Comets, Supermoons, Lunar Eclipses, Solar Eclipses, and Spectacular Meteor Showers Will Highlight the Sky This Year.
The year 2023 is highly anticipated for skywatchers, with numerous notable astronomical events on the horizon.
According to NASA, a comet first discovered in March 2022 will make its closest approach to the Sun and Earth on January 12 and February 2 this year. The comet is named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), identified by astronomers using the Zwicky Transient Facility’s wide-field survey tool at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego, California, USA.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) captured on September 27, 2022. (Photo: Royal Astronomical Society).
The celestial body will be visible through binoculars in the morning sky for most of January for those in the Northern Hemisphere and in early February for those in the Southern Hemisphere.
Typically, there are 12 full moons in a year, one for each month, but in 2023, there will be 13, including two in August (on August 1 and August 30).
The second full moon in a month is referred to as a blue moon, according to NASA. Generally, full moons occur every 29 days, while most calendar months last 30 or 31 days, so the lunar months and weeks do not always align. This results in a blue moon occurring approximately every 2.5 years.
The two full moons in August can also be considered supermoons, according to Earth Sky. While definitions of a supermoon may vary, the term typically indicates a brighter full moon that is closer to Earth than usual, making it appear larger in the night sky.
Some astronomers state that a supermoon occurs when the moon is within 90% of perigee—the point closest to Earth in its orbit. By this definition, the full moon in July (on July 3) will also be considered a supermoon.
Supermoon on July 13, 2022, viewed from Loire-Atlantique, western France. (Photo: Reuters)
There will be two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses in 2023. A total solar eclipse will occur on April 20, visible from Australia, Southeast Asia, and Antarctica.
On the same day, skywatchers in Indonesia, parts of Australia, and Papua New Guinea will be able to see a hybrid solar eclipse, a type that is an intermediate between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse. According to NASA, the curvature of the Earth’s surface can cause the eclipse to transition between total and annular as the moon’s shadow moves across the globe.
On October 14, an annular solar eclipse will sweep across the Western Hemisphere and will be visible across North, Central, and South America.
Similar to a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Sun and Earth during an annular solar eclipse, but this occurs when the moon is at or near apogee—the farthest point from Earth. This makes the moon appear smaller than the Sun when viewed from the ground, resulting in the Sun not being completely obscured but creating a bright ring around the moon.
Remember to wear appropriate glasses for safe solar viewing, as sunlight can be harmful to the eyes.
Annular solar eclipse observed from Tokyo, Japan on May 21, 2012. (Photo: IFL Science).
A lunar eclipse can only occur when the Sun, Earth, and moon are aligned or nearly aligned, and the moon enters the Earth’s shadow. During this event, the Earth casts two types of shadows on the moon during a lunar eclipse. The outer faint shadow is called the penumbra, while the darker shadow is known as the umbra.
The first lunar eclipse of 2023 is a penumbral lunar eclipse, occurring on May 5 and visible from Africa, Asia, and Australia. This phenomenon happens when the moon travels through the penumbral shadow of the Earth.
The next lunar eclipse is a partial lunar eclipse on October 28, visible from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America, and most of South America. This event occurs when the Sun, Earth, and moon are not perfectly aligned, so only a portion of the moon enters the umbra.
The new year will kick off with the Quadrantid meteor shower, expected to peak on the night of January 3 and the early morning of January 4 for observers in North America, according to the American Meteor Society.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is the first of 12 meteor showers in 2023, with the remaining schedule including: Lyrid (April 22-23), Eta Aquariid (May 5-6), Southern Delta Aquariids (July 30-31), Alpha Capricornids (July 30-31), Perseids (August 12-13), Orionids (October 20-21), Southern Taurids (November 4-5), Northern Taurids (November 11-12), Leonids (November 17-18), Geminids (December 13-14), and Ursids (December 21-22).
To observe meteor showers effectively, find locations free from light pollution and seek an open area with a wide view of the sky. Allow your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the darkness by avoiding looking at your phone screen, making the bright trails easier to spot.
