As the summer months approach, there are a variety of celestial events to look forward to, including supermoons and meteor showers. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most exciting astronomical events that will take place from June to September.
First, there will be several full moons during this time period, including the Strawberry Moon on June 3rd, the Buck Moon on July 3rd, and the Sturgeon Moon on August 1st. Additionally, there will be a Blue Moon on August 30th, which is when two full moons occur within the same calendar month. These moons can be particularly striking when they coincide with a perigee, the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth, resulting in what’s known as a supermoon. However, it’s important to note that not all of the full moons during this time will be supermoons.
On top of the full moons, there will also be several meteor showers to enjoy. The Alpha Capricornids will peak on July 30th and 31st, while the Perseids, one of the most popular meteor showers of the year, will peak on August 12th and 13th. Finally, the Orionids will be visible on October 20th and 21st, but they are worth mentioning as they often produce particularly bright meteors.
In addition to the celestial events mentioned above it’s worth noting that the best time to observe the Milky Way is also during a new moon. This is because the light from a full moon can make it difficult to see fainter objects like the Milky Way. So if you’re planning a stargazing trip this summer, try to schedule it during a new moon to maximize your chances of seeing this stunning cosmic sight.
It’s worth noting that viewing these celestial events can be affected by weather conditions, light pollution, and other factors. For the best experience, it’s recommended to find a dark location away from city lights and to check the weather forecast in advance.
Image Credit: Griffith Observatory
| Date | Event | Summary |
| 05-May | Full Moon | Known as the Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon. Moon will be fully illuminated at 17:36 UTC. |
| 05-May | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow, visible throughout Asia, Australia, parts of Europe, and Africa. |
| May 6-7 | Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower | Above average shower, best viewed from Southern Hemisphere, caused by debris from comet Halley. |
| 19-May | New Moon | Moon will not be visible in the night sky, best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters. |
| 29-May | Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation | Best time to view Mercury at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. |
| 04-Jun | Full Moon | Known as the Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, and Honey Moon. Fully illuminated at 03:43 UTC. |
| 04-Jun | Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation | Best time to view Venus at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. |
| 18-Jun | New Moon | Moon will not be visible in the night sky, best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters. |
| 21-Jun | June Solstice | First day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 03-Jul | Full Moon, Supermoon | Known as the Buck Moon and Thunder Moon. First of four supermoons for 2023, moon will be near its closest approach to Earth. |
| 17-Jul | New Moon | Moon will not be visible in the night sky, best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters. |
| July 28-29 | Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower | Average shower produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. |
| 01-Aug | Full Moon, Supermoon | Known as the Sturgeon Moon and Green Corn Moon. Second of four supermoons for 2023, moon will be near its closest approach to Earth. |
| 10-Aug | Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation | Best time to view Mercury at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. |
| August 12-13 | Perseids Meteor Shower | Best meteor shower of the year, produced by comet Swift-Tuttle. |
| 16-Aug | New Moon | Moon will not be visible in the night sky, best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters. |
| 27-Aug | Saturn at Opposition | Saturn will be at its brightest and visible all night long, best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. |
| 31-Aug | Full Moon, Supermoon, Blue Moon | Known as the Corn Moon and Harvest Moon. Third of four supermoons for 2023, second full moon in the same month referred to as a blue moon. |
| 15-Sep | New Moon | Moon will not be visible in the night sky, best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters. |
| 19-Sep | Neptune at Opposition | Neptune will be at its brightest and visible all night long, best time to view and photograph Neptune. |
| 22-Sep | Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation | Best time to view Mercury at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. |
| 23-Sep | September Equinox | First day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 29-Sep | Full Moon, Supermoon | Known as the Corn Moon and Harvest Moon. Last of four supermoons for 2023, moon will be near its closest approach to Earth. |
| 07-Oct | Draconids Meteor Shower | Minor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour, caused by dust grains from |
| 14-Oct | New Moon. | Moon will not be visible in the night sky, best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters. |
| 14-Oct | 14-Oct | An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun. This results in a ring of light around the darkened Moon. |
| October 21-22 | Orionids Meteor Shower. | The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times |
