Astronomy Calendar 2021

Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a beginner just starting out, 2021 offers plenty of celestial wonders to see. From a supermoon total lunar eclipse to a close planetary conjunction, amateur astronomers can enjoy a variety of spectacular events this year with just their binoculars and a patch of unpolluted sky.

This year’s astronomy calendar begins in January with a rare treat for stargazers: a trio of planets that will appear to crowd together in the western sky for four nights. It’s the first time since October 2015 that Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn will have appeared so close to one another in the evening sky. They’ll make a stunning sight, according to EarthSky.

In February, the bright moon and red planet Mars will be quite close to each other in the night sky. Observers can spot them in the southeast after sunset. The pair will be the brightest objects in the night sky until around midnight, when the sun sets.

A “supermoon” occurs when a full moon is near its closest approach to Earth, making it look larger and brighter than usual. The moon will be a supermoon during its full phase in April, which is traditionally known as the Pink Moon due to spring flowers blooming across the Northern Hemisphere. The peak nights of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower coincide with this supermoon, so if you can watch them both at once, you’ll likely be treated to lots of shooting stars.

The second full moon of the month, in October, is known as the Hunter’s Moon because it coincides with hunting season. This full moon also skims the constellation Cetus, the Whale, which you can spot from dark skies on October 21-22 or October 29-31.

In December, the last quarter waxing moon will be close to the bright stars Mercury and Venus. This is the best chance to see a display of “earthshine,” a natural glow on the surface of the moon. The best viewing times are in the hours before the moon rises, before light pollution becomes too strong.

The year’s only total solar eclipse occurs on the morning of November 19. It will be a partial eclipse, but observers in Canada, Greenland and Russia will be able to witness an annular eclipse, which creates a ring of light around the moon’s shadow.

In mid-November, the moon will reach its apogee, when it’s at its farthest distance from Earth. The same event will occur in November 2019, when it will appear as a supermoon.