Celestial events to watch in 2024

The cosmos are always moving, changing and making way for awe-inspiring astronomical phenomena. These are the best, most exciting events to watch for in the coming weeks and months.

Orionid meteor shower (Sept. 26 - Nov. 22, 2024)

The Orionid meteor shower is a staple of the fall. This year it will peak between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 with a rate of approximately 20 meteors per hour. "Sometimes the Orionid meteor shower produces spectacular displays of up to 80 meteors an hour, but in recent years it has produced more modest displays of about 20 or 30 visible meteors per hour," said Space.com. The Orionids are also produced from Halley's comet like the Eta Aquarids.

Visibility this year may be reduced because the "moon will be 79% illuminated at the time of the peak." Space.com added. However, they should still be visible to both the northern and southern hemispheres. To have the best view, go to as dark a location as possible between midnight and dawn and let your eyes adjust.

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Leonid meteor shower (Nov. 3 - Dec. 2, 2024)

The Leonid meteor shower is set to take place throughout the month of November, peaking on November 16. The shower occurs when "Earth passes through the debris left behind by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle during its highly elliptical orbit around the sun every 33 years," said Space.com. Leonid meteors can move quickly at approximately 44 miles per hour across the sky.

Leonids are known for their "fireballs and Earth-grazer meteors," said NASA. "Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak." In order to get the best viewing experience, experts recommend going to a very dark location and allowing your eyes to adjust for 30 minutes.

Geminids meteor shower (Nov. 19 - Dec. 24, 2024)

The Geminid shower will run from the middle of November to the end of December, peaking on December 13 and 14. The shower originates from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which differs from other showers that usually come from comets. It is one of the brightest meteor showers of the year with approximately 150 meteors per hour.

This year visibility may be reduced. "In 2024, a nearly full moon will greatly reduce the number of meteors seen," said the American Meteor Organization. But if your skies are clear and transparent, "you can still see many bright meteors by facing a direction with the moon at your back." The best view will be in the Southern Hemisphere in the middle of the night on December 13.

Quadrantids meteor shower (Dec. 26, 2024 - Jan 16, 2025)

We will ring in the new year with the Quadrantids meteor shower, which peaks between January 2 and 3 and originates from asteroid 2003 EH1. "Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, which makes catching sight of these other meteors much more possible," said NASA. "The Quadrantids peak, on the other hand, is much shorter — only a few hours," because of "the shower's thin stream of particles and the fact that the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle."

At the shower's peak, it is "expected to produce a nominal rate of around 120 meteors per hour," said In-the-sky.org. "However, this zenithal hourly rate is calculated assuming a perfectly dark sky and that the radiant of the shower is situated directly overhead." To best see the shower, you should be located in the "mid-northern or far-northern latitudes, up in the wee hours of the morning, and hope the peak comes at just the right time to your part of the world," said EarthSky.

Blood moon (March 13 - 14, 2025)

A blood moon or total lunar eclipse will occur in the middle of the night between March 13 and 14. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon "moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or the umbra," said NASA. "Some of the sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moon's surface, lighting it dimly. Colors with shorter wavelengths — the blues and violets ― scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, like red and orange." This makes the moon appear reddish-orange in the sky.

North America, Central America and South America will be able to see the eclipse. Other parts of the world will likely see a partial eclipse. The blood moon is expected to last just over an hour after 2 a.m. on March 14, during which the moon will be at its reddest.