Meteor showers and eclipses: the most interesting astrological events of 2024

The New Year will bring new celestial events: a series of meteor showers, rocket launches and a total solar eclipse. Lifehacker told what and when to expect from the starry sky.

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Here are some of the major astrological events in 2024.

Meteor showers

• April 21–22: Peak of the Lyrid meteor shower.
• May 5–6: Peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower.
• July 30–31: Peak of the double meteor shower.
• August 11–12: Peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
• October 20–21: Peak of the Orionids meteor shower.
• November 16–17: Peak of the Leonids meteor shower.
• December 13–14: Peak of the Geminids meteor shower.
• December 21–22: Peak of the Ursid meteor shower.

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The appearance of meteors varies from year to year due to the phase of the moon. Unfortunately, some flows in 2024 will likely be less visible and less impressive than last year.

The Perseids and Geminids peaked in near-dark skies last year, but the Moon will be half full for the former and nearly full for the latter (as well as the Lyrids, Orionids and Leonids), making them difficult to see.

Eta Aquarid Peak in May. It should present a brilliant spectacle with the best visibility in the Northern Hemisphere at sunrise.

Another night sky event worth watching is the Moon's alignment with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, visible before sunrise in the eastern sky on June 29.

Solar and lunar eclipses

• March 25: penumbral lunar eclipse.
• April 8: total solar eclipse.
• September 17–18: Partial lunar eclipse.

The biggest astronomical event this year may be the total solar eclipse on April 8, which will be visible across much of the central and eastern United States.

The total eclipse's path will extend northeast from Texas to Maine, with at least partial eclipse visible across much of the United States. The next total eclipse to cross North America will not occur until 2044.

In September, a partial lunar eclipse coincides with a supermoon, so part of the lunar surface will be hidden and appear dark to viewers in the Western Hemisphere.

Space flights

Rocket launches, lunar landings and spacewalks cannot be guaranteed 100%, since the conditions must be suitable for the safety of the equipment and crew. Exact dates and times will be confirmed ahead of launches, but there are a few events to keep an eye on in 2024.

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First, Boeing and Lockheed Martin's United Launch Alliance plans to send the Astrobotic Peregrine module (on a Blue Origin-powered Vulcan rocket) to the Moon on January 8, with an expected landing in late February. The first Japanese module is expected to land on the lunar surface on January 20. The third lander, built by Intuitive Machines, is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX rocket on February 15.

Several large manned missions are also planned for 2024. In April, four private citizens - the Polaris Dawn crew - are expected to board the SpaceX Dragon capsule and attempt a spacewalk. NASA could send four Artemis II astronauts to the Moon in November, and if successful, they would become the first humans to approach the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Three of the crew were Americans who had previously flown to the ISS, and the fourth crew member was a Canadian who had never been in space before, according to the agency’s website.

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