The Northern Lights shine on the horizon of NE Minnesota Lake in the Superior National Forest.
The nights may be shorter and fewer bright stars than the winter night sky, but summer in the Northern Hemisphere is when we can get the best views of our galaxy. The view of the Milky Way crossing the sky after dark is worth staying up late, as is the Perseid meteor shower in August. There are other reasons in 2924 as well, with the sun close to “solar maximum” and more likely to produce aurora borealis. Add in planetary conjunctions and magnificent views of the moon, and it promises to be a summer to remember for sky watchers.
Here are the night sky highlights for summer 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere, from the June 21 solstice to the September 22 equinox:
1. Conjunction of Saturn and the Moon
When: before dawn on Thursday, June 27
Where: eastern sky
Stay awake after 1 a.m. or get up early to catch a glimpse of a 68%-lit waning gibbous moon that appears very close to Saturn. According to In-The-Sky.org, the Moon will obscure the “ringed planet” for a few hours, as seen from eastern Australia and northeastern New Zealand. You will also be able to see Mars and Jupiter nearby.
2. The Milky Way
When: June-September (between the last quarter moon and the new moon)
Where: southeast
June to September is the best time of year to view the Milky Way from the northern hemisphere after dark, but only if you’re away from light pollution during the 10 darkest nights of the month. Don’t make the mistake of going to a dark sky park near a full moon: you won’t see anything! 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: southwest 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 the rarest celestial events of 2024 for North America and America central. According to In-The-Sky.org, Spica will be obscured by a first quarter Moon (appearing half-lit when viewed from Earth) between 9:40 p.m. EDT on Saturday, July 13 and 12:58 a.m. EDT on Sunday, July 14. Here is the schedule:
- Disappearance only: Eastern US states (11:30 p.m. EDT, low in southwest).
- Complete Blackout: US Midwest States (10:00 p.m. CDT)
- Reappearance only: Northwestern United States (9:00 p.m. MDT).
4. Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower
When: Tuesday July 30 to Wednesday July 31
Where: the whole sky
The first major meteor shower since April, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower occurs annually from July 18 to August 21, but peaks around 10 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 30, according to the American Meteor Society. You should expect about 10 to 20 “shooting stars” per hour around this time. Since the radiant point is the highest seen from the southern states of the United States, they will likely have the best view.
5. Perseid Meteor Shower
When: Monday August 12 to Tuesday August 13
Where: the whole sky
The peak of the biggest and best meteor display of the year will occur on the night of August 12 through the morning of August 13. The moon will set just before midnight, creating a moonless night sky at almost the same time the peak is forecast. according to the American Meteor Society. With about 100 “shooting stars” per hour possible from a radiant point rising in the northeast, the 2024 Perseids 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: in the east before sunrise
The next two solar system planets after Earth – Mars and Jupiter – will appear this morning just a third of a degree apart, well above the eastern horizon. Both planets are approaching their best levels. Earth will oscillate between the Sun and Jupiter in December – which it does every year – to make the “giant planet” big and bright. The same thing will happen to Mars in January for his opposition once every 26 months.
7. Saturn reaches opposition
When: Sunday September 8
Where: rising to the east
If there’s one mind-blowing astronomy moment that everyone remembers, it’s their first look at Saturn through a telescope. It doesn’t have to be a giant telescope. You won’t get a radically different view from the telescope you use. If you can get close to a telescope this summer, do so around September 8, when Earth will be between the sun and the sixth planet, making it feel like the best of the year.
8. A “Super Harvest Moon Eclipse”
When: Tuesday September 17
Where: rising to the east
Perhaps the most famous full moon of the year is the “Harvest Moon,” so called because its light helps (or rather helps) farmworkers harvest their crops late at night. This one is a little different. It will also appear slightly larger and brighter in the night sky – thanks to its “supermoon” status – and will move into Earth’s outer shadow in space. The result will be a mild partial lunar eclipse on the night side of Earth, which will include North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
9. Auroras across the planet
When: to be confirmed
Where: to be confirmed
Did you think the “super solar storm” of May 10 would never happen again? You may be right, but with the Sun now predicted to reach its “solar maximum” at the end of 2024, there is a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights all over the planet. As the hours of darkness diminish in June and July, the odds are low, but as August and September arrive, the game is on. It is 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. This makes the weeks around the autumnal equinox on September 24th worth investigating either for a trip to the Arctic Circle (in Alaska or the far north of Europe) or to have a top dark sky site to head to if another rare global aurora show is forecast.
Times and dates shown apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, check out online planetariums like SkySafari Pro And Stellarium. Check planet rise/planet set, Sunrise And rising/setting of the moon times depending on where you are.
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I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.