Your Guide To 2024's Biggest Celestial Events

S​kywatchers have almost certainly already marked their calendars for April 8, 2024, the date of the total solar eclipse that will be visible across parts of the U.S.

W​hile that's the biggest celestial show of the year, it's not the only one. Here's your list of full moons, meteor showers and other events of astronomical importance for 2024.

J​anuary

Quadrantid meteor shower, through Jan. 16. The Quadrantids peak on Jan. 4 when about 120 meteors per hour may be seen. The meteors are typically easy to spot if conditions are right, but remember to bundle up for the cold.

F​ull Wolf Moon, Jan. 25. The names of full moons evolved from Native American tribes and early European settlers, who drew inspiration from things like seasons, local wildlife or weather. The first full moon of the year is said to be named after howling wolves heard during winter.

F​ebruary

F​ull Snow Moon, Feb. 24. February’s full moon is aptly named as it appears at one of the most wintry times of year. This year’s full snow moon happens when the moon is at its furthest point away from Earth, making it appear smaller than usual. The phenomenon is known as a micromoon, and is the opposite of a supermoon.

M​arch

F​ull Worm Moon, March 25. Earthworms emerging from warmer soil inspired the name of March's full moon, which will appear a few days into spring.

A​pril

T​otal solar eclipse, April 8. This is the biggest celestial event of the year in North America, where the path of totality will include parts of Mexico and Canada and stretch across a band of the U.S. from southwest Texas to far northern Maine.

L​yrid meteor shower peak, April 21-22. Unlike other meteor showers that might be active for days or weeks, the Lyrids peak in a narrow window. The best viewing will be late evening until dawn, but the nearly full moon could hinder viewing even in places with low light pollution and clear skies.

F​ull Pink Moon, April 23. Legend has it this moon was named after pink spring flowers. It will peak at 7:50 p.m. eastern time.

M​ay

Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak, May 4-5. The Eta Aquarids are active from mid-April to the end of May, but put on a better show in the southern tropics than in the Northern Hemisphere. This is one of two meteor showers each year that originates from debris shed by Halley's Comet, according to NASA.

F​ull Flower Moon, May 23. The name of May’s full moon is another ode to spring.

J​une

F​ull Strawberry Moon, June 21. June’s full moon got its name from summer’s most popular berry. This year’s will peak at 9:08 p.m.

J​uly

Full Buck Moon, July 21. The name of this month’s full moon is said to be inspired by antlers sprouting on the heads of deer.

Southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids peak, July 30-31. The Alpha Capricornids are the more visible of the two in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society. The event rarely produces more than about five meteors per hour, but they are notable for their brightness.

A​ugust

Perseid meteor shower peak, Aug. 11-13. Warm summer nights make the Perseids popular with stargazers. Up to 75 meteors per hour can be seen during this peak, although the Perseids are active from mid July to the start of September.

S​eptember

F​ull Harvest Moon, Sept. 17. For many, this is the symbolic start of their favorite season. And since fall and harvest go hand in hand, this month's name is no surprise.

O​ctober

Draconids meteor shower peak, Oct. 9. The best viewing will be the night of Oct. 8 and into the early morning. The Draconids aren’t as dramatic as some of the bigger and well-known meteor showers. Viewers can expect a maximum of about 10 meteors per hour.

F​ull Hunter's Moon, Oct. 17. This is the first official full moon of the fall and is named for the traditional start of hunting season in some cultures. The October 2023 full moon was a supermoon.

Orionids meteor shower peak, Oct. 20-21. Active from Sept. 26 through Nov. 22, the Orionids typically show between 10 and 20 meteors per hour.

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 five meteors per hour but can be very bright.

F​ull Beaver Moon, Nov. 15. The November full moon is also known as the Frost Moon.

D​ecember

G​eminids meteor shower peak, Dec. 13-14. This is generally one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, prompting stargazers to brave often chilly winter weather to watch the brightly colored show. The action also starts earlier in the evening than most meteor showers, making it a family-friendly event. The 2023 version came amid a mixed bag of weather across the U.S.

F​ull Cold Moon, Dec. 15. The last full moon of the year is aptly named for the season.

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Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.

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