The first full moon of the year rises behind the 15 July Martyrs bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. The first full moon of the 2023 is also known as the "wolf moon."
(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
There will be 13 full moons this year, instead of the usual 12.An annular solar eclipse, or "ring of fire," happens in October.Mark your calendar for dates to view the best meteor showers.
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From 13 full moons to planet-watching and stargazing, here's a month-by-month look at what's happening in the night sky through 2023.
May the weather be clear and your view spectacular.
Quadrantid meteor shower, through Jan. 16.This event can produce up to per hour, but the weather this time of year often makes for not-so-great viewing in many locations.
Full Wolf Moon, Jan. 6. The first full moon of the year is named after wolves that are active during winter in some parts of the world, according to a of names from the Farmer's Almanac. This year, the full wolf moon was also a , which means it was at the farthest point away from Earth, or the opposite of a supermoon.
Mars Occultation, Jan. 30-31. Depending on your location, you'll see the moon cross over and cover Mars, a phenomenon known as occultation. It will be across much of the southern U.S., with total cover at 12:46 a.m. ET on Jan. 31, according to In-The-Sky.org. Other spots will see the moon and Mars very close to each other.
Venus and Saturn, Feb. 22. The two planets will appear very close to each other in the night sky for about 90 minutes after sunset. Look to the southeast at twilight for the best view, or catch a online.
Full Snow Moon, Feb. 16. With an obvious name for one of the most wintry times of the year, this moon will appear its brightest on Feb. 15 and 16.
Venus and Jupiter, March 1. The sky's two brightest planets will appear very close to each other this month, with their just after sunset on March 1.
Full Worm Moon, March 7. The March full moon is named after earthworms that appear in the spring. Also known by several other names, including the Lenten Moon, Crow Moon and Sugar Moon, it peaks at 7:40 a.m. ET.
During a total solar eclipse, the sun’s corona, only visible during the total eclipse, is shown as a crown of white flares from the surface. The red spots called Bailey's beads occurs where the moon grazes by the sun and the rugged lunar limb topography allows beads of sunlight to shine through in some areas as photographed from NASA Armstrong’s Gulfstream III on Aug. 21, 2017.
(NASA/Carla Thomas)
Full pink moon, April 6. Legend has it this moon was named after pink spring flowers. It will appear brightest as it rises after sunset.
Total solar eclipse, April 20. If you live in the U.S., you'll have to travel for this one. It will be across Australia, Antarctica and Southeast Asia. Typically, several live streams are also available for viewing big celestial events like this one.
Lyrid meteor shower peak, April 23. Best viewing will be overnight April 21-22 and April 22-23, with the on April 23. There will be no moon, so clear skies will be dark for optimal viewing.
Full Flower Moon, May 5. Another ode to spring, this moon appears brightest on the night of May 5.
Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak, May 4-5. This is one of two meteor showers each year that from debris shed by Halley's Comet, according to NASA. These meteors travel into Earth's atmosphere at an incredibly fast 148,000 miles per hour, which can create glowing trains of light that last for several seconds or even minutes.
Full Strawberry Moon, June 3. Named after summer's most popular berry, this moon will peak at 11:41 p.m. ET. Next year, it will occur on the summer solstice, which only happens once every 20 years or so.
Full Buck Moon, July 3. This month's full moon got its name from antlers sprouting on the heads of deer this time of year. It will peak early in the morning.
Southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids peak, July 30-31. Of these two, the Alpha Capricornids are more in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the American Meteor Society. While it rarely produces more than about five meteors per hour, they are known for their brightness.
The Perseid meteors are an annual event many skywatchers look forward to, as they often produce lots of shooting stars to enjoy. The Perseids are debris remnants of Comet Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the sun once. The meteors often leave long “wakes” of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere. They’re also known for their fireballs, which are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. This photo was taken Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.
(NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Full Sturgeon Moon, Aug. 11. Named after North America's largest freshwater fish, this year it will be a .
Perseid meteor shower peak, Aug. 13. The Perseids are a popular viewing event because they happen during warm summer nights and up to 75 meteors per hour can be seen at their peak. The Perseids peak mid-month but are active from July 14 to Sept. 1.
Blue Moon, Aug. 31. This is the "extra" full moon of 2023 and is so named because it's not on the list of traditional 12 moons we see every year. Here's a blue moon happens (the name has nothing to do with color), according to space.com: A full lunar cycle takes 29.5 days, meaning we see 12 full moons over a span of 354 days, which is 11 days short of a calendar year. That leaves room for 13 full moons every two to three years.
Full Harvest Moon, Sept. 10. Fall and harvest go hand in hand, so this month's name is no surprise. Many festivals and celebrations are connected to the full harvest moon, which rises shortly after sunset.
Draconids meteor shower peak, Oct. 9. The will be the night of Oct. 8 and into the early morning, with a maximum of about 10 meteors per hour.
Solar eclipse, Oct. 14. A highlight of the year, this annular solar eclipse will be to millions of people across North, Central and South America. It's also called a "ring of fire" because the sun never totally disappears behind the moon, leaving a glowing circle framing the moon. It's especially important to follow viewing when watching.
Orionids meteor shower peak, Oct. 20-21. Active through Nov. 22, the Orionids can sometimes the Perseids for the number of meteors per hour, the American Meteor Society says. They're active through Nov. 22.
Full Hunter's Moon, Oct. 28. This is the second full moon of the fall and is named for the traditional start of hunting season in some cultures.
South and North Taurid meteor showers peak, Nov. 5-12. These two meteor showers don't have a tight like others, according to EarthSky.com. They produce about 5 meteors per hour but can be very bright.
Full Beaver Moon, Nov. 27. Also known as the Frost Moon, it will peak shortly after 4 a.m. ET.
A full moon is seen from the International Space Station in this undated photo from NASA.
(NASA )
Geminids meteor shower peak, Dec. 13-14. This is generally the strongest meteor shower of the year, prompting stargazers to brave often chilly winter weather to watch the brightly colored show. This year's peak will occur when the moon is just 1% full.
Full Cold Moon, Dec. 26. The last full moon of the year – and the 13th of 2023 – will peak at 7:33 p.m. ET.
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