These are the sky highlights of the year
Created: 04/01/2023 14:01
By: Tanya Banner
The astronomy year 2023 has a lot to offer - we present the celestial highlights of the new year.
Frankfurt – There is always something going on in the sky.
But if you know the right dates, you can sometimes observe very special celestial events.
Shooting star currents are a good example of this, as are solar or lunar eclipses, the full moon or the super moon.
An overview of the most important celestial events in 2023.
Periodic shooting star streams spread over the year 2023
Annual shooting star streams occur when Earth flies through a dust trail left in space by a comet.
There are many of these periodic meteor showers, the most well known being the Perseids in August, the Geminids in December and the Quadrantids/Bootids in January.
There will be a lot to see again in the sky in 2023.
© IMAGO/Westend61
You can find an overview of the most important shooting star streams of the year in the shooting star calendar.
The five shooting star streams where the most meteors can be seen in the overview:
Shooting Star Stream | Period | Maximum | ZHR* |
|---|---|
Quadrantids/Bootids | 28.12.-12.01. | 03.01. | 110 |
Eta Aquariids/Mai Aquarids | 19.04.-28.05. | 06.05. | 50 |
Arietids | 14.05.-24.06. | 07.06. | 30 |
Perseids | 17.07.-24.08. | 08/13 | 100 |
Geminids\t | 04.12.-20.12. |14.12. | 150 |
Source: International Meteor Organization (IMO)\t | * ZHR = zenithal hourly rate |
Total and annular solar eclipses in 2023
A solar eclipse is one of the most impressive events that can be seen in the sky.
The moon moves between the earth and the sun and covers the sun either partially or even completely.
Two solar eclipses will take place in 2023 - but none of them can be observed from German-speaking countries.
The first solar eclipse of the year occurs on April 20, 2023.
It will be a total solar eclipse visible in parts of Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Indian Ocean and Antarctica.
Totality can only be seen in a very narrow band, mostly above sea level and only hitting land in the far west of Australia, East Timor and West Papua.
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The most beautiful pictures of the partial solar eclipse of October 25, 2022
View photo gallery
For the second time in 2023, the Sun will eclipse on October 14, 2023. The annular eclipse will be visible across parts of North America, South America, the Pacific, and Atlantic.
The annular eclipse can be seen in a narrow strip that runs through the USA, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil: There the moon moves in front of the sun so that it is surrounded by a solar ring for a short time is.
The next solar eclipse will not be visible in Germany until 2025.
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There will be two lunar eclipses in 2023 - one of them can be seen in Germany
The first lunar eclipse of 2023 is unspectacular because it is only a penumbral eclipse.
The penumbra of the earth moves over the moon, the umbra does not reach the earth's satellite - which is why the lunar eclipse on 5./6.
May 2023 will not be easy to see either.
In principle, it is possible to see the sky event in parts of southern and eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and Antarctica - just don't expect too much.
The moon - a celestial body, many facets
View photo gallery
The partial lunar eclipse on the 28th/29th promises a little more.
October 2023: Here the earth's umbra reaches the moon's surface, albeit only a small part of it.
The partial lunar eclipse can be seen in parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America.
The next lunar eclipse in Germany will not be visible until September 18, 2024.
Moon offers a show in the sky every month
Unlike other celestial events, the moon puts on a show in the sky every month.
Not only the full moon is particularly worth seeing - even a very narrow crescent moon can look picturesque in the sky.
In 2023, the full moon reaches its lowest distance on August 2 at 07:52 CEST.
It will then be only 357,311 kilometers away from Earth and will shine from the sky as a "supermoon".
Occasionally, special "meetings" of celestial bodies can also be admired in the sky:
January 22:
Venus passes close by Saturn
January 23:
narrow crescent moon joins Venus and Saturn – the best photo motif in the starry sky in January
Mid-January to mid-February:
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can be seen in the sky
March 1st:
Jupiter meets Venus in the evening sky
March 28-April 18:
Mercury can be seen in the evening sky
July 7:
Venus reaches its greatest brightness in the evening sky
August 24:
Moon covers star Antares
November 9:
Venus and crescent moon meet
In addition to the natural celestial bodies, artificial satellites also occasionally put on a show in the sky: the "Starlink" satellites from SpaceX, for example, can be seen particularly brightly in the sky in the days after launch.
The International Space Station ISS can also occasionally be seen moving across the sky as a bright "star".
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