The year is shaping up to include a number of celestial events visible from North Carolina and we can’t wait for them to get started! As 2020 came to a close, a magical Christmas star appeared in the skies over the Tar Heel State. It was the first time the Star of Bethlehem graced the skies in eight centuries. Does 2021 have a Christmas star? No, but there are plenty of other things to be on the lookout for, including several meteor showers. Read on to learn about seven of the best stargazing events that will light up the North Carolina skies in 2021.
Not a rare occurrence by any stretch, the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on February 11th is set to light up the sky as the two planets align so closely in their orbits that they appear as one. Watch for it on the night of Feb. 11 on the horizon of the sky to the southeast.
The Lyrids are the longest recorded meteor shower in history, with sightings dating back to 687 B.C. Watch in wonder as they light up the April sky with peak viewing set for April 22 and 23.
Visible for just a few hours before dawn, the Aquariids are set to wow North Carolinians this year, provided the skies are clear. One of the least prolific meteor showers of the year, this one usually produces about one meteor per minute. But it's still worth getting up early to see!
Gaze up at a red-stained moon on the evening of May 26th this year. The moon will transition from gray to red during an eclipse as the sunlight shining on to Earth gets distorted and then cast right back at the moon, turning it a reddish orange.
Named Perseids primarily because they appear to originate in the constellation Perseus, Perseids is always one of the best meteor showers of the year. Sit back on these two nights and get ready for a show! This year there won't be any moonlight to hamper your viewing!
The extra full moon of any season is known as the blue moon. Catch the summer blue moon on August 22nd this year and make sure your camera battery is fully charged.
Known for being unpredictably prolific, the Draconids meteor shower is set to kick off chilly fall evenings in North Carolina with a bang. In some past years, as many as 1,000 meteors were visible per hour! Let's hope 2021's show is as spectacular!
It looks like we’ll all be social distancing for quite some time into the new year. Thankfully, star gazing is an activity where social distancing is a breeze! How many of these events will you go ahead and add to your calendar?
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