It may have shorter nights and fewer bright stars than the winter night sky, but the northern hemisphere’s summer is when the best views of our galaxy can be had. The sight of the Milky Way arching across the sky after dark is worth staying up late for, as is August’s Perseid meteor shower. There are more reasons, too, in 2924, with the sun close to “solar maximum” and more likely to deliver displays of the aurora borealis. Add planetary conjunctions and some beautiful moon views, and it promises to be a memorable summer for skywatchers.
Here are the night sky highlights for summer 2024 in the northern hemisphere—from June 21’s solstice through September 22’s equinox:
1. Conjunction Of Saturn And The Moon
When: pre-dawn on Thursday, June 27
Where: eastern sky
Stay up past 01:00 a.m. or get up early to glimpse a 68%-lit waning gibbous moon that appears very close to Saturn. According to In-The-Sky.org, the moon will occult the “ringed planet” for a few hours, as seen from eastern Australia and north-eastern New Zealand. You’ll also be able to see Mars and Jupiter nearby.
2. The Milky Way
When: June-September (between last quarter moon-new moon)
Where: southeast
June through September is the best time of the year to see the Milky Way from the northern hemisphere after dark, but only if you are away from light pollution during the darkest 10 nights of the month. Don’t make the mistake of heading to a Dark Sky Park close to a full moon—you’ll see nothing! Instead, choose nights between the last quarter moon and a few nights after the new moon.
3. Occultation of Spica
When: Saturday, July 13-Sunday, July 14
Where: southwestern evening sky, only from North and Central America
One of the brightest stars in the summer night sky—Spica in Virgo—will be occulted (eclipsed) by the moon in one of 2024’s rarest sky events for North and Central America. According to In-The-Sky.org, Spica will be occulted by a First Quarter Moon (appearing half-lit as seen from Earth) between 21:40 EDT on Saturday, July 13 and 00:58 EDT on Sunday, July 14. Here’s the timetable:
- Disappearance only: Eastern U.S. states (11:30 p.m. EDT, low in the southwest).
- Full occultation: Midwest U.S states(10:00 p.m. CDT)
- Reappearance only: Northwestern U.S. states (9:00 p.m. MDT).
4. Delta Aquariid Meteor shower
When: Tuesday, July 30-Wednesday, July 31
Where: all-sky
The first major meteor shower since April, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower runs from July 18 to August 21 each year but peaks about 10:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. You should expect about 10-20 “shooting stars” per hour around this time. Since the radiant point rises highest as seen from southern U.S. States, it’s they that will likely have the best view.
5. Perseid Meteor Shower
When: Monday, August 12-Tuesday, August 13
Where: all-sky
The peak of the year’s biggest and best display of meteors will occur overnight from August 12 through the morning of August 13. The moon will set just before midnight, making for a moon-free night sky at almost the same time the peak is predicted, according to the American Meteor Society. With around 100 “shooting stars” per hour possible from a radiant point rising in the northeast, the Perseids 2024 should be worth staying up late for the entire northern hemisphere. The shower is active between July 17 and August 24, 2024,
6. Mars And Jupiter In Conjunction
When: Wednesday, August 14
Where: east before sunrise
The next two planets in the solar system after Earth—Mars and Jupiter—will appear just a third of a degree apart, high above the eastern horizon sky this morning. Both planets are coming towards their best. Earth will swing between the sun and Jupiter in December—something it does each year—to make the “giant planet” big and bright. The same will happen to Mars in January for its once-every-26-month opposition.
7. Saturn Reaches Opposition
When: Sunday, September 8
Where: rising in the east
If there’s one “wow” astronomy moment everyone remembers, it’s their first look at Saturn through a telescope. It doesn’t have to be a giant telescope. You’ll not get a drastically different view of whatever telescope you use. If you can get near 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 of the year.
8. A ‘Super Harvest Moon Eclipse’
When: Tuesday, September 17
Where: rising in the east
Probably the most famous full moon of the year is the “Harvest Moon,” so-called because its light helps (or, rather, helped) farm workers gather crops late into the night. This one is a bit different. It will also appear slightly larger and brighter in the night sky—thanks to its “supermoon” status—and will move through Earth’s outer shadow in space. The result will be a slight partial lunar eclipse on the night side of Earth, which will include North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
9. Aurora Across The Planet
When: TBC
Where: TBC
Thought May 10’s “solar superstorm” was never-to-be-repeated? You could be correct, but with the sun now predicted to reach its “solar maximum” in late 2024, there’s a decent chance of seeing aurora across the planet. As hours of darkness dwindle in June and July, the chances are small, but as August and September arrive, it’s game-on. It’s often said that the northern (and southern) lights are strongest around the equinoxes when our planet’s magnetic field is best aligned with that of the solar wind. That makes the weeks around September 24’s fall equinox worth penciling in either for a trip to the Arctic Circle (to Alaska or far northern Europe) or to have a dark sky site in mind to drive to if another rare show of global aurora is predicted.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like SkySafari Pro and Stellarium. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.
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Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
