{"id":52978,"date":"2024-01-02T13:33:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T13:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/f97b0434-daa5-4f77-9ef6-7525e729b672"},"modified":"2024-01-02T15:33:51","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T15:33:51","slug":"complete-guide-to-stargazing-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/complete-guide-to-stargazing-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Complete guide to stargazing in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

What to see in the night sky this year, season by season. <\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 02 January 2024 at 13:33 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The start of a new astronomical year generates enormous excitement for what the months ahead will offer, and this is our guide to stargazing in 2024.<\/p>

Here are the top night-sky delights that 2024 will serve up and the best stargazing events to look forward to.<\/p>

2024 has the potential to be a memorable year for amateur astronomy, so let’s take a look at what the sky has to offer, season by season.<\/p>

For more advice, read our guides to visible planets in the night sky<\/a> and astronomy for beginners<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

And get regular updates by listening to our weekly Star Diary podcast<\/a> and signing up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Winter<\/strong><\/h2>
Jupiter and Uranus are the best planets to see early in 2024. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Planets<\/strong><\/h3>
Astronomically, the first half of 2024 will be fairly leisurely, with several bright comets as the highlight.<\/p>
The Solar System dominates 2024, but not always in an obvious way.<\/p>
At the beginning of the year, Jupiter<\/strong> and Uranus<\/strong> rule the roost early evening, the rest lost to the Sun\u2019s glare.<\/p>
They begin to lose altitude as darkness falls through February, becoming very low towards the end of March.<\/p>
After this, the major planets will be off the menu for several months, but you can find out more in our guide to visible planets in the night sky<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Chart$
Chart showing the location of Comet 12P\/Pons-Brooks in March 2024. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Comets<\/strong><\/h3>
Balance is restored in unusual form with a number of interesting and bright comets on view.<\/p>
A \u2018bright comet\u2019 typically means an object visible through binoculars or a small telescope.<\/p>
There are currently also two potentially naked-eye comets <\/strong>in 2024, and you can find out about these in our guide to comets in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>
Meteor showers<\/strong><\/h3>Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through orbital debris from a comet, and the first major display of the year is the Quadrantid<\/strong> meteor shower<\/a>.<\/p>
A last quarter Moon will affect visibility this year, but some activity should be seen.<\/p>
The peak is predicted for 10:00 UT on 4 January, with heightened activity lasting a few hours either side. The best observing will be in the early morning that day.<\/p>
$\"Chart$ Chart showing the location of the Quadrantid meteor shower 2024. Click on the chart to zoom in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Stars<\/strong><\/h3>The winter night sky is dominated by Orion<\/a>, its Belt stars pointing down (southeast) towards the brightest night-time star, Sirius<\/strong> (Alpha (\u03b1) Canis Majoris) the \u2018Dog Star\u2019.<\/p>
Sirius has a white dwarf companion called the \u2018Pup<\/strong>\u2019.<\/p>
Locked in a mutual 50-year orbit, the apparent separation between Sirius and the Pup is currently near maximum, meaning 2024 is an excellent year to try to secure a view.<\/p>
Maximum separation is 11 arcseconds, the challenge being the glare from Sirius that washes out the mag. 8.4 Pup. \u00a0<\/p>
The Northern Hemisphere\u2019s spring<\/strong> equinox<\/a><\/strong> is on 20 March 2024, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north. This is when the length of the nights shrinks at its fastest rate.<\/p>
Spring<\/strong><\/h2> $\"Chart$
Chart showing how the April 8 2024 solar eclipse will appear from the UK. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Solar Eclipse<\/strong><\/h3>April\u2019s headlines will be dominated by a total solar eclipse<\/strong> crossing the USA on 8 April<\/a>, their second in less than seven years.<\/p>
Very little matches the spectacle of a total solar eclipse and from the UK we\u2019ll no doubt get to see it via news outlets and social media.<\/p>
However, it\u2019s possible to get a taste of what\u2019s happening live if you\u2019re located in the west of the UK or visit the Republic of Ireland, where a small partial solar eclipse<\/strong> will be visible.<\/p>
$\"Sunspot$ Look out for sunspots as solar activity increases. Credit: Jamie Cooper<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The Sun<\/strong><\/h3>As spring progresses, the Sun rises higher in the UK\u2019s sky, bringing it into a good position for solar observing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>
Safety filters are required and must be fitted correctly to protect your equipment and eyes.<\/p>
With the peak of the next solar cycle<\/a> predicted for mid 2025, this is a great time to get acquainted with our nearest star.<\/p>
The Moon<\/strong><\/h3>
The early phases of the Moon are well presented during spring months and the thin lunar crescent is a beautiful sight in the evening twilight.<\/p>
There are numerous well-timed lunar clair-obscur<\/a> (light and shadow) effects<\/strong> visible early in 2024 too, making them good stargazing targets to consider.<\/p>
$\"There$
There are many clair-obscur effects visible on the Moon in the early part of 2024. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Meteor showers<\/strong><\/h3>Significant meteor activity returns in April with the Lyrid meteor shower<\/a><\/strong>, but sadly the presence of a bright Moon will mar the display.<\/p>
This won\u2019t be the case for the Eta Aquariid meteor shower<\/a><\/strong>, which is expected to show peak activity on the evening of 5 May.<\/p>
Its radiant is low in Aquarius and from the UK the best activity will be had just before dawn on 6 May.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>
As we head towards June, we look forward to the return of the Northern Hemisphere\u2019s noctilucent cloud<\/a> season<\/strong>.<\/p>
In 2023, good displays were few and far between, an interesting observation in its own right. Will this trend continue into 2024? We\u2019ll have to wait and see!<\/p>
Summer<\/strong><\/h2> $\"A$
An absent Moon means the Perseid meteor shower will be a stargazing highlight in 2024. Credit: Kevin Key \/ Slworking \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Solar System<\/strong><\/h3>
As we enter the second half of 2024, there\u2019s a change of pace.<\/p>
The planets start to reappear, providing an early-hours spectacle in Taurus<\/a>.<\/p>
Here you\u2019ll have Mars<\/strong>, Jupiter<\/strong> and Uranus<\/strong> arranged near the bright naked-eye open clusters of the Pleiades<\/a><\/strong> and Hyades<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>
The passage of the waning crescent Moon<\/a><\/strong> through the area will produce an amazing pre-dawn scene at the end of July.<\/p>
The mornings of 30 and 31 July are definitely dates to put in your calendar if you have a camera!<\/p>
This could be taken to another level if there\u2019s a late noctilucent cloud display in the region too.<\/p>
$\"Dwarf$
Dwarf planet Ceres reaches opposition on 6 July, passing through the Teapot asterism. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Dwarf planet Ceres<\/a><\/strong> reaches opposition<\/a> on 6 July 2024, shining at a binocular-friendly mag. 7.3 in Sagittarius<\/a>, although low in the UK\u2019s sky.<\/p>
It does pass through the lower handle of the Teapot asterism<\/a><\/strong> and this should make it easy to locate.\u00a0<\/p>
August sees the excitement ramp up to a greater level.<\/p>
Meteor showers<\/strong><\/h3>The Perseid meteor shower<\/a><\/strong> is predicted to peak in the afternoon of 12 August, making meteor watches on the nights of 11\/12 and 12\/13 August ideal for grabbing the best from this annual favourite.<\/p>
A first quarter Moon sets early enough to avoid interfering with the shower.<\/p>
$\"After$
After a rocky start, the planets reappear with style in late July 2024. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
On the morning of 21 August 2024, a just past full Moon occults Saturn<\/strong> \u2013 a rare event last seen from the UK on 22 May 2007.<\/p>
The planets continue to improve through September, Jupiter<\/strong> reaching 60\u00b0 altitude under dark-sky conditions from the UK.<\/p>
The Moon puts on a show during September as well, undergoing a small partial lunar eclipse <\/strong>in the early hours of 18 September.<\/p>
This month will also see a lot of excitement and hype surrounding the perihelion approach of comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS<\/strong>.<\/p>
Autumn<\/strong><\/h2>
$\"Chart$
Chart showing location of Comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS in October and November 2024. Click on the chart to zoom in. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Comets<\/strong><\/h3>October\u2019s highlight will <\/strong>be comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>
Whether it becomes bright enough to be viewed with the naked eye or even bright enough to be a spectacle remains to be seen, but the anticipation will be palpable.<\/p>
The best times to observe C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS<\/strong> from the UK will be in October evening skies.<\/p>
Post-perihelion it may put on something of a show, but then again it may not!\u00a0<\/p>
Solar System<\/strong><\/h3>
The bright planets will be spectacular in the autumn of 2024 and well presented for UK observation.<\/p>
The inner Solar System also begins to join in, Venus<\/strong> slowly but surely edging into the evening twilight sky.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Titan\u2019s$ Titan\u2019s shadow transits Saturn on the evenings of 4 and 20 November 2024. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
We\u2019re fairly accustomed to the four Galilean moons<\/a> of Jupiter interacting with their host planet.<\/p>
However, interactions between Saturn\u2019s larger moons and Saturn<\/strong> are less common, especially its largest moon Titan<\/strong>.<\/p>
As Saturn approaches a ring plane crossing in 2025, when the rings will be seen edge-on from Earth, Titan\u2019s orbit will also appear edge-on.<\/p>
During November and December 2024 there are several well-timed chances to spot Titan\u2019s shadow transiting Saturn\u2019s disc, a prelude to a series of Titan transits in 2025.<\/p>
In addition, Saturn is now gaining altitude when due south as seen from the UK, raising it out of the wobbly atmosphere that has plagued views for many years.\u00a0<\/p>
Having been on the sidelines away from opposition for many months, Mars<\/strong> is now becoming prominent ahead of its next opposition on 16 January 2025.<\/p>
As it establishes itself in the morning sky ahead of opposition, Mars brightens rapidly.<\/p>
This is great news for a lunar occultation<\/strong> of the planet on the morning of 18 December.<\/p>
Although the event takes place with the Sun up, at mag. \u20130.9 Mars should be relatively easy to see with optical aid under cloud-free skies.<\/p>
What are you observing while stargazing in 2024? Let us know by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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