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Are you looking forward to seeing the Green Comet? Here is the Astronomical Calendar for 2023

From meteor showers to eclipses: everything you can see this year

Are you looking forward to seeing the Green Comet? Here is the Astronomical Calendar for 2023
Juan Carlos Saloz

Juan Carlos Saloz

  • Updated:

The Green Comet has been, without a doubt, the most important astronomical phenomenon of the last few years. Not since Comet C/2020 was seen in July 2020 close to Earth had we been able to observe a large comet visible to the naked eye from our planet. In fact, so shocking was the discovery that all kinds of spectacular photographs were taken of the moment.

However, not all of us had the pleasure of seeing the Green Comet. Whether it was because we couldn’t see it at the right time, because of light pollution or because we simply forgot, there are many of us who didn’t have the pleasure of seeing this space wonder. But if you have been left with the monkey to see some celestial body passing near the Earth, do not worry. Here are some alternatives.

2023 Astronomical Calendar

Although some celestial phenomena are difficult to detect and we know nothing about them until a scientist discovers them, every year an astronomical calendar is published with the highlights of the year. Thanks to this calendar we can know when we can look at the sky and find a space wonder, although in most cases we must use a telescope or binoculars.

In this astronomical calendar we see different phenomena, which we define below so that you know exactly what you are seeing when you look at the sky:

  • Star showers: also called “meteor showers” (this name is actually more correct) are caused by the irradiation of several meteors from a specific point in the night sky. They are cosmic debris that we see entering the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed. But do not worry: most of them are infinitely small and do not reach the Earth’s surface.
  • Comets: we have already explained what a comet is and what differentiates it from an asteroid, but basically we can say that they are celestial bodies that were formed in the confines of our Solar System and whose components: ice, rock, dust and organic compounds, end up sublimating when approaching the Sun, forming their unmistakable tails.
  • Eclipses: there are several types of eclipses, solar, lunar and planetary. But, basically, it is the transitory occultation, total or partial, of a star due to the interposition of another star or to the passage of the first one through the shadow cast by another one.
  • Equinoxes: another phenomenon we have every year are the spring and autumn equinoxes, spectacular moments to photograph. This is the time of the year when the sun forms a perpendicular axis with the equator and when the length of the day is equal to the length of the night throughout the Earth.

The astronomical calendar also publishes many other events, such as full moons or the times when the other planets of the Solar System are visible from a telescope. Here are the highlights of the remainder of the year.

ECLIPSE SOLAR HOY: ¿A qué hora y desde dónde se podrá ver en España?

The most outstanding astronomical events of 2023

February 1: Comet 2022/E3 (ZTF) shines brightest.

March 20: Spring Equinox. If you like photography, know that this is the best time to take pictures of the zodiacal light.

April 20: Total eclipse (hybrid of the Sun). It is a solar eclipse that can be seen from Earth. It is a phenomenon that does not happen too much: the next one will be in April 2024.

April 22-23: Lyrid Meteor Shower.

May 5-6: Penumbral lunar eclipse (only visible from some locations on the planet).

June 21: Summer Solstice.

July 30-31: Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower.

August 1: Supermoon. It is called this when the full moon or new moon has the closest approach to Earth, and it is when we can see the satellite the largest.

August 12-13: Perseid Meteor Shower.

August 31: Supermoon.

September 23: Autumn Equinox.

October 14: Partial solar eclipse. The following similar phenomenon is dated to October 2024, so it is worth not to miss it.

October 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower.

October 28-29: Partial Lunar Eclipse.

November 17-18: Leonid Meteor Shower.

December 14-15: Geminids Meteor Shower.

December 22: Winter Solstice.

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Follow everything live with Sky Map

If you don’t want to miss any of these phenomena and want to keep up to date on celestial bodies, stars, constellations and much more, there’s an app that’s made for you: Sky Map.

Sky Map DOWNLOAD

This is an application originally created by Google but currently managed by Sky Map Devs, after being discontinued by the technology company. With Sky Maps, you will be able to see with your own eyes the sky around you, including the constellations, the different stars, the planets of the Solar System, our Moon and other celestial bodies, such as comets and asteroids. The information you observe is obtained in real time, so you can see live all the changes that occur in the sky and follow events such as the approach of the green comet.

Juan Carlos Saloz

Juan Carlos Saloz

Cultural journalist specialized in film, series, comics, video games, and everything your parents tried to keep you away from during your childhood. Also an aspiring film director, screenwriter, and professional troublemaker.

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