Astronomical events that will occur in 2022

2022 is rich in various astronomical events. Both professionals and amateurs of astronomy are waiting for them, who are attracted by the beauty of the starry sky. We at Joy-pup publish an overview of the most important astronomical events that are expected in 2022.

1. Approach of the planets Mars, Saturn and Venus

In the last ten days of March, Mars, Saturn and Venus will be so close to each other, forming a triangle, that they can be mistaken for one huge star. The planets can be clearly seen before sunrise. On April 2, the planets will line up, and on April 4 and 5, Mars and Saturn will come very close to each other, and Venus will shine a little in the distance.

2. Lyrid meteor shower – April 21-22

The Lyrids are one of the oldest star showers, which have been observed for 2.5 thousand years, but earlier it was much more active. April 21 and 22 are the peak times for the Lyrid meteor shower, with about 15 meteors per hour. At the end of April, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will begin. The greatest activity will occur on May 5-6, when from 20 to 40 meteors per hour can appear. This is the most beautiful meteor shower of 2022 to be seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

3. Black Moon – April 30

New Moon and Full Moon usually occur once a month. If during this period the Full Moon occurs twice, this phenomenon is called the Blue Moon, and the second New Moon is called the Black Moon. But this astronomical event cannot be seen even with a telescope, because the illuminated part of the Moon faces away from the Earth.

4. Total lunar eclipse – May 16 and November 8

There will be two total lunar eclipses in 2022. The first will come on May 16, it can be observed by residents of South America. The second eclipse will occur on November 8, except for the USA, it can also be seen in Canada.

5. Supermoon

The moment of the greatest conjunction of the Moon and the Earth is called the Supermoon. This occurs when the phase of the Full Moon closely coincides with perigee – the closest point to the Earth in its orbit. During such events, the size of the Moon from the Earth looks larger than usual.

There will be three Supermoons in 2022: June 14th, July 13th, August 12th.

6. Parade of planets – June 24

On June 24, five planets will align: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. This astronomical event can be seen with the naked eye. The moon in its waning phase will be in line with the planets – between Venus and Mars.

7. Perseid meteor shower – August 12-13

The Perseids are one of the most powerful meteor showers. Under ideal conditions, the shower could show 50 to 100 meteors per hour, but in 2022, the hourly rate could be halved as the event reaches its peak. Some meteors are visible even in moonlight, but moonlight makes many meteors dim.

8. Opposition of Mars – December 8

The planet Mars will reach opposition with the Sun on December 8th. This night it will be very clearly visible from the Earth, it will be brighter than most stars. The next morning, the moon will close it. Mars reaches opposition every 26 months, the next time it will happen on January 15, 2025.

9. Geminid Meteor Shower – December 13

One of the most anticipated annual meteor showers will be one of the last astronomical events of 2022. The Geminid meteor shower peaks on December 13 and can be observed throughout the night. Under ideal conditions, the stream can deliver over 100 meteors per hour.