Sky events to look forward to in 2023 include a rare eclipse and meteor showers

We’ve got a new year to look forward to great events in our skies after a terrific 2022.

Here are a few major events for 2023:

January

The first of many good meteor showers will take place during the first few days of the New Year! The annual Quadrantid meteor shower will peak on the morning hours of Jan. 4, but this is a short-timed event – the meteors can be seen for just a few hours as they appear as a swarm in our skies.

Get all the details.

February

Potential bright comet, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) – A small comet may be bright enough to be visible in binoculars around midmonth and be very close to the bright planet Mars on Feb. 10.

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered back in 2022 at the now famous automated Zwicky Transient Facility Telescope. The comet may reach naked-eye brilliance during this month. Here are a few links to help you locate the comet.

March

Venus/Jupiter conjunction – Venus meets up with Jupiter on the evening of March 2. They will pass within less than half a degree in the sky. Look for them low in the west at sunset.

April

A rare total/hybrid solar eclipse in Australia and Indonesia – The moon darkens the sun in what is a very rare hybrid type eclipse.

Get set for a solar eclipse which is seen as an annular eclipse and then as it moves along, transforms back into a total solar eclipse. Learn all about this event, which takes place April 19-20.

May

Solar cycle 25 really kicks in – This cycle is growing in intensity and we encourage you to follow the activity right from your desktop or smartphone.

June

Venus reaches its greatest elongation in the evening sky.

July

Summertime is Milky Way at its best July 17 – With a new moon, the Milky Way is best seen after dark.

August

The summer Perseid meteor shower is at its best Aug. 12-13.

September

Venus and Mercury are bright in the morning sky Sept. 19-22 – The two innermost planets, Mercury and Venus, shine bright in the predawn sky in September. Here is how to best find them.

October

Major annular solar eclipse comes to the U.S. on Oct. 14 – A rare “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse comes to the U.S. as sort of ae preshow for the next major total solar eclipse here April 8, 2024.

Here is how best to view this event.

November

Jupiter reaches opposition Nov. 3 – The mighty planet Jupiter reaches opposition on the night of Nov. 3, high in the constellation of Aries the Ram. Here is how best to view it!

December

Geminid meteor shower peaks Dec. 13-14 – The annual meteor shower will be a good on under dark skies. Here is how best to view it.

Happy 2023!

To print your own monthly star chart, click here. 

To view satellites/dates/times of passage, click here.

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