Astronomical Events – 2014

Dates and times of Astronomical events such as Moon Phase, Meteor Showers, Eclipses, Conjunctions and other events.

Astronomical Events for 2013

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Calendar of events for 2014

• January 1 – New Moon. Occurs at 11:14 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• January 2, 3 – Quadrantids Meteor Shower. The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 2nd and morning of the 3rd. The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what could be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• January 5 – Jupiter at Opposition. The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter’s cloud bands.
• January 16 – Full Moon. Occurs at 04:52 UTC.
• January 30 – New Moon. Occurs at 21:38 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

• February 14 – Full Moon. Occurs at 23:53 UTC.
• March 1 – New Moon. Occurs at 08:00 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• March 16 – Full Moon. Occurs at 17:08 UTC.
• March 20 – March Equinox. The March equinox occurs at 16:57 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
• March 30 – New Moon. Occurs at 18:45 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• April 8 – Mars at Opposition. The red planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars.
• April 15 – Full Moon. Occurs at 07:42 UTC.
• April 15 – Total Lunar Eclipse. Visible throughout most of North America, South America, and Australia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
• April 22, 23 – Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• April 29 – New Moon. Occurs at 06:14 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• April 29 – Annular Solar Eclipse. Visable from the coast of South Africa,  Antarctica and into the east coast of Australia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
• May 5, 6 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids 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. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 5 and the morning of the May 6. The first quarter moon will set just after midnight leaving fairly dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• May 10 – Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons.
• May 14 – Full Moon. Occurs at 19:16 UTC.
• May 23/24 – Camelopardalids Meteor Shower – This is a new shower and it could produce as much as 1000 meteors per hour. Read more here
• May 28 – New Moon. Occurs at 18:40 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• June 7 – Conjunction of the Moon and Mars. The Moon will pass within two degrees of the planet Mars in the evening sky. The gibbous moon will be at magnitude -12.2 and Mars will be at magnitude -0.8. Look for both objects in the western sky just after sunset. The pair will be visible in the evening sky for about 6 hours after sunset.
• June 13 – Full Moon. Occurs at 04:11 UTC.
• June 21 – June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 10:51 UTC.
• June 27 – New Moon. Occurs at 08:08 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• July 12 – Full Moon. Occurs at 11:25 UTC.
• July 26 – New Moon. Occurs at 22:42 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• July 28, 29 – Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak.  The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. A Thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• August 10 – Full Moon.- SUPER MOON Occurs at 18:09 UTC. This full moon is also a super moon and it will be 12% to 30% brighter than it was in January of this year.
• August 12, 13 – Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The waning gibbous moon will block out some of the meteors this year, but the Perseids are so bright and numerous that it should still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• August 18 – Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.  The two bright planets will come unusually close to each other, only a quarter of a degree, in the early morning sky.  Look to the east just before sunrise.
• August 25 – New Moon. Occurs at 14:13 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• September 9 – Full Moon. – SUPER MOON – Occurs at 01:38 UTC.
• September 23 – September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 02:29 UTC.
• September 24 – New Moon. Occurs at 06:14 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• October 8 – Full Moon. Occurs at 10:51 UTC.
• October 8 – Total Lunar Eclipse. Eclipse will be visible throughout most of North America, South America, eastern Asia, and Australia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
• October 8, 9 – Draconids Meteor Shower. The Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. The shower runs annually from October 6-10 and peaks this year on the night of the 8th and morning of the 9th.  Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• October 22, 23 – Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• October 23 – New Moon. Occurs at 21:57 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• October 23 – Partial Solar Eclipse.  Partial eclipse will be visible throughout most of North and Central America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
• November 5, 6 – Taurids Meteor Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the night of November 5. Full moon this year will block out all but the brightest meteors. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• November 6 – Full Moon. Occurs at 22:23 UTC.
• November 17, 18 – Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is an average shower, producing an average of up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak.  The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th.  Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• November 22 – New Moon. Occurs at 12:32 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• December 6 – Full Moon. Occurs at 12:27 UTC.
• December 13, 14 – Geminids Meteor Shower. The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th.  Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
• December 21 – December Solstice. The December solstice occurs at 23:03 UTC.
• December 21-24 – Total Blackout of the sun due to solar storms. Earth will be cast into total darkness for three days according to NASA announcement. Internet viral hoax.
• December 22 – New Moon. Occurs at 01:36 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
• December 22, 23 – Ursids Meteor Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour.  The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the night of the 22nd. This will be one of the best years to observe the Ursids because there will be no moonlight to interfere with the show. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Definitions:

–Perihelion – When the orbit of a planet closest to the Sun.
–Aphelion – When the orbit of a planet farthest from the Sun.
–Greatest elongation – elongation is the angle between the Sun and a planet as seen from Earth, during eastern elongation (E), the planet appears as an evening star, during western elongation (W), the planet appears as a morning star.
–Opposition – position in the orbit of a planet when opposites the Sun as seen from Earth.
–Conjunction – position in the orbit of a planet when appears closer to the Sun as seen from Earth.
–Occultation – Moon occults or eclipses a star or a planet.
–Ascending Node – the point where a planet passes from the southern to the northern part of its orbit.
–Descending Node – the point where a planet passes from the northern to the southern side of its orbit.