The Aurora Borealis shines on the horizon of NE Minnesota’s Lake Superior National Forest.
It may have shorter nights and fewer bright stars than the winter night sky, but the best view of our galaxy is in the northern hemisphere in summer. The view of the Milky Way arching across the sky after dark is worth staying up late, as is August’s Perseid meteor shower. There are also more reasons, in 2924, when the sun approaches “solar maximum” and the display of the aurora is more likely. Add in planetary conjunctions and beautiful views of the moon, and it promises to be an unforgettable summer for sky watchers.
Here are the highlights of the night sky for the summer of 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere – from the solstice on June 21 to the equinox on September 22:
1. Conjunction of Saturn and the Moon
When: Before dawn on Thursday, June 27
Where: Eastern sky
Stay up past 01:00 or get up early to catch a glimpse of the 68% illuminated waning gibbous moon that appears very close to Saturn. According to In-The-Sky.org, the moon will cover the “ringed planet” for several hours as seen from eastern Australia and northeastern New Zealand. You will also be able to see Mars and Jupiter nearby.
2. The Milky Way
When: June-September (between the last quarter of the month and November)
Where: Southeast
June to September is the best time of year to see the Milky Way from the Northern Hemisphere after dark, but only if you are clear of light pollution during the darkest 10 nights of the month. Don’t make the mistake of going to a dark sky park near a full moon – you won’t see anything! Instead, choose the nights between the last quarter moon and a few nights after the new moon.
3. Covering Spica
When: Saturday 13 July – Sunday 14 July
Where: southwestern evening sky, from North and Central America only
One of the brightest stars in the summer night sky – Spica in Virgo – will be eclipsed (obscured) by the Moon in one of the rarest events in the sky in 2024 for North and Central America. According to In-The-Sky.org, Spica will be obscured by the first-quarter Moon (appearing half-illuminated as seen from Earth) between 9:40 PM EDT on Saturday, July 13 and 12:58 AM EDT on Sunday, July 14. Here is the timetable:
- Disappearance only: Eastern US states (11:30 p.m. EDT, low in the Southwest).
- Total Eclipse: US Midwest States (10:00 p.m. CDT)
- Re-emergence only: Northwestern US states (21:00 MDT).
4. Delta Aquariid meteor shower
When: Tuesday 30 July – Wednesday 31 July
Where: the whole sky
The Delta Aquariid meteor shower, the first major meteor shower since April, runs from July 18 to August 21 each year, but peaks around 10 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. At this time you should expect about 10-20 “shooting stars” per hour. Since the radiation spot rises highest as seen from the southern states of the US, they will likely have the best view.
5. Perseid meteor shower
When: Monday 12 August – Tuesday 13 August
Where: the whole sky
The biggest and best meteor display of the year will peak overnight from August 12th to the morning of August 13th. The moon will set just before midnight, so the night sky without the moon will be around the same time the peak is predicted. according to the American Meteor Society. With around 100 “shooting stars” per hour from the radiant point rising in the northeast, Perseids 2024 would pay to stay awake throughout the northern hemisphere. The shower is active from July 17 to August 24, 2024,
6. Mars and Jupiter in conjunction
When: Wednesday, August 14
Where: sunrise before sunrise
The other two planets in the solar system after Earth – Mars and Jupiter – will appear just a third of a degree high in the sky on the eastern horizon this morning. Both planets are approaching their best. Earth will move between the Sun and Jupiter in December – as it does every year – to make the “giant planet” big and bright. The same will happen in January to Mars for its opposition once every 26 months.
7. Saturn reaches opposition
When: Sunday, September 8
Where: rises in the east
If anyone remembers a “wow” astronomical moment, it’s seeing Saturn for the first time through a telescope. It doesn’t have to be a giant telescope. You won’t get a drastically different view with whatever telescope you use. If you can get close to any telescope this summer, do so around September 8, when Earth will be between the Sun and the sixth planet, making it look its best all year.
8. “Super Harvest Moon Eclipse”
When: Tuesday, September 17
Where: rises in the east
Probably the most famous full moon of the year is the “Harvest Moon”, so called because its light helps (or rather helps) agricultural workers harvest crops late into the night. This one is a little different. It will also appear slightly larger and brighter in the night sky – thanks to its “supermoon” – and will move through Earth’s outer shadow in space. The result will be a mild partial lunar eclipse on the night side of the Earth, covering North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
9. Aurora across the planet
When: TB
Where: TB
Did you think the May 10th “solar superstorm” would never happen again? You may be right, but with the Sun now predicted to reach its “solar maximum” at the end of 2024, there’s a decent chance we’ll see auroras all over the planet. As the hours of darkness dwindle in June and July, the odds are slim, but come August and September, it’s game on. The northern (and southern) lights are often said to be strongest around the equinoxes, when our planet’s magnetic field is best aligned with the solar wind field. That means the weeks around the fall equinox on September 24 are worth signing up for either a trip beyond the Arctic Circle (to Alaska or far northern Europe) or a dark-sky spot to head to if another rare global show is forecast Aurora.
The times and dates given are for mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate information about a specific location, consult online planetariums such as SkySafari Pro and Stellarium. Cheque planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise sunset and moon rise/set the times where you are.
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I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.