Night Sky Calendar

What you can see in the Night Sky for 2022

What are the major sky events happening in 2022?  Here is a quick rundown of what you can see during the year.  To get a more in-depth review of what is happening each month, please check out our monthly night sky rundowns.

Examples of Night Sky Events

January 2022

  • January 2nd – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 18:35 UTC. 
  • January 3rd-4th – Quadrantids Meteor Shower:  Dust grains left behind by extinct comet 2003 EH1 create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak, the Quadrantids is one of the better meteor showers, with the best viewing coming after midnight. 
  • January 7th – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 19.2 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the western sky just after sunset.
  • January 17th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 23:51 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Wolf Moon.

February 2022

  • February 1st – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 05:48 UTC. 
  • February 16th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 16:59 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Snow Moon.
  • February 16th – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 26.3 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

March 2022

  • March 2nd – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 17:38 UTC. 
  • March 18th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 07:20 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Worm Moon.
  • March 20th – March Equinox:  It’s the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.  This occurs at 15:42 UTC, when the sun shines directly on equator and there will be equal parts day and night throughout the world.

April 2022

  • April 1st – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 06:27 UTC. 
  • April 16th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 18:57 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Pink Moon.
  • April 22nd-23rd – Lyrids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak, the Lyrids is an average meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra.
  • April 29th – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 20.6 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the western sky just after sunset.
  • April 30th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 20:30 UTC.
  • April 30th – Partial Solar Eclipse:  A partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout the southeast Pacific and the Southern part of South America.  For more info, visit: NASA Eclipse Info

May 2022

  • May 6th-7th – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet Halley create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak in the Southern Hemisphere, and 30 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere, the Eta Aquarids is an above average meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius.
  • May 16th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 04:15 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Flower Moon.
  • May 16th – Total Lunar Eclipse:  The Moon passes completely through the Earth’s shadow, gradually getting darker and then turning a blood read color.  This will be visible throughout North America, Greenland, the Atlantic Ocean and parts of western Europe and western Africa.
  • May 30th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 11:32 UTC.

June 2022

  • June 14th – Full Moon, Supermoon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 11:52 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Strawberry Moon.  This will be the first of three Supermoons in 2022.
  • June 16th – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 23.2 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
  • June 21st – June Solstice:  The first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere.  At 09:05 UTC the Sun reaches its northernmost position in the sky, directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude.
  • June 29th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 02:53 UTC.

July 2022

  • July 13th – Full Moon, Supermoon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 18:38 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Buck Moon.  This will be the second of three Supermoons in 2022.
  • July 28th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 17:55 UTC.
  • July 28th-29th – Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak, the Delta Aquarids is an average meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius.  With the New Moon just starting there will be dark skies for this one!

August 2022

  • August 12th – Full Moon, Supermoon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 01:36 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Sturgeon Moon.  This will be the last of three Supermoons in 2022.
  • August 12th-13th – Perseids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak, the Perseids is one of the best meteor showers, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus.  With this shower coming sp close to a Full Moon, only the brighter shooting stars will visible.
  • August 14th – Saturn at Opposition:  The planet Saturn will be brighter than any other time of the year as it reaches its closest approach to Earth and its face fill be fully illuminated by the Sun.  Take the opportunity to see it in its full glory as it is visible all night long.
  • August 27th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 08:17 UTC.
  • August 27th – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 27.3 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the western sky just after sunset.

September 2022

  • September 10th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 09:58 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Corn Moon. 
  • September 16th – Neptune at Opposition:  The planet Neptune will be brighter than any other time of the year as it reaches its closest approach to Earth and its face fill be fully illuminated by the Sun.  Take the opportunity to see it in its full glory as it is visible all night long.
  • September 23rd – September Equinox:  It’s the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.  This occurs at 00:55 UTC, when the sun shines directly on equator and there will be nearly equal parts day and night throughout the world.
  • September 25th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 21:55 UTC.
  • September 26th – Jupiter at Opposition:  The planet Jupiter will be brighter than any other time of the year as it reaches its closest approach to Earth and its face fill be fully illuminated by the Sun.  Take the opportunity to see it in its full glory as it is visible all night long.

October 2022

  • October 7th – Draconids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  The Draconids is a minor meteor shower, with a peak of 10 meteors per hour and the best viewing coming in the early evening.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco. 
  • October 8th – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 18 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
  • October 9th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 20:55 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Hunters Moon. 
  • October 21st-22nd – Orionids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet Halley create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  The Orionids is an average meteor shower, with a peak of 20 meteors per hour and the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion. 
  • October 25th – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 10:49 UTC.
  • October 25th – Partial Solar Eclipse:  A partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout parts of western Russia and Kazakhstan.  For more info, visit: NASA Eclipse Info

November 2022

  • November 4th-5th – Taurids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the Asteroid 2004 TG10 and the Comet 2P Enke create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak, the Taurids Meteor Shower is an minor meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus.
  • November 8th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 11:03 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Beaver Moon.
  • November 8th – Total Lunar Eclipse:  The Moon passes completely through the Earth’s shadow, gradually getting darker and then turning a blood read color.  This will be visible throughout eastern Russia, Japan, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and parts of western and central North America.
  • November 9th – Uranus at Opposition:  The planet Uranus will be brighter than any other time of the year as it reaches its closest approach to Earth and its face fill be fully illuminated by the Sun.  Take the opportunity to see it in its full glory as it is visible all night long.
  • November 17th-18th – Leonids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet Tempel-Tuttle create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak the Leonids is considered an average meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo.
  • November 23rd – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 22:58 UTC.

December 2022

  • December 8th – Full Moon:  The Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth than the Sun, illuminating its entire visible surface.  Full Moon arrives at 04:09 UTC.  Some Native American tribes knew this as the Cold Moon.
  • December 8th – Mars at Opposition:  The planet Mars will be brighter than any other time of the year as it reaches its closest approach to Earth and its face fill be fully illuminated by the Sun.  Take the opportunity to see it in its full glory as it is visible all night long.
  • December 13th-14th – Geminids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak  the Geminids is considered best meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini.
  • December 21st – December Solstice:  The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.  At 21:40 UTC the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude.
  • December 21st – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation:  This is a great time to see the planet Mercury as it appears 20.1 degrees from the Sun.  Look low in the western sky just after sunset.
  • December 21st-22nd – Ursids Meteor Shower: Dust grains left behind by the comet Tuttle create the streaks of light from this meteor shower.  With 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak, the Taurids Meteor Shower is an minor meteor shower, with the best viewing coming after midnight.   The meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Miror.  Occurring so close to the new moon will make this a good year to see them.
  • December 23rd – New Moon:  Great time to stargaze!  The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun so it will not be visible in the night sky.  New Moon starts at 10:17 UTC.