Here is a list of celestial events in 2022 — full moons, lunar eclipses, solar eclipses and meteor showers — that will be sure to dazzle and delight.
Budding skywatchers and stargazers are sure to enjoy what is in store for them this year. So mark your calendars, set your reminders, and let the kids stay up late!
Full Moons and Eclipses in 2022
January 3: peak of Quadrantic Meteor Shower
Thanks to January 2nd’s new moon, the skies will be dark and ideal for spotting the peak of this year’s first (and possibly best) meteor shower. (If the timing works out for your region!)
January 17: Wolf Moon
The first full moon of the new year!
Also known as: Center Moon (Assiniboine), Cold Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), Severe Moon (Dakota), Hard Moon (Dakota), Wolves Run Together Moon (Sioux), Sun Has Not Strength to Thaw Moon (Sioux), Bear-Hunting Moon (Haida), Moon of Life at its Height (Hopi), Winter’s Little Brother (Choctaw)
February 16: Snow Moon
This moon will peak on the morning of Saturday, February 27, but will be best viewed on the night of Friday, February 26.
also known as: Bald Eagle Moon, Eagle Moon (Cree), Bear Moon (Ojibwe), Black Bear Moon (Tlingit), Raccoon Moon (Dakota), Groundhog Moon (Algonquin), Goose Moon (Haida), Month of the Bony Moon, Hungry Moon (Cherokee).
March 18: Worm Moon
The first full moon after the spring equinox, it determines Easter’s date.
Also known as: Paschal Full Moon, Worm Moon (earthworms start to re-appear), Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe, crows’ call signals end of winter), Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo, season of strong windy days), Crust Moon (snow cover forms crust from thawing/freezing), Sap Moon or Sugar Moon (Ojibwe, time to tap maple trees), Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine, blinding sunlight reflecting off melting snow)
March 24 – April 5: Venus, Mars, Saturn grouped together
The three planets will appear close to each other in the night sky in a triangular shape, changing angles as each day passes.
April 16: Super Pink Moon
This first supermoon of 2022 will not actually be pink in color, as its name implies, but is named after the early Springtime blooms of the (pink) phlox.
Also known as: Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin), Moon When the Streams are Again Navigable (Dakota), Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit), Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala), Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), Frog Moon (Cree), Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe), Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Full Fish Moon.
April 30: Partial Solar Eclipse
In a solar eclipse, the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun and casting a shadow on the Earth.
April 30 – May 1: Venus-Jupiter Conjunction
Venus and Jupiter will appear close to each other in the night sky, so close that they almost appear to merge. Look for them with binoculars or telescopes 30 minutes before sunrise.
May 5-6: Peak of Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Look for this meteor shower in the predawn hours of May 6. Skies should be dark thanks to the waxing crescent moon that will set early in the evening on the 4th. This isn’t necessarily a very impressive meteor shower, but the meteors are formed from debris from Halley’s Comet.
May 16: Super Flower Blood Moon + Total Lunar Eclipse
SUPERMOON & TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE!
This largest and brightest supermoon of 2022 (named for the abundance of flowers at this time of year) combines with a total lunar eclipse (also known as a Blood Moon, named for its red hue) for quite a show.
Total lunar eclipse: The earth is aligned between the moon and the sun, and the shadow of the earth is cast onto the full moon.
June 14: Super Strawberry Moon
Named for the time of year when strawberries are harvested, this is the biggest full moon of 2022 and coincides with the summer solstice. The Super Strawberry Moon will officially be full before 3pm EST, but not visible until is rises above the horizon.
Also known as: Rose Moon, Mead Moon, Honey Moon, Flower Moon, Hot Moon, Hoe Moon, Planting Moon, Birth Moon (Tlingit), Hoer Moon (Western Abenaki), Green Corn Moon (Cherokee), Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe), Berries Ripen Moon (Haida).
June 18-27: 5-6 Plants align
5-6 planets align: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, possibly Uranus (if conditions are perfect).
July 13: Super Buck Moon
This full moon is named for the time of year when bucks start to grow their new antlers
Also known as: Feather Moulting Moon (Cree), Salmon Moon (Tlingit), Halfway Summer Moon and Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe (Dakota), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), Raspberry Moon (Ojibwe, Algonquin), Thunder Moon (Western Abenaki)
August 12: Sturgeon Moon
It is called the Sturgeon Moon for the time when these large fish were most readily caught in the Great Lakes.
Also known as: Flying Up Moon (Cree), Corn Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), Ricing Moon (Anishinaabe), Black Cherries Moon (Assiniboine), Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit), Grain Moon.
September 10: Harvest Moon
Although technically occurring during the summer season, this full moon is the closest to the Autumn Equinox
(September 22) and is therefore dubbed the Harvest Moon.
Unlike other moons, it rises around the same time (near sunset) for several nights in a row. It will appear full the night before and the night after its peak.
Also known as: Corn Moon, Autumn Moon (Cree), Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe), Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe), Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota), Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine), Child Moon (Tlingit), Mating Moon (Cree), Rutting Moon (Cree).
October 9: Hunter’s Moon
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE!
Similar to the Harvest Moon, the Hunter’s Moon will appear full the night before and the night after its peak. It may also appear larger than normal with an orange hue when rising above the horizon shortly after sunset.
also known as: Drying Rice Moon (Dakota); Freezing Moon (Ojibwe); Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe); Ice Moon (Haida); Migrating Moon (Cree); Dying Grass Moon, Blackberry Moon, Sanguine Moon; Blood Moon (English Medieval); Seed Moon (South African); Kindly Moon (Chinese); Egg Moon, Pink Moon, Fish Moon, Waking Moon (Southern Hemisphere)
October 25: Partial Solar Eclipse
In a solar eclipse, the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun and casting a shadow on the Earth.
November 8: Beaver/Frosty Moon + Total Lunar Eclipse
Named for the time of year when Native Americans and early settlers would prepare for winter by trapping beavers to provide a supply of warm furs.
also known as: Frost Moon, Freezing Moon, Digging (or Scratching) Moon, Deer Rutting Moon, Whitefish Moon.
This partial eclipse will be visible over Asia, Australia and the Americas on November 19 and some parts of Hawaii and Alaska on November 18.
December 8: Cold (Christmas) Moon
also known as: Drift Clearing Moon, Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Hoar Frost Moon (Cree), Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala), Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee), Winter Maker Moon (Western Abenaki), Long Night Moon (Mohican), Moon Before Yule.
December 13-14: peak of Gemenids Meteor Shower
This meteor shower happens not long after December’s full moon, so bright moonlight will spoil the show. But the moon will be waning and will not rise until just before midnight, so evening hours might offer the best viewing.
Skywatchers, rejoice! There are many celestial events to view in 2022, so mark your calendars, set your reminders, and let the kids stay up late!
While you’re outside in the dark viewing these celestial events, consider some of these activities kids can do in the dark.
N. B. If you would like to use a telescope but do not own one, inquire at your public library. Many libraries now feature a Library of Things, often offering telescopes for loan.
Most of the alternate full moon names listed above come from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, who pulled the names from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources.