one of two promising planetary conjunctions in the Northern Hemisphere this year.
March 22
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks
Comets are notoriously unreliable, but astronomers are keeping their eyes on Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which has been slowly beginning to brighten in the night sky since the fall. By the end of March, it’s expected to be visible by the naked eye, moving through the Aries constellation. Keep looking for the comet through the end of the month. Come April, it will disappear into the sunset glow.
March 25
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
While notable as an eclipse, a penumbral lunar eclipse is nothing to write home about. Unlike a total lunar eclipse, the moon will be darkened only by the Earth’s penumbra, a lighter outer shadow. While Oregon sits smack in the middle of the eclipse path, the moon will barely darken for a few hours in the morning.
April 8
Total Solar Eclipse
Oregon will not be in the path of this year’s total solar eclipse, which should be a fantastic show for everyone with clear skies in the path of totality. The eclipse will take place from about 10:33 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in Portland, which will see a small bite of shadow take over the sun.
April 22-23
Lyrid Meteor Shower
A medium-strength meteor shower, the Lyrids produce bright meteors that can produce nice fireballs. However, the shower’s peak this year coincides with a nearly full moon that will be up all night, spoiling much of the show.
May 5-6
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
A medium-strength meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere, the Eta aquarids typically produce rates of 10 to 30 meteors per hour just before dawn. This year’s event takes place under a waning crescent moon, which should rise just as the meteors begin streaking.
July 30-31
Delta Aquarid and Alpha Capricornid Meteor Showers
Both considered weak meteor showers, the Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids peak at the same time around the end of July. A waning crescent moon should make this a good year to try to watch these low-grade events.
Aug. 12-13
Perseid Meteor Shower
The popular Perseid meteor show will once again run from July 14 to Sept. 1, peaking on Aug. 12-13. The strong event typically produces up to 100 meteors per hour, making it one of the strongest on the calendar. This year’s peak falls under a waxing half moon, which will set just before midnight. For truly dark skies, aim for the nights around the new moon Aug. 4.
Aug. 14
Conjunction of Mars and Jupiter
The summer conjunction of Mars and Jupiter is considered to be the best planetary conjunction of 2024, as the two bright planets will appear to come particularly close and should be easily visible from about midnight to dawn, rising over the eastern horizon.
Sept. 17
Supermoon Lunar Eclipse
The first of two supermoons in 2024 coincides with a partial lunar eclipse, which will be a great way to mark one of the final nights of summer. The full moon will rise at 7:17 p.m., already in partial eclipse, so make sure you’re someplace with a clear view of the eastern horizon. The maximum eclipse will occur at 7:44 p.m. in Portland, ending half an hour later.
Oct. 12
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
Astronomers have high hopes for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Expected to be exceptionally bright with a beautiful tail, the comet could put on a phenomenal show in the first half of fall. The comet will make its closest approach to the sun on Sept. 27, reemerging in the night sky in early October, where it should remain through the end of the month. On Oct. 12, it will pass close to Earth and should be easily visible to the naked eye. Pray for clear skies in Oregon.
Oct. 17
Supermoon
The second of two supermoons will take place in the thick of spooky season. The moon will rise at 6:22 p.m. in Portland, just after sunset, and will stay up all night.
Oct. 21-22
Orionid Meteor Shower
Typically a low-strength shower, the Orionids have been known to produce spectacular shows on occasion, sometimes on par with the Perseids. This year’s peak comes during poor sky watching conditions: a waning gibbous moon only a few days from full will rise around 9 p.m. in the Pacific Northwest.
Nov. 5-6
Southern Taurid Meteor Shower
The Southern Taurids are a long-lasting meteor shower, running from Sept. 23 to Dec. 8, though the event rarely produces more than five meteors per hour. The meteor shower will peak during a waxing crescent moon in early November.
Nov. 11-12
Northern Taurid Meteor Shower
Much like the Southern Taurids, the Northern Taurid Meteor Shower is a long-lasting, low-production event, running from Oct. 13 to Dec. 2. It will peak in the middle of November with a waxing gibbous moon that will set around 1:35 a.m., leaving dark skies later in the night.
Nov. 17-18
Leonid Meteor Shower
There won’t be any major Leonids events until 2099, though the annual shower still produces peaks of around 15 bright meteors per hour. A recently full moon will be up all night during the meteor shower’s peak this year, which could spoil much of the show.
Dec. 13-14
Geminid Meteor Shower
The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year, with bright and intensely colored meteors that number roughly 120 per hour – though they are often obscured by cloudy skies here in the Pacific Northwest. This year’s peak comes during bad sky watching conditions anyway: a nearly full moon that will stay up all night.
Dec. 21-22
Ursid Meteor Shower
Peaking in the middle of winter holidays, and coming off the heels of the spectacular Geminids, the Ursids are often an overlooked event – though with an average rate of only 5 to 10 meteors per hour during the shower’s peak, there’s not a lot to miss. A waning gibbous moon this year will rise before midnight and stay up through dawn.
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