Watch the full Countdown to Eclipse series.

Act fast if you want reservations for places to stay near the path of totality of the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. After this event, we won’t have another total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. until 2044! The eclipse path will sweep across North America, Mexico and eastern Canada. A partial solar eclipse will be visible over North and Central America.

Total solar eclipse

Partial eclipse begins: at 15:42 UTC (11:42 a.m. EDT) on April 8.
Total eclipse begins: at 16:38 UTC (12:38 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Greatest eclipse: at 18:17 UTC (2:17 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Total eclipse ends: at 19:55 UTC (3:55 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Partial eclipse ends: at 20:52 UTC (4:52 p.m. EDT) on April 8.
Note: The instant of greatest eclipse – when the axis of the moon’s shadow cone passes closest to Earth’s center – takes place at 18:17 UTC (2:17 p.m. EDT). It’s a relatively long total eclipse with a duration of totality lasting 4.47 minutes.

Remember that the number one rule for solar eclipse observing is to make sure you protect your eyes by using an appropriate filter.

Need eclipse glasses? Get ’em here, but order soon!

Don’t miss the great eclipse maps below.

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Moon, constellation, Saros

Greatest eclipse takes place one day after the moon reaches perigee, its closest point to Earth for the month. During the April 8, 2024, eclipse, the sun is located in the direction of the constellation Aries.

This eclipse has a magnitude of 1.0566.

The Saros catalog describes the periodicity of eclipses. The eclipse belongs to Saros 139. It is number 30 of 71 eclipses in the series. All eclipses in this series occur at the moon’s ascending node. The moon moves southward with respect to the node with each succeeding eclipse in the series.

Cities where the total solar eclipse is visible

Next eclipse and eclipse seasons

The total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, is preceded two weeks earlier by a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 24, 2024.

These eclipses all take place during a single eclipse season.

An eclipse season is an approximate 35-day period during which it’s inevitable for at least two (and possibly three) eclipses to take place. The next eclipse season has three eclipses: September 17-18, October 2 and October 17, 2024.

Maps and data

Find maps and eclipse timings below. Remember to convert UTC to your time.

• Timeanddate.com: to get the exact timing of the eclipse from your location.
• Orthographic Map: detailed global map of eclipse visibility.
• Google Map: interactive map of the eclipse path.
• Path Table: coordinates of the central line and path limits.
• Circumstances Table: eclipse times for hundreds of cities.
• Saros 139 Table: data for all eclipses in the Saros series.
• Additional tables and data.

Here is what a total solar eclipse looks like

Eclipse maps from Great American Eclipse

Michael Zeiler of GreatAmericanEclipse.com has generously given us permission to share his eclipse maps for the total solar eclipse. Here you can get a better idea of where you’ll want to be and when to see this unique phenomenon.

Which location is closest to you?

Maps for the timing of the eclipse

How long will the eclipse last?

Read more: Total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, from Michael Zeller

Watch the full Countdown to Eclipse series.

Bottom line: We’re counting down to the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, which will cross North America. Join us for a countdown! February 21, 2024, is 47 days until eclipse day. In this episode, Marcy Curran shares some fun facts of solar eclipses.

Read more from EarthSky: Tides, and the pull of the moon and sun

See photos of the December 2021 solar eclipse

EarthSky’s monthly planet guide: Visible planets and more

The post 47 days to total solar eclipse. Eclipse fun facts first appeared on EarthSky.

On the evening of February 21, 2024, the bright waxing gibbous moon will shine near Castor and Pollux, the twin stars of Gemini. And it’ll be very close to the faint Beehive star cluster, which you likely won’t see in the moon’s glare, unless you’re an experienced stargazer. Ah, but when the moon moves away! In a dark sky, the Beehive is an easy target with binoculars. They’ll all rise before sunset and travel across the sky’s dome until a little before sunrise.

Our charts are mostly set for the northern half of Earth. To see a precise view – and time – from your location, try Stellarium Online.

February 17-25 mornings: Venus and Mars pair up

Here’s something worth getting up to see! Bright Venus pairs up with much-dimmer Mars from February 17 to 25, 2024. Mars is just now returning to our early morning sky after being behind the sun from Earth. It’ll be rising higher each morning, and it’ll pass brighter Venus, which is descending into the sunrise glare. So it’s a very bright object near a faint one! Fun to see. Mars and Venus will be closest to each other around February 21 and 22.

To enhance your view of Venus and Mars, use binoculars.

EarthSky Minute: Two morning planets

Solar eclipse countdown!

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024. February 21, 2024, is 47 days until eclipse day. In this episode, Marcy Curran shares some fun facts of solar eclipses.

EarthSky Minute: February moon phases

February 22 and 23 evenings: Moon near Regulus

On the evenings of February 22 and 23, 2024, the waxing gibbous moon will float near the star Regulus, marking the bottom of the backward question mark asterism called the Sickle. Regulus is the brightest star in Leo the Lion. They’ll be visible through dawn.

February 24, all night: Full Snow Moon

The instant of full moon – often called the Snow Moon – will fall at 12:30 UTC (6:30 a.m. CST) on February 24, 2024. But of course every full moon rises into your local sky around sunset … and sets around sunrise. This February full moon will be the smallest – most distant – full moon in 2024 at 252,225 miles (405,917 kilometers) away.

Our charts are mostly set for the northern half of Earth. To see a precise view – and time – from your location, try Stellarium Online.

February 24 and 25 evenings: Moon near Regulus and Leo

On the evening of February 24, 2024, the full moon will pass the hindquarters of Leo the Lion. The waning gibbous moon will be approaching Leo on the evening of February 25. They’ll be visible all night.

Moon at apogee February 25

The moon will reach apogee – its farthest distance from Earth in its elliptical orbit around Earth – at 15 UTC (9 a.m. CST) on February 25, 2024, when it’s 252,470 miles (406,312 kilometers) away.

February 25 and 26 mornings: Moon near Regulus and Leo

On the mornings of February 25 and 26, 2024, the waning gibbous moon will lie near Regulus, the bright star marking the bottom of the backward question mark asterism called the Sickle. Regulus is the brightest star in Leo the Lion. They’ll rise the night before and be opposite the sun in the morning sky.

February 26 – March 11: Zodiacal light

The zodiacal light may be visible after evening twilight for Northern Hemisphere observers for the next two weeks. Southern Hemisphere observers? Look for it before morning twilight begins.

February 28: Mercury moves behind the sun

Mercury will move behind the sun on February 28. This point in its orbit is called superior conjunction. It will return to our evening sky in mid-March.

Our charts are mostly set for the northern half of Earth. To see a precise view – and time – from your location, try Stellarium Online.

February 28 and 29 mornings: Moon near Spica

On the mornings of February 28 and 29, 2024, the waning gibbous moon will hang near the bright star Spica in Virgo the Maiden.

Visible planets in February 2024

Mid-February mornings: Venus and Mars

In the middle of February, Mars will move close to brilliant Venus. They’ll be an interesting contrast in brightness, with Venus shining at magnitude -3.9 and Mars shining at +1.3. So Venus is roughly 100 times brighter than Mars. They will be at their closest on February 21 and 22, 2024. Then Venus will continue to descend closer to the sunrise each day, while Mars climbs out of the morning twilight.

Late February mornings: Venus and Mars

By the end of February, Venus will slowly be approaching the horizon before disappearing from the morning sky in March. And Mars will be climbing higher each day away from brilliant Venus. Mars remains a morning object through all of 2024.

February evenings: Jupiter

Bright Jupiter will draw your attention until around midnight in February 2024. It will be obvious high in the sky at sunset and will be visible until around midnight. It will shine near the pretty Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Jupiter reached perihelion – or closest point to Earth – in early November. And it reached opposition overnight on November 2-3, 2023, when we flew between it and the sun. So, as Jupiter recedes from Earth, it’ll fade a bit in our sky. It will lie in the dim constellation Aries the Ram, and it’ll shine at -2.2 magnitude by month’s end. The 1st quarter moon will float by Jupiter on February 15, 2024.

Where’s Saturn?

Saturn will be in conjunction with the sun on February 28, 2024. It’ll emerge in the morning sky after mid-March.

Thank you to all who submit images to EarthSky Community Photos! View community photos here. We love you all. Submit your photo here.

Looking for a dark sky? Check out EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze.

Sky dome maps for visible planets and night sky

The sky dome maps come from master astronomy chart-maker Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2024 in his Astronomical Calendar.

Guy Ottewell explains sky dome maps

Heliocentric solar system visible planets and more

The sun-centered charts come from Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2024 in his Astronomical Calendar.

Guy Ottewell explains heliocentric charts.

Some resources to enjoy

For more videos of great night sky events, visit EarthSky’s YouTube page.

Watch EarthSky’s video about Two Great Solar Eclipses Coming Up

Don’t miss anything. Subscribe to daily emails from EarthSky. It’s free!

Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze to find a dark-sky location near you.

Post your own night sky photos at EarthSky Community Photos.

Translate Universal Time (UTC) to your time.

See the indispensable Observer’s Handbook, from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Visit Stellarium-Web.org for precise views from your location.

Almanac: Bright visible planets (rise and set times for your location).

Visit TheSkyLive for precise views from your location.

Bottom line: Visible planets in February. On February 21, we’re 47 days from eclipse day! See the moon, Castor, Pollux and the faint Beehive before sunset until a little before sunrise.

The post Visible planets and night sky for February first appeared on EarthSky.

• Mars can appear bright or faint in our sky. 2024 is mostly a faint year. Around February, Mars becomes visible in the east before dawn. It’s faint and far across the solar system from Earth.
• As the days pass, Mars will be climbing higher in the predawn sky, growing steadily brighter. Earth will be gaining on Mars, in our smaller, faster orbit around the sun.
• Around the September equinox, Mars will start becoming noticeable in our skies! By the year’s end, it’ll shine brightly at -1.2 magnitude. Its next opposition will come in January 2025.

Mars in 2024

Opposition for Mars last fell on December 8, 2022. That’s when our planet Earth last flew between Mars and the sun. It’ll reach opposition again in January 2025. Now, in February 2024, Mars will be ascending in the morning sky. In fact, Mars will be visible in the morning sky all year.
How to see Mars in the sky: In early February 2024, Mars will be low in the eastern morning sky and challenging to spot in the bright twilight. However, it’ll become easier to spot by month’s end. It’ll be shining at magnitude +1.3.
Constellations in February 2024: Mars, it would be crossing in front of the constellation Sagittarius and move in front of the constellation Capricornus the Sea-goat.
Note: Mars reaches opposition about every 26 months, or about every two Earth-years. So Mars alternates between appearing bright and faint in our sky. It was bright in late 2022 and early 2023. But by September 2023, Mars faded dramatically in brightness and disappeared in the sunset glare in October 2023. It passed behind the sun on November 18. It came back into view, in the east before sunrise, at the end of 2023 shining around magnitude +1.4.

Finder charts for February mornings

Sometimes, Mars is faint

Mars was an inconspicuous faint red dot in the sky throughout the early months of 2022. It started becoming brighter in the final months of 2022 and reached opposition on December 8, 2022. It remained bright through early 2023, then started to rapidly fade through the end of the year. Mars reached superior conjunction on November 18, 2023. Now in 2024, it will remain faint until the last few months of the year.

Sometimes, Mars is bright

Mars steadily brightened in the first half of 2022, first as a morning object. But later, during the second half of 2022, Mars shone as a bright red ruby in the evening sky. Ultimately, it reached opposition – when Earth flew between Mars and the sun – on December 8, 2022.

Indeed, Mars’ dramatic swings in brightness (and its red color) are why the early stargazers named Mars for their God of War.

Sometimes the war god rests. And sometimes he grows fierce! In fact, these changes are part of the reason Mars is so fascinating to watch in the night sky.

Want to follow Mars? Bookmark EarthSky’s monthly night sky guide.

Mars isn’t very big

To understand why Mars varies so much in brightness in Earth’s sky, first realize that Mars isn’t a very big world. Indeed, it’s only 4,219 miles (6,790 km) in diameter, making it only slightly more than half Earth’s size (7,922 miles or 12,750 km in diameter).

On the other hand, consider Mars in contrast to Jupiter, the biggest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is 86,881 miles (140,000 km) in diameter. As an illustration, more than 20 planets the size of Mars could be lined up side by side in front of Jupiter. Basically, Jupiter always looks bright, because it’s so big.

Not so for little Mars, however. Rather, its extremes in brightness have to do with its nearness (or lack of nearness) to Earth.

Future Martian oppositions

So, when is the next opposition of Mars? The next time Mars will appear at its brightest for that two-year period in our sky? You guessed it. In January 2025! Check out the chart on this page that lists all oppositions of Mars from 1995 to 2037.

Seeing red

Mars appears as a reddish light in the sky and, therefore, is often called the Red Planet. Other obvious red dots in the sky are reddish-orange Aldebaran and the famous red supergiant Betelgeuse. So, it is fun to compare Mars’ color and intensity of red with that of Aldebaran or Betelgeuse.

And then there is red Antares. Antares is Greek for rival of Ares, meaning rival of Mars. Antares is sometimes said to be the anti-Mars due to its competing red color. For a few months every couple of years Mars is much brighter than Antares. Also, every couple of years Mars passes near Antares, as if taunting the star. Mars moves rapidly through the heavens and Antares is fixed to the starry firmament.

What makes them red?

Surface temperature is what determines the colors of the stars. The hottest stars are blue and the coolest stars are red. In fact, from hottest to coolest, the colors of stars range from blue, white, yellow, orange and red. And while the colors of stars might be hard to detect, some stars – like Aldebaran, Antares and Betelgeuse – are noticeably colorful.

On the other hand, Mars appears red for a different reason. It’s red because of iron oxide in the dust that covers this desert world. Iron oxide gives rust and blood its red color. Rovers on Mars sampled the Martian dust and determined it contains three colors: reds, browns and oranges. So those three colors are what you may see when you gaze upon Mars.

Do you see red when you look at Mars, Aldebaran, Antares and Betelgeuse? Are they the same color? Do you see any other colors of stars?

Bottom line: Mars is back in our morning sky. In fact, it’s be visible in the morning sky for all of 2024 and it’ll reach opposition in January 2025.

Moon and Mars! Fav photos of December 7 occultation

Photos of bright Mars in 2018, from the EarthSky community

Photos of bright Mars in 2020, from the EarthSky community

The post Mars in 2024: Back in the morning sky first appeared on EarthSky.

Latest solar noon comes in February

For you, if you’re time-conscious … the days around February 11 mark the latest solar noon for all of 2024, and for the entire globe, by the clock. However, solar noon isn’t a clock event, even though our clocks and calendars measure its continual shift throughout the year. So what is it? It’s a natural event. Solar noon – aka midday – refers to that passing instant when the sun reaches its highest point for the day, midway between sunrise and sunset.

At solar noon, the sun is said to cross your meridian, as depicted on the diagram below. No matter where you live worldwide, the sun can only be at one of three places in your sky at solar noon: at your zenith (straight overhead), south of zenith, or north of zenith. The noonday sun can only reach zenith in the tropics. From northern temperate latitudes, the noonday sun is always south of zenith. At southern temperate latitudes, the noonday sun is always north of zenith.

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The equation of time

We invite you to check out the graph below. It shows what’s called the equation of time. That’s a fancy name for the discrepancy between solar noon and clock noon. As the graph shows, the latest solar noon in February occurs a solid 1/2 hour later by the clock than the year’s earliest solar noon in early November.

Yearly, the latest solar noon happens on (or near) February 11 and the earliest solar noon happens on (or near) November 3. That’s true no matter where you live worldwide. North, south, east, west on the globe … it doesn’t matter. For all of us, solar noon happens over 30 minutes later by the clock on February 11 than it does on November 3.

Before the advent of time zones and standard time, the equation of time graph (below) applied to anywhere worldwide. In our day and age, the graph refers to places that reside on the center line of a given time zone. For example, Denver, Colorado – at 105 degrees west longitude – sits on the center line of the Mountain Standard Time zone. So, in Denver, solar noon reads 12:14 p.m. by the clock on February 11, and 11:43 a.m. by the clock on November 3.

Elsewhere within a given time zone, the standard clock time for solar noon differs. Keep reading to understand why.

Where are you in your time zone?

Earth is divided into around 24 time zones, and each time zone is (in theory) 15 degrees of longitude wide. Because Earth is a sphere, time zones are widest across at the equator. They reduce in width as you go north or south, until they reach to zero degrees at the poles. In other words, the time zones meet at the poles. So, at the equator, a time zone is (in theory) about 1,035 miles (1,665 km) wide. By the way, we keep saying “in theory” because time zone borders typically aren’t straight lines. They’re often drawn in a zigzag fashion to accommodate the boundaries of nations, states or provinces.

But for all of us – unless you live at Earth’s North or South Pole – your time zone has some width to it. And you might have noticed that sunrise and sunset in the sky happen later (by the clock) as you go directly west in a given time zone.

So it is for solar noon. Solar noon comes 4 minutes later by the clock for every 1 degree you live west of your time zone’s eastern edge. Solar noon comes 4 minutes earlier by the clock for every 1 degree you live east of your time zone’s western edge. No matter. It’s still the case that – in any year, and at any location – solar noon happens 1/2 hour later by the clock on February 11 than on November 3.

Based on standard time

By the way, we emphasize we’re talking about standard time. We are not talking about daylight saving time or summer time, in which we pretend that it’s one hour later than it is.

But there’s no need to go through mental gymnastics to figure out the clock time for solar noon in your location. Simply visit the Sunrise Sunset calendar site, enter your location, and look at the column marked solar noon.

In this way, you’ll know your clock time for solar noon for any day of the year.

Unequal length of solar days

The day – as measured from one solar noon to the next – rarely equals 24 hours. In fact, a 24-hour solar day happens only four times a year, on or near these dates: February 11, May 14, July 26 and November 3. Again, we invite you to study the equation of time graph above. The 24-hour solar days only take place at the turning points above (February 11 and July 26) and below (May 14 and November 3).

The sun and the clock only agree four times a year: on or near April 15, June 15, September 1 and December 25. Look at the graph above and you can see that the solar day is shorter than 24 hours on April 15 and September 1, yet longer than 24 hours on June 15 and December 25.

Shorter days at equinoxes, longer days at solstices

Earth-sun geometry dictates seasonal variation in the length of solar days. Solar days are less than 24 hours long for roughly 3 months centered around the equinoxes (March 20 and September 23). And solar days are longer than 24 hours for roughly 3 months centered around the solstices (June 21 and December 21).

Two reasons account for the unequal length of the solar day. First and foremost, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the solar day to be more than 24 hours long around the solstices, and less than 24 hours long around the equinoxes. But Earth’s eccentric orbit plays a role, too, either accentuating or lessening the length of the solar day.

Around the December solstice, the Earth is some 3 million miles (5 million km) closer to the sun than on the June solstice. So Earth travels most swiftly in its orbit for the year in December and January. It travels most slowly in June and July.

Hence, at and around the December solstice, the Earth must rotate farthest on its axis for the sun to return to its noontime position. That gives us the year’s longest solar days around the December solstice: 24 hours + 30 seconds.

In contrast, the solar days accompanying the June solstice are considerably shorter: 24 hours + 13 seconds.

Mean sun versus real sun

In short, the mean sun used by the clock is a fiction. The clock presumes Earth’s rotational axis stands upright as we revolve around the sun. The clock also presumes Earth goes around the sun in a perfect circle. Neither presumption is correct. Earth’s rotational axis is titled nearly 23.5 degrees out of perpendicular to its orbital plane. And, as mentioned before, Earth’s distance from the sun varies by about 3 million miles (5 million km).

The mean solar day is 24 hours long. But the real solar day (as measured by the sundial) varies in length throughout the year. The discrepancy between the clock and the sundial is never greater than 1/2 minute on any given day. Even so, the discrepancy accumulates daily for roughly three months. That’s why the latest solar noon in February comes 1/2 hour later by the clock than the earliest solar noon in early November.

Want to know the time difference between the clock and sundial for any day of the year? Go to this online calculator and scroll down to the equation of time column (first column). Additionally, you can find out the solar day duration under the fifth column.

Zero shadow day

For those living between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, twice a year, you’ll have a zero shadow day. That’s when – from your location – the declination of the sun is equal to your latitude. So when that happens, the sun crosses your local meridian at your zenith – the point directly overhead – and does not cast a shadow. Of course, the date this occurs varies by location.

For example, the people of Bengaluru, India, celebrate zero shadow day every year on April 25 and August 18.

Bottom line: February 11 ushers in the latest noontime sun of the year by nature’s clock. And for folks living at the Earth’s equator, this date also marks the day of the year’s latest sunrise and latest sunset.

The post Year’s latest solar noon happens on February 11 first appeared on EarthSky.

3-point summary

ChatGPT and Deborah Byrd created this 3-point summary of the article below:

• The April 8, 2024, eclipse is part of Saros 139, which began in the year 1501 and will conclude in the year 2763.
• Saros 139 includes a total of 71 related eclipses, with the April 8 eclipse being the 30th within this series.
• Related eclipses in a single S

  aros Cycle trace similar paths across Earth’s globe. But the eclipse path – as traced by the moon’s shadow – falls at a different place on the globe for each eclipse.

Saros, the much-revered eclipse cycle

The next total solar eclipse is two months from today! Whether you intend to watch the partial, or the total eclipse, make your viewing plan now. It might seem as if eclipses happen randomly. But this coming eclipse – and every eclipse – is part of a pattern, or Saros Cycle. The April 8 eclipse belongs to Saros 139.

Saros 139 started in the year 1501. It’ll end in the year 2763. This particular saros contains 71 related eclipses. The April 8, 2024, eclipse is the 30th of these 71. What makes these eclipses related? They trace a similar pattern across the globe, albeit not in the exact same spot on the globe.

The saros is probably the most famous of the many, many eclipse cycles.

Chaldean (neo-Babylonian) astronomers left the earliest-discovered historical records of what is known today as the saros. Their records came from the last several centuries BC.

Saros period equals 18.03 years

For eclipse aficionados, the saros is useful because it organizes eclipses into families. Each saros series typically lasts 12 to 13 centuries and contains 70 or more eclipses.

Eclipses within a solar Saros series recur after 223 lunations, that is, 223 returns to new moon. And the time between new moons is 29.530589 days. So, the Saros period very nearly equals 6,585 1/3 days. That’s 18 years, plus 10, 11 or 12 (and a third) days, depending on the intervening number of leap years.

And so the immediate forerunner to the April 8, 2024 – its brother eclipse in the saros cycle – came to pass 18 years and 10 1/3 days before this coming April 8. That earlier eclipse happened on March 29, 2006. Looking ahead, the next eclipse belonging to Saros 139 – a future brother eclipse in this saros – will be in 18 years and 11 1/3 days. It’ll happen on April 20, 2042).

If you look at maps of all three eclipses (2006, 2024 and 2042), you’ll see what we said above is true. They all trace a similar path across the globe, albeit not in the exact same spot on the globe. See diagrams below.

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Saros begins at one pole and ends at the other

Every saros series begins with a number of partial eclipses near one of Earth’s polar regions.

And so it was with Saros 139. Its first eclipse appeared in a far-northern part of the globe on May 17, 1501. Some 1,262 years later, the final eclipse of Saros 139 will take place along the coast of Antarctica on July 3, 2763.

Some Saros series begin at Earth’s North Pole, and others at Earth’s South Pole. Why?

The Earth’s orbit around the sun – and the moon’s orbit around Earth – aren’t on the same exact plane. The moon’s orbital plane is titled to that of Earth by about 5 degrees. The points where the moon’s orbit intersect the Earth’s orbit are called nodes. There’s an ascending node, where the moon is ascending through Earth’s orbital plane. And there’s a descending node, where the moon is passing from above the plane to below it.

The new moon must be at a node in order for a solar eclipse to take place. Otherwise, the moon can’t come between us and the sun.

And there lies the trick to where a saros series begins on Earth. Any saros series that starts at the moon’s ascending node starts near the North Pole and ends near the South Pole. Conversely, any saros series coinciding with the moon’s descending node starts in the south polar regions and ends north.

Saros 139 – containing the April 8, 2024, eclipse – started at an ascending node, and therefore at the North Pole.

Some eclipses in the series are partial

The early and late stages of any solar saros cycle present a rather poor alignment between the new moon and sun.

For this reason, the first seven eclipses and last nine solar eclipses of Saros 139 are only partial eclipses.

In short, no central solar eclipses – total, annular or hybrid – happen in the beginning and ending stages of any saros.

For Saros 139, the moon’s dark umbral shadow first landed on Earth and totally eclipsed the sun (though extremely briefly) on August 11, 1627. Since then, the central duration of these eclipses has been getting progressively longer.

April 8 eclipse: Saros 139’s longest solar eclipse to date

The eclipse on April 8, 2024, will present the longest total solar eclipse of the series to date (central duration: 4 minutes, 28 seconds). In comparison, the previous total solar eclipse on March 29, 2006, was somewhat shorter (central duration: four minutes, seven seconds). The next one on April 20, 2042, will be somewhat longer (central duration: four minutes, 51 seconds).

Longest totality yet to come

For the next 162 years, each following eclipse in this series will feature a longer total solar eclipse than its predecessor. Nine saros periods from now – July 16, 2186 – will showcase the longest total solar eclipse of Saros 139.

That’s not all, however! With a central duration of seven minutes and 29 seconds, it’ll present the longest total solar eclipse within a period of 10,000 years (4000 BCE to 6000 CE).

Convergence of factors for a long eclipse

Any total solar eclipse lasting seven minutes or longer is lengthy to the extreme. Indeed, a “perfect storm” of factors is necessary for a seven-minute total eclipse of the sun to take place:

The sun needs to be at or near apogee (farthest from Earth)
The moon needs to be at or near perigee (closest to Earth)
The greatest eclipse must happen in the tropics, rather close to the equator

Saros 139 can boast that five of its 43 total eclipses last over seven minutes. Although 40 solar saros series are in play at any one time, Saros 139 is head and shoulders above the rest for staging long totalities. In fact, this is the one and only solar saros series to provide seven-minute eclipses in the five-century period from 2001 to 2500:

2150 June 25 (seven minutes, 14 seconds)
2168 July 05 (seven minutes, 26 seconds)
2186 July 16 (seven minutes, 29 seconds)
2204 July 27 (seven minutes, 22 seconds)
2222 Aug 08 (seven minutes, 6 seconds)

Another total solar eclipse lasting seven minutes or better won’t happen again until June 14, 2504. After that – until 6000 CE – no solar saros will duplicate Saros 139’s feat of five seven-minute total solar eclipses.

The last time a solar saros produced five seven-minute total eclipses was 1,823 years previous to solar Saros 139. Saros 81 performed the trick from the years 327 to 399:

327 June 6 (seven minutes, 3 seconds)
345 June 16 (seven minutes, 17 seconds)
353 June 27 (seven minutes, 24 seconds)
381 July 08 (seven minutes, 22 seconds)
399 July 19 (seven minutes, 2 seconds)

The April 8 eclipse is the 30th of 71 members making up the grand succession of the Saros 139 solar eclipses.

Three times a charm: triple saros

Oftentimes, a given eclipse cycle is actually a combination of eclipse cycles. The saros eclipse cycle of 223 lunations stands as no exception. For example, the Tzolkinex Cycle with a period of 88 lunations and Tritos Cycle with a period of 135 lunations nicely add up to one saros period of 223 lunations.

Moreover, three saros periods add up to one exeligmos period of 669 lunations. The exeligmos has the advantage of sporting an integral number of days: 19,756 days (54 years and 33 days).

The longest solar eclipse of Saros 139 will come exactly three exeligmos periods after the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. That’s in 162 years and 99 days, on July 16, 2186.

Bottom line: Enjoy the April 8 eclipse as you witness the 30th of 71 member eclipses in the illustrious procession known as Saros 139.

The post The April 8 eclipse is part of Saros 139. What does that mean? first appeared on EarthSky.

By Chris Impey, University of Arizona

What is orbital resonance?

Planets orbit their parent stars while separated by enormous distances. In our solar system, planets are like grains of sand in a region the size of a football field. The time that planets take to orbit their suns has no specific relationship to each other.

But sometimes, their orbits display striking patterns. For example, astronomers studying six planets orbiting a star 100 light-years away have just found that they orbit their star with an almost rhythmic beat, in perfect synchrony. Each pair of planets completes their orbits in times that are the ratios of whole numbers, allowing the planets to align and exert a gravitational push and pull on the other during their orbit.

This type of gravitational alignment is called orbital resonance, and it’s like a harmony between distant planets.

I’m an astronomer who studies and writes about cosmology. Researchers have discovered over 5,500 exoplanets in the past 30 years, and their extraordinary diversity continues to surprise astronomers.

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Harmony of the spheres

Greek mathematician Pythagoras discovered the principles of musical harmony 2,500 years ago by analyzing the sounds of blacksmiths’ hammers and plucked strings.

He believed mathematics was at the heart of the natural world. He proposed that the sun, moon and planets each emit unique hums based on their orbital properties. Pythagoras thought this “music of the spheres” would be imperceptible to the human ear.

Four hundred years ago, Johannes Kepler picked up this idea. He proposed that musical intervals and harmonies described the motions of the six known planets at the time.

To Kepler, the solar system had two basses, Jupiter and Saturn; a tenor, Mars; two altos, Venus and Earth; and a soprano, Mercury. These roles reflected how long it took each planet to orbit the sun, lower speeds for the outer planets and higher speeds for the inner planets.

He called the book he wrote on these mathematical relationships The Harmony of the World. While these ideas have some similarities to the concept of orbital resonance, planets don’t actually make sounds, since sound can’t travel through the vacuum of space.

Orbital resonance

Resonance happens when planets or moons have orbital periods that are ratios of whole numbers. The orbital period is the time taken for a planet to make one complete circuit of the star. So, for example, two planets orbiting a star would be in a 2:1 resonance when one planet takes twice as long as the other to orbit the star. Resonance is seen in only 5% of planetary systems.

In the solar system, Neptune and Pluto are in a 3:2 resonance. There’s also a triple resonance, 4:2:1, among Jupiter’s three moons Ganymede, Europa and Io. In the time it takes Ganymede to orbit Jupiter, Europa orbits twice and Io orbits four times. Resonances occur naturally, when planets happen to have orbital periods that are the ratio of whole numbers.

The relation to music

Musical intervals describe the relationship between two musical notes. In the musical analogy, important musical intervals based on ratios of frequencies are the fourth, 4:3, the fifth, 3:2, and the octave, 2:1. Anyone who plays the guitar or the piano might recognize these intervals.

What does orbital resonance do?

Orbital resonances can change how gravity influences two bodies, causing them to speed up, slow down, stabilize on their orbital path and sometimes have their orbits disrupted.

Think of pushing a child on a swing. A planet and a swing both have a natural frequency. Give the child a push that matches the swing motion and they’ll get a boost. They’ll also get a boost if you push them every other time they’re in that position, or every third time. But push them at random times, sometimes with the motion of the swing and sometimes against, and they get no boost.

For planets, the boost can keep them continuing on their orbital paths, but it’s much more likely to disrupt their orbits.

Exoplanet resonance

Exoplanets, or planets outside the solar system, show striking examples of resonance, not just between two objects but also between resonant “chains” involving three or more objects.

The star Gliese 876 has three planets with orbit period ratios of 4:2:1, just like Jupiter’s three moons. Kepler 223 has four planets with ratios of 8:6:4:3.

The red dwarf Kepler 80 has five planets with ratios of 9:6:4:3:2, and TOI 178 has six planets, of which five are in a resonant chain with ratios of 18:9:6:4:3.

TRAPPIST-1 is the record holder. It has seven Earth-like planets, two of which might be habitable, with orbit ratios of 24:15:9:6:4:3:2.

The newest example of a resonant chain is the HD 110067 system. It’s about 100 light-years away and has six sub-Neptune planets, a common type of exoplanet, with orbit ratios of 54:36:24:16:12:9. The discovery is interesting because most resonance chains are unstable and disappear over time.

Despite these examples, resonant chains are rare, and only 1% of all planetary systems display them. Astronomers think that planets form in resonance, but small gravitational nudges from passing stars and wandering planets erase the resonance over time. With HD 110067, the resonant chain has survived for billions of years, offering a rare and pristine view of the system as it was when it formed.

Orbit sonification

Astronomers use a technique called sonification to translate complex visual data into sound. It gives people a different way to appreciate the beautiful images from the Hubble Space Telescope, and it has been applied to X-ray data and gravitational waves.

With exoplanets, sonification can convey the mathematical relationships of their orbits. Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory created what they call music of the spheres for the TOI 178 system by associating a sound on a pentatonic scale to each of the five planets.

A similar musical translation has been done for the TRAPPIST-1 system, with the orbital frequencies scaled up by a factor of 212 million to bring them into audible range.

Astronomers have also created a sonification for the HD 110067 system. People may not agree on whether these renditions sound like actual music, but it’s inspiring to see Pythagoras’ ideas realized after 2,500 years.

Chris Impey, University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Bottom line: What is orbital resonance? It’s a precise dance between heavenly bodies when their orbits line up, causing them to have specific synchronicities.

Read more: Four mini-Neptunes orbiting in lock step

The post What is orbital resonance? A dance between heavenly bodies first appeared on EarthSky.

Groundhog Day QUIZ. Test your knowledge of this special day

Test your Groundhog Day knowledge and skills in the video above.

———————-QUIZ SPOILER ALERT BELOW—————————

The great weather prognosticator

In case you’ve just landed here from another planet … Groundhog Day happens every year on February 2. It’s the day upon which, according to legend, a groundhog seeks its shadow. If it’s sunny and he sees his shadow, it’s said we’ll see six more weeks of winter. If it’s cloudy and he doesn’t see his shadow, it’s said to mean an early spring. By far the most famous of the February 2 shadow-seeking groundhogs is Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which calls itself the:

… original home of the great weather prognosticator, His Majesty, the Punxsutawney Groundhog.

In most years, members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club hold public celebrations of Groundhog Day. Phil is said to have made his weather prediction in Punxsutawney since 1887!

The February 2 celebration was popularized by the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day, in which a hapless weatherman relives Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney over and over and over again. It’s a great movie … if you haven’t seen it, do.

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How accurate is Phil?

Last year (2023), Phil made his prediction for six more weeks of winter. In 2023, CBS News wrote:

Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog emerged from his burrow on a cold Thursday morning and saw his shadow, declaring there would be six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil made his prediction as a deadly storm wreaked havoc in the South and the Northeast was bracing for a dangerous Arctic blast.

According to a 2024 post at The Weather Channel:

Phil’s accuracy was just 40% from 2013 to 2022, according to data compiled by NOAA.

Last year’s declaration of six more weeks of winter was a mixed bag result depending on where you live. Much of the West was colder than average in February and March, which goes right along with Phil’s verdict. The East, however, didn’t follow that script and was warmer than average, especially in February.

This year (2024), the forecast for Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is calling for clouds on February 2. Will Phil see his shadow this year?

The roots of Groundhog Day

So Phil is North America’s most famous weather predictor. But the seasonal traditions of this holiday go back a long, long way. The fact is, Groundhog Day is an astronomy holiday, whose roots are embedded in Earth’s yearly orbit around the sun. It’s what’s known as a cross-quarter day, a day approximately midway between a solstice and an equinox. Groundhog Day falls between the December solstice and the March equinox.

In modern times, the year’s four cross-quarter days are Groundhog Day (February 2), May Day (May 1), Lammas (August 1) and – the most sinister cross-quarter day because it comes at a dark time of year – Halloween (October 31).

The division of the year into segments is a common theme in human cultures. It makes sense because our ancestors were more aware of the sun’s changing movement across the sky. They had to be, since their plantings and harvests depended on it.

More Groundhog Day history

In the Celtic calendar, the year is also divided into quarter days (equinoxes and solstices) and cross-quarter days on a great neo-pagan wheel of the year. So, just as February 2 is marked by the celebration of Candlemas by some Christians, such as the Roman Catholics, in contemporary paganism this day is called Imbolc and is considered a traditional time for initiations.

The celebration of Groundhog Day came to America along with immigrants from Great Britain and Germany. The tradition can be traced to early Christians in Europe, when a hedgehog was said to look for his shadow on Candlemas Day.

Old rhymes and sayings

Try this old English rhyme:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.

Or here’s another old saying:

Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.

In Germany, where a badger was said to watch for his shadow, the saying goes:

A shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine.

A friend on Facebook said that, in Portugal, people have a poem about February 2 related to the Lady of Candles. Here’s the poem:

Quando a Senhora das Candeias está a rir está o inverno para vir, quando está a chorar está o inverno a acabar. [Translation: If Our Lady of Candles smiles (Sun) the winter is yet to come, if she cries (Rain) the winter is over.]

One final note. It’s supposed to be bad luck to leave your Christmas decorations up after Groundhog Day.

Bottom line: It was 39 degrees F (3.8 C) this morning in Punxsutawney, PA, when Phil predicted an early spring. Happy Groundhog Day!

The post Groundhog Day is February 2. Phil says early spring! first appeared on EarthSky.

April 2024 meteors … the Lyrids

When to watch in 2024: Late evening April 21 until dawn April 22 will be best. The predicted** peak is 9:23 UTC on April 22. The peak of the Lyrids is narrow (no weeks-long stretches of meteor-watching, as with some showers). In 2024, the full moon falls at 23:49 UTC on April 23. So meteor watching will be impacted by a bright waxing gibbous moon.
Radiant: Rises before midnight, highest in the sky at dawn.
Nearest moon phase: Full moon falls at 23:49 UTC on April 23. So a bright waxing gibbous moon will be in the sky during the peak morning for the 2023’s Lyrid meteor shower.
Duration of shower: April 15 to April 29.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: In a dark sky with no moon, you might see 10 to 15 Lyrids per hour. The Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring rates of up to 100 per hour! Read more about Lyrid outbursts.
Note for Southern Hemisphere: This shower’s radiant point is far to the north on the sky’s dome. So the Southern Hemisphere will see fewer Lyrid meteors. Still, you might see some!

Read more: All you need to know about Lyrid meteors

May 2024 meteors … the Eta Aquariids

When to watch: New moon will fall a few days after the peak of the 2024 Eta Aquariid shower. So, mornings around the peak will be dark and moonless. The best mornings to watch are May 5 and 6, 2024, in the hours before dawn. Why before dawn? See “Radiant” below.The American Meteor Society is listing 8:43 UTC on May 5 as the shower’s predicted** peak time. But times vary between different experts. And the peak of this shower stretches out over several days. So you can expect elevated numbers of meteors a few days before and after the peak time.
Nearest moon phase: New moon will fall at 03:22 UTC on May 8. So moonlight will not obscure the 2024 Eta Aquariids.
Radiant: Will rise in the wee hours, climbing toward its highest point at dawn. That’s why before dawn will be the best time to watch this shower.
Duration of shower: April 15 to May 27.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: In the southern half of the U.S., you might see 10 to 20 meteors per hour under a dark sky, with no moon, when the radiant is high in the sky. Farther south – at latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere – you might see two to three times that number.
Note: The Eta Aquariids’ radiant will be on the ecliptic, which will ride low in the sky on spring mornings as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. That’s why this shower favors the Southern Hemisphere. It’s often that hemisphere’s best meteor shower of the year.

Read more: All you need to know about Eta Aquariid meteors

June 2024 daytime meteor shower … the Arietids

Most meteor showers are easy to observe. Just find a dark sky, and look up! But what about meteor showers that happen in the daytime, when the sun is up? The Arietids are sometimes said to be the most active daytime meteor shower. In 2024, their predicted** peak will be the morning of June 7. You might catch some Arietids that morning in the dark hour before dawn.

When to watch: Watch from May 29 to June 17. There’s a predicted** peak on June 7, 2024. Watch for them in the sunrise direction in the dark hour before dawn breaks.
Nearest moon phase: In 2024, a new moon occurs at 12:38 UTC on June 6. So the mornings around the peak will be completely moon free.
Radiant: The shower’s radiant point – the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to radiate – is in the constellation Aries the Ram. You’ll find this constellation in the east before sunrise.
Duration of shower: May 29 to June 17.
Expected meteors at peak: This is tricky for daytime meteor showers because once the sun comes up, you won’t be able to see them. But the Arietids have a strong zenithal hourly rate (ZHR)! Meteor counts with radar and radio echoes have indicated a rate of 60 meteors per hour, and perhaps as high as 200 meteors per hour.
Note: The Arietids are sometimes said to be the most active daytime meteor shower.

Read more: Arietids, most active daytime meteor shower

Late July to mid-August 2024 meteors … the Delta Aquariids

Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for July 30, 2024, at 15:16 UTC. But this shower doesn’t have a noticeable peak. It rambles along steadily from late July through early August, joining forces with the August Perseids.
When to watch: Watch late July through early August, mid-evening to dawn.
Duration of shower: July 18 to August 21.
Radiant: Rises in mid-evening, highest around 2 a.m. and low in the sky by dawn. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: In 2024, last quarter moon falls at 2:52 UTC on July 28. Take advantage of the moon-free evenings in late July for watching the Delta Aquariids (and the early Perseids).
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: The Delta Aquariids’ maximum hourly rate can reach 15 to 20 meteors in a dark sky with no moon. You’ll typically see plenty of Delta Aquariids mixed in with the Perseids, if you’re watching in early August.
Note: Like May’s Eta Aquariids, July’s Delta Aquariids favors the Southern Hemisphere. Skywatchers at high northern latitudes tend to discount it. But the shower can be excellent from latitudes like those in the southern U.S. Delta Aquariid meteors tend to be fainter than Perseid meteors. So a moon-free dark sky is essential. About 5% to 10% of the Delta Aquariid meteors leave persistent trains, glowing ionized gas trails that last a second or two after the meteor has passed.

Read more: All you need to know about Delta Aquariid meteors

Mid-July to mid-August 2024 meteors … the Perseids

Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for August 12, 2024, at 14:00 UTC. So the mornings of August 11, 12 and 13 are probably your best bet.
When to watch: The moon will be a 1st quarter and 50% illuminated during 2024’s peak of the Perseid meteor shower. So the best time to watch for Perseids will be starting around midnight until dawn. This shower rises to a peak gradually, then falls off rapidly. And Perseid meteors tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into the wee hours before dawn. The shower is often best just before dawn.
Radiant: The radiant rises in the middle of the night and is highest at dawn. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: First quarter moon falls at 15:19 UTC on August 12. And a 1st quarter moon sets around midnight, so you’ll have dark skies after then until dawn.
Duration of shower: July 14 to September 1.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, skywatchers frequently report 90 meteors per hour, or more. In 2023, the waning crescent moon will not interfere with the meteor shower.
Note: The August Perseid meteor shower is rich and steady, from early August through the peak. The meteors are colorful. And they frequently leave persistent trains. All of these factors make the Perseid shower perhaps the most beloved meteor shower for the Northern Hemisphere.

Read more: All you need to know about Perseid meteors

Early October meteors … the Draconids

Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for October 8, 2024, at 3 UTC.
When to watch: The best time to watch the Draconids in 2024 is the evening of October 7 through the wee hours of the morning on October 8. The waxing crescent moon (27% illuminated) will set before 9 p.m. your local time. So you can watch for meteors in a moonless sky.
Overall duration of shower: October 6 through 10.
Radiant: Highest in the sky in the evening hours. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: First quarter moon is 18:55 UTC on October 10.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, you might catch 10 Draconid meteors per hour.
Note: The Draconid shower is a real oddity, in that the radiant point stands highest in the sky as darkness falls. That means that, unlike many meteor showers, more Draconids are likely to fly in the evening hours than in the morning hours after midnight. This shower is usually a sleeper, producing only a handful of languid meteors per hour in most years. But watch out if the Dragon awakes! In rare instances, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour. That possibility keeps many skywatchers outside – even in moonlight – during this shower.

Read more: All you need to know about Draconid meteors

Late October meteors … the Orionids

Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for October 20, 2024, at 18:14 UTC.
When to watch: Watch for Orionid meteors on both the mornings of October 20 and 21, starting after midnight through the wee hours before dawn.
Overall duration of shower: September 26 to November 22.
Radiant: The radiant rises before midnight and is highest in the sky around 2 a.m. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: The full moon falls at 11:26 UTC on October 17. So, at the Orionids’ peak, the the waning gibbous moon will interfere with the meteor shower.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, the Orionids exhibit a maximum of about 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
Note: These fast-moving meteors occasionally leave persistent trains. The Orionids sometimes produce bright fireballs.

Read more: Everything you need to know Orionid meteors

October into early November … the South and North Taurids

Predicted peak: The South Taurids’ predicted** peak is November 5, 2024, at 7:00 UTC. The North Taurids’ predicted** peak is November 12, 2024, at 6:00 UTC. Both the South and North Taurids don’t have very definite peaks. They ramble along in October and November and are especially noticeable from late October into early November, when they overlap.
When to watch: Best around midnight, and on the days around November 5 when the moon won’t interfere.
Overall duration of shower: The South Taurids run from about September 23 to November 12. North Taurids are active from about October 13 to December 2.
Radiant: Rises in early evening, highest in the sky around midnight. See chart below.
Nearest moon phases: In 2024, the first quarter moon falls at 5:55 UTC on November 9. The new moon is at 12:47 UTC on November 1, and it’s before the predicted peak of the South Taurids on November 5, so the days around then will be the best days to watch for Taurid meteors. However, the waxing crescent moon – 3 days before a full moon at 21:29 UTC on November 15 – will interfere with most meteors around the November 12 peak of the North Taurids. You’ll catch Taurid meteors throughout October and November. Visit Sunrise Sunset Calendars to see moon rising times for your location. Be sure to check the moon rising time box.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under dark skies with no moon, both the South and North Taurid meteor showers produce about five meteors per hour (10 total when they overlap). Also, watch for fireballs.
Note: Taurid meteors tend to be slow-moving but sometimes very bright. The showers sometimes produce fireballs, which made their cyclical reappearance in 2022. The American Meteor Society pointed to “a seven-year periodicity” with Taurid fireballs. 2008 and 2015 both produced them. 2022 did as well. The Taurid fireball display, in 2015, was really fun! Photos and video of 2015 Taurid fireballs here.

Read more: All you need to know about the Taurid meteors

Mid-November meteors … the Leonids

https://earthsky.org/wp-admin/edit.php
Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for November 18, 2024, at 5:00 UTC.
When to watch: Watch late on the night of November 17 until dawn on November 18. The morning of November 17 might be worthwhile, too.
Duration of shower: November 3 through December 2.
Radiant: Rises around midnight, highest in the sky at dawn.
Nearest moon phase: In 2024, the full moon falls at 21:29 UTC on November 15. So the bright waning gibbous moon will wash out some meteors in 2024.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, you might see 10 to 15 Leonid meteors per hour.
Note: The famous Leonid meteor shower produced one of the greatest meteor storms in living memory. Rates were as high as thousands of meteors per minute during a 15-minute span on the morning of November 17, 1966. That night, Leonid meteors did, briefly, fall like rain. Some who witnessed it had a strong impression of Earth moving through space, fording the meteor stream. Leonid meteor storms sometimes recur in cycles of 33 to 34 years. But the Leonids around the turn of the century – while wonderful for many observers – did not match the shower of 1966. And, in most years, the Lion whimpers rather than roars.

Read more: All you need to know about Leonid meteors

Early to mid-December meteors … the Geminids

Predicted peak: is predicted** for December 13, 2024, at 21:00 UTC.
When to watch: Since the radiant rises in mid-evening, you can watch for Geminids all night around the peak dates of December 13. However, an almost full moon will compete with the Geminids in 2024. Luckily, a lot of Geminid meteors are bright. Find a way to block out the bright moon when watching the sky.
Overall duration of shower: November 19 to December 24.
Radiant: Rises in mid-evening, highest around 2 a.m. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: In 2024, the full moon falls at 9:02 UTC on December 15. So there will be a moonlit sky during the peak of the 2023 Geminid meteor shower.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, you might catch 120 Geminid meteors per hour.
Note: The bold, white, bright Geminids give us one of the Northern Hemisphere’s best showers, especially in years when there’s no moon. They’re also visible, at lower rates, from the Southern Hemisphere. The meteors are plentiful, rivaling the August Perseids.

Read more: All you need to know about Geminid meteors

Meteor shower around the December solstice … the Ursids

Predicted peak: is predicted** for December 22, 2024, at 5:22 UTC.
When to watch: Watch for Ursid meteors in the early morning hours of December 22.
Duration of shower: Ursids range from December 13 to 24, so you might see some intermingling with the Geminids’ peak.
Radiant: Circumpolar at northerly latitudes.
Nearest moon phase: A last quarter moon occurs at 22:18 UTC on December 22. So the moon – at 54% illumination – may interfere with the Ursids after midnight until dawn. Try to block out the moon after it rises around midnight.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, the Ursids offer perhaps five to 10 meteors per hour.
Note: This low-key meteor shower – which always peaks around the solstice – is somewhat overlooked due to the holiday season. Its hourly rate is lower than that of the popular Geminid shower, which peaks over a week before.

Read more: Ursid meteors peak around December solstice

Early January 2025 meteors … the Quadrantids

When to watch: The best night for the 2024 Quadrantids is January 2-3. (The predicted peak** is 19 UTC on January 3).
Nearest moon phase: A first quarter moon will come at 23:56 UTC on January 6, 2025 (CST) so the moon will be a waxing crescent and set late on January 2 and not interfere with the Quadrantid meteors.
Radiant: Rises in the north-northeast after midnight and is highest up before dawn. The radiant point for the Quadrantids is in a now-obsolete constellation, Quadrans Muralis the Mural Quadrant. Nowadays, we see the radiant near the famous Big Dipper asterism. Because the Quadrantid radiant is far to the north on the sky’s dome, this is mostly a far-northern shower, not as good for the Southern Hemisphere.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, when the radiant is high in the sky, the Quadrantids can (briefly) produce over 100 meteors per hour.
Duration of shower: The Quadrantid meteor shower runs from mid-November through mid-January each year, according to this 2017 article in the journal Icarus. You might see a Quadrantid streak by any time during that interval. But most activity is centered on the peak.
Note: The Quadrantid shower is one of four major meteor showers each year with a sharp peak (the other three are the Lyrids, Leonids, and Ursids).

Read more: All you need to know about Quadrantid meteors

Meteor shower-watching resources

How high up are meteors when they begin to glow?

Find a Dark Sky Place, from the International Dark Sky Association

Heavens-Above: Satellite predictions customized to your location

Stellarium Online: Star maps customized to your location

Dark Site Finder, from astrophotographer Kevin Palmer

Blue Marble Navigator

EarthSky’s tips for meteor-watchers

Why do meteor showers have a radiant point?

RASC Observer’s Handbook, an indispensable tool for stargazers. The peak dates dates and times listed in this article are (mostly) from there

Meteor shower guide: photos from the EarthSky community

Meteor shower words of wisdom

A wise person once said that meteor showers are like fishing. You go, you enjoy nature … and sometimes you catch something.

Bottom line: We’re in a meteor shower drought until the April Lyrids. They’ll be best overnight on April 21-22. Your 2024 meteor shower guide here.

**Peak times for meteor showers provided by Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society. Note that predictions for meteor shower peak times may vary. Back to top.

The post Meteor shower guide 2024: Up next the April Lyrids first appeared on EarthSky.