2022 is going to be jam-packed with astronomy events, from four eclipses to three supermoons and many meteor showers. If you love looking at the sky like I do, then you are going to love this calendar!
I love nothing more than going outside, finding a dark spot, and looking up at the wonders in the sky. And while each year has its special array of shows, this year is going above and beyond. Starting in January with a super new moon, which is followed by the Quadrantids meteor shower on January 3. The Quadrantids produce a huge show, with up to 40 meteors per hour.
In April, we will get to see a partial solar eclipse, which will be amazing for those who are in the Southern Hemisphere. Shortly after that in May, we will get to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which produces an upward of 60 meteors per hour. May will give us a second show, with a total lunar eclipse, which is going to be a beautiful blood color.
Additionally, we will have three supermoons, beginning in June. July will bring us the Delta Aquarids meteor shower, followed by our last Supermoon in August. The supermoons will arrive one after the other, so if you miss one you can see another and then another.
October will offer us both the Orionids meteor shower and a partial solar eclipse, followed by the Taurids in November. And then, we will have our last total lunar eclipse of the year. Before the year is up, we will have a few more meteor showers to close out the year.
Here is the calendar by the dates:
January 2: Super new moon
January 3,4: Qauntrantids meteor shower peaks, producing 40 meteors per hour in clear skies
January 7: Full Moon (Old Moon & Moon After Yule)
February 16: Full Snow Moon
March 19: Full Crow Moon
April 16: Full Sprouting Grass Moon
April 22 & 23: Lyrids Meteor Shower peaks, producing 20 meteors per hour
April 30: Partial Solar Eclipse (Southern hemisphere only)
May 6,7: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower, peaks producing 60 meteors per hour
May 16: Full Corn Planting Moon
May 16: Total Lunar Eclipse
June 14: Full Supermoon (Strawberry Moon)
June 24: Six planets will align with the moon, including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. All of which will be seen with the naked eye!
July 13: Full Supermoon (Hay Moon)
July 28,29: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower peaks producing 20 meteors per hour
August 12: Perseids Meteor Shower peaks producing 60 meteors per hour
September 10: Full Harvest Moon
October 7: Draconids Meteor Shower peaks producing 10 meteors per hour
October 9: Full Blood Moon
October 25: Partial Solar Eclipse (Russia Only)
November 4,5: Taurids Meteor Shower, peaks producing 5-10 meteors per hour
November: Full Frosty Moon
November 8: Total Lunar Eclipse
November 17: Leonids Meteor Shower peaks producing 15 meteors per hour
December 8: Full Moon Before Yule
December 13, 14: The greatest meteor shower of the year, AKA the Geminids, peaks producing 120 meteors per hour