Contents
- January 2023 Astronomical Events
- February 2023 Astronomical Events
- March 2023 Astronomical Events
- April 2023 Astronomical Events
- May 2023 Astronomical Events
- June 2023 Astronomical Events
- July 2023 Astronomical Events
- August 2023 Astronomical Events
- September 2023 Astronomical Events
- October 2023 Astronomical Events
- November 2023 Astronomical Events
- December 2023 Astronomical Events
- Astronomical Event Definitions
- What Celestial Events are you looking forward to in 2023?
This year will present some great opportunities for viewing meteor showers, eclipses, planets, and much more.
Find here month-by-month highlights for the best astronomical events in 2023, with definitions provided at the end.
January 2023 Astronomical Events
January 4: Quadrantid meteor shower peak
One of the best meteor showers of the year, producing up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Bootes, near the Big Dipper. The best time to watch is after midnight.
January 6: Full Wolf Moon
The first full moon of the year, named after the howling wolves that were heard by Native Americans in winter. Also a micromoon.
January 22: Venus-Saturn conjunction
The two planets will appear very close together in the evening sky, separated by only 0.34 degrees low in the southwest sky after sunset.
January 23: Moon-Saturn and Moon-Venus conjunctions
The crescent moon will form a triangle with Saturn and Venus in the evening sky.
January 31: Lunar occultation of Mars
The moon will pass in front of Mars, blocking it from view for a few minutes. This event will be visible from parts of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
February 2023 Astronomical Events
February 1: Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) reaches its brightest
This comet, also known as the Green Comet, was discovered in March 2022 and is expected to become visible to the naked eye around this date. It will appear in the constellation Pisces, near the horizon before dawn.
February 5: Full Snow Moon
The second full moon of the year, named after the snow that often covers the ground in winter. Also a micromoon.
February 15: Venus-Neptune conjunction
The two planets will appear very close together in the evening sky, separated by only 0.16 degrees low in the west after sunset.
February 22: Moon-Venus conjunction
The crescent moon will be close to Venus in the evening sky.
February 22: Lunar occultation of Jupiter
The moon will pass in front of Jupiter, blocking it from view for a few minutes. This event will be visible from parts of South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
March 2023 Astronomical Events
March 2: Venus-Jupiter conjunction
The two brightest planets in the night sky will appear very close together in the evening sky, separated by only 0.28 degrees.
March 7: Full Worm Moon
The third full moon of the year, named after the earthworms that begin to emerge from the soil in spring. Also a supermoon.
March 20: March equinox
The first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun will be directly over the equator at noon, creating equal day and night lengths around the world.
March 24: Lunar occultation of Venus
The moon will pass in front of Venus, blocking it from view for a few minutes. This event will be visible from parts of Africa, Asia, Indonesia, and Australia.
April 2023 Astronomical Events
April 6: Full Pink Moon
The fourth full moon of the year, named after the pink flowers that bloom in spring. Also a supermoon.
April 16: Moon-Saturn conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Saturn in the morning sky.
April 20: Hybrid solar eclipse
A rare type of solar eclipse that changes from an annular to a total eclipse along its path.
The annular phase will be visible from parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, while the total phase will be visible from a narrow strip of land in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. A partial eclipse will be visible from most of Asia and Australia.
April 21: Moon-Mercury conjunction
The thin crescent moon will be close to Mercury in the evening sky.
April 23: Lyrid meteor shower peak
This is a moderate meteor shower, producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega. The best time to watch is after midnight.
April 23: Moon-Venus conjunction
The crescent moon will be close to Venus in the evening sky.
April 26: Moon-Mars conjunction
The crescent moon will be close to Mars in the evening sky.
May 2023 Astronomical Events
May 5: Full Flower Moon
This is the fifth full moon of the year, named after the flowers that bloom in spring. This is also a penumbral lunar eclipse, meaning the moon will pass through the faint outer shadow of the Earth, causing a slight dimming of its brightness. The eclipse will be visible from most of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
May 13: Moon-Saturn conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Saturn in the morning sky.
May 17: Lunar occultation of Jupiter
The moon will pass in front of Jupiter, blocking it from view for a few minutes. This event will be visible from parts of South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
May 23: Moon-Venus conjunction
The thin crescent moon will be close to Venus in the evening sky.
May 29: Mercury at greatest western elongation.
A good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
June 2023 Astronomical Events
June 4: Full Strawberry Moon
The sixth full moon of the year, named after the strawberries that ripen in early summer. Also a supermoon.
June 14: Moon-Jupiter conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Jupiter in the morning sky.
June 16: Moon-Mercury conjunction
The thin waning crescent moon will be close to Mercury in the morning sky.
June 21: June solstice
This is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at noon, creating the longest day and shortest night in the north and vice versa in the south.
June 22: Moon-Venus conjunction
The thin crescent moon will be close to Venus in the evening sky.
July 2023 Astronomical Events
July 3: Super Full Buck Moon
The seventh full moon of the year, named after the male deer that grow new antlers around this time. Also a supermoon.
July 11: Moon-Jupiter conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Jupiter in the morning sky.
July 20: Moon-Venus conjunction
The thin crescent moon will be close to Venus in the evening sky.
July 27: Venus-Mercury conjunction
The two inner planets will appear very close together in the evening sky, separated by only 0.18 degrees low in the west after sunset.
July 30: Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peak
This is a minor meteor shower, producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, near the star Delta Aquarii. The best time to watch is after midnight.
August 2023 Astronomical Events
August 1: Super Full Sturgeon Moon
The eighth full moon of the year, named after the large fish that were caught by Native Americans around this time. Also a supermoon.
August 13: Perseid meteor shower peak
This is one of the best meteor showers of the year, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, near the famous Double Cluster. The best time to watch is after midnight.
August 27: Saturn at opposition
This is the best time to observe Saturn, as it will be at its closest distance to Earth and fully illuminated by the sun. It will be visible all night long, shining brightly in the constellation Capricornus.
August 30: Moon-Saturn conjunction
The waxing gibbous moon will be close to Saturn in the evening sky.
August 31: Super Blue Full Corn Moon
The ninth full moon of the year, named after the corn that is harvested around this time. This is also a supermoon, meaning it is slightly larger and brighter than usual because it is closer to Earth. Also a blue moon.
September 2023 Astronomical Events
September 4: Moon-Jupiter conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Jupiter in the morning sky.
September 19: Neptune at opposition
The best time to observe Neptune, as it will be at its closest distance to Earth and fully illuminated by the sun. It will be visible all night long, shining faintly in the constellation Aquarius. A telescope will reveal its blue-green color and some of its moons.
September 22: September equinox
The first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun will be directly over the equator at noon, creating equal day and night lengths around the world.
September 29: Super Full Harvest Moon
This is the tenth full moon of the year, named after the harvest that takes place around this time. Also a supermoon.
October 2023 Astronomical Events
October 4: Moon-Jupiter conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Jupiter in the morning sky.
October 16: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
October 21: Orionid meteor shower peak
This is a moderate meteor shower, producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Orion, near the famous stars Betelgeuse and Rigel. The best time to watch is after midnight.
October 28: Super Full Hunter’s Moon
The eleventh full moon of the year, named after the hunters that prepared for winter around this time. This is also a supermoon.
November 2023 Astronomical Events
November 2: Moon-Jupiter conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Jupiter in the morning sky.
November 17: Leonid meteor shower peak
This is a minor meteor shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo, near the star Regulus. The best time to watch is after midnight.
November 27: Super Full Beaver Moon
The twelfth full moon of the year, and a supermoon. Named after the beavers that were trapped by Native Americans around this time.
December 2023 Astronomical Events
December 2: Moon-Jupiter conjunction
The waning gibbous moon will be close to Jupiter in the morning sky.
December 13: Geminid meteor shower peak
One of the best meteor showers of the year, producing up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini, near the bright stars Castor and Pollux. The best time to watch is after midnight.
December 21: December solstice
This is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at noon, creating the shortest day and longest night in the north and vice versa in the south.
December 22: Ursid meteor shower peak
A minor meteor shower, producing up to 10 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, near the North Star. The best time to watch is after midnight.
December 26: Full Cold Moon
The thirteenth full moon of the year, named after the cold weather that sets in around this time. This is also a partial lunar eclipse, meaning part of the moon will pass through the dark inner shadow of the Earth, causing a reddish tint on its surface. The eclipse will be visible from most of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Astronomical Event Definitions
- Supermoon – When the moon is slightly larger and brighter than usual because it is closer to Earth.
- Micromoon – When the moon is slightly smaller and dimmer because it is farther away from Earth.
- Blue Moon – The second full moon occurring in the same calendar month.
- Full Moon – The moon is completely illuminated because it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun.
- New Moon – Moon not visible as its illuminated side is facing away from Earth.
- Solar Eclipse – When the moon gets in the way of the Sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth.
- Lunar Eclipse – When Earth gets in the way of the sun’s light hitting the Moon.
- Meteor shower – When a number of meteors enter the Earth’s atmosphere and flash across the night sky appearing as shooting stars.
- Comet – A large piece of ice, rock or frozen gas that is orbiting our sun.
- Conjunction – When any two astronomical objects appear to be close together in the sky.
- Opposition – When Earth lies directly between a planet and the sun
- Occultation – When the moon or another object appears to move in front of another and at least partially block it
- Solstice – When the sun appears to reach its most northernly or southernly point relative to the equator
- Equinox – When the sun crosses the equator
What Celestial Events are you looking forward to in 2023?
As you can see, there is much to look forward to viewing and photographing in the night sky in 2023.
A further article that you may be interested in is What’s in the Sky Tonight from My Location?, which gives you the apps and software to quickly know what you might be able to find in the night sky for you on any night.
The images used in this article are screenshots from the excellent Stellarium (see best apps for astrophotography for more on this).
