2023 Celestial Events Highlighted By Eclipses, Full Moons, Meteor Showers

From 13 full moons to planet-watching and stargazing, here's a month-by-month look at what's happening in the night sky through 2023.

M​ay the weather be clear and your view spectacular.

J​anuary

Quadrantid meteor shower, through Jan. 16. This event can produce up to 80 meteors per hour, but the weather this time of year often makes for not-so-great viewing in many locations.

F​ull Wolf Moon, Jan. 6. The first full moon of the year is named after wolves that are active during winter in some parts of the world, according to a list of names from the Farmer's Almanac. This year, the full wolf moon was also a micromoon, which means it was at the farthest point away from Earth, or the opposite of a supermoon.

M​ars Occultation, Jan. 30-31. Depending on your location, you'll see the moon cross over and cover Mars, a phenomenon known as occultation. It will be visible across much of the southern U.S., with total cover at 12:46 a.m. ET on Jan. 31, according to In-The-Sky.org. Other spots will see the moon and Mars very close to each other.

F​ebruary

V​enus and Saturn, Feb. 22. The two planets will appear very close to each other in the night sky for about 90 minutes after sunset. Look to the southeast at twilight for the best view, or catch a live stream online.

F​ull Snow Moon, Feb. 16. With an obvious name for one of the most wintry times of the year, this moon will appear its brightest on Feb. 15 and 16.

M​arch

V​enus and Jupiter, March 1. The sky's two brightest planets will appear very close to each other this month, with their nearest meeting just after sunset on March 1.

F​ull Worm Moon, March 7. The March full moon is named after earthworms that appear in the spring. Also known by several other names, including the Lenten Moon, Crow Moon and Sugar Moon, it peaks at 7:40 a.m. ET.

A​pril

F​ull pink moon, April 6. Legend has it this moon was named after pink spring flowers. It will appear brightest as it rises after sunset.

T​otal solar eclipse, April 20. If you live in the U.S., you'll have to travel for this one. It will be visible across Australia, Antarctica and Southeast Asia. Typically, several live streams are also available for viewing big celestial events like this one.

L​yrid meteor shower peak, April 23. Best viewing will be overnight April 21-22 and April 22-23, with the predicted peak on April 23. There will be no moon, so clear skies will be dark for optimal viewing.

M​ay

F​ull Flower Moon, May 5. Another ode to spring, this moon appears brightest on the night of May 5.

Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak, May 4-5. This is one of two meteor showers each year that originates from debris shed by Halley's Comet, according to NASA. These meteors travel into Earth's atmosphere at an incredibly fast 148,000 miles per hour, which can create glowing trains of light that last for several seconds or even minutes.

J​une

J​uly

Full Buck Moon, July 3. This month's full moon got its name from antlers sprouting on the heads of deer this time of year. It will peak early in the morning.

Southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids peak, July 30-31. Of these two, the Alpha Capricornids are more visible in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society. While it rarely produces more than about five meteors per hour, they are known for their brightness.

A​ugust

F​ull Sturgeon Moon, Aug. 11. Named after North America's largest freshwater fish, this year it will be a supermoon.

Perseid meteor shower peak, Aug. 13. The Perseids are a popular viewing event because they happen during warm summer nights and up to 75 meteors per hour can be seen at their peak. The Perseids peak mid-month but are active from July 14 to Sept. 1.

B​lue Moon, Aug. 31. This is the "extra" full moon of 2023 and is so named because it's not on the list of traditional 12 moons we see every year. Here's why a blue moon happens (the name has nothing to do with color), according to space.com: A full lunar cycle takes 29.5 days, meaning we see 12 full moons over a span of 354 days, which is 11 days short of a calendar year. That leaves room for 13 full moons every two to three years.

S​eptember

F​ull Harvest Moon, Sept. 10. Fall and harvest go hand in hand, so this month's name is no surprise. Many festivals and celebrations are connected to the full harvest moon, which rises shortly after sunset.

O​ctober

Draconids meteor shower peak, Oct. 9. The best viewing will be the night of Oct. 8 and into the early morning, with a maximum of about 10 meteors per hour.

Solar eclipse, O​ct. 14. A highlight of the year, this annular solar eclipse will be visible to millions of people across North, Central and South America. It's also called a "ring of fire" because the sun never totally disappears behind the moon, leaving a glowing circle framing the moon. It's especially important to follow viewing safety rules when watching.

Orionids meteor shower peak, Oct. 20-21. Active through Nov. 22, the Orionids can sometimes rival the Perseids for the number of meteors per hour, the American Meteor Society says. They're active through Nov. 22.

F​ull Hunter's Moon, Oct. 28. This is the second full moon of the fall and is named for the traditional start of hunting season in some cultures.

N​ovember

South and North T​aurid meteor showers peak, Nov. 5-12. These two meteor showers don't have a tight peak window like others, according to EarthSky.com. They produce about 5 meteors per hour but can be very bright.

F​ull Beaver Moon, Nov. 27. Also known as the Frost Moon, it will peak shortly after 4 a.m. ET.

D​ecember

G​eminids meteor shower peak, Dec. 13-14. This is generally the strongest meteor shower of the year, prompting stargazers to brave often chilly winter weather to watch the brightly colored show. This year's peak will occur when the moon is just 1% full.

F​ull Cold Moon, Dec. 26. The last full moon of the year – and the 13th of 2023 – will peak at 7:33 p.m. ET.

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