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
The full moon peaks at 11:57 am EST, but won’t rise in that time zone until 5:32 pm. In Madrid, the full moon peaks at 5:57 pm, just before it rises at 6:38 pm. In Melbourne, it will peak at 3:57 am. In London, it will peak at 4:57, just after rising at 4:52. Wait until evening for the moon to rise higher in the sky and enjoy the show!
New York City: 5:32 pm.
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
Also known as: 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
The first full moon after the spring equinox, it determines Easter’s date.
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: Flower Blood Moon + Total Lunar Eclipse
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE!
May’s Flower Full Moon* combines with a total lunar eclipse (also known as a Blood Moon, named for its red hue) for quite a show on May 15-16. (*also considered by some definitions to be a supermoon)
The moon will enter the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow at 10:27pm EDT on Sunday evening, the shadow growing over the next hour until it reaches totality, which will last from 11:29 pm (May 15) to 12:53 am (May 16). (“Maximum eclipse”, or the best time to view the eclipse, will occur at 12:11 am EDT).
The eclipse’s totality should be visible from parts of the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, Africa and the east Pacific.
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
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 20-21: Peak of Orionid Meteor Shower
With approximately 15-20 meteors per hour, this isn’t 2022’s most active meteor shower, but may still be worth a look. Hope for clear skies, head out during Saturday’s pre-dawn hours and look towards the Orion constellation. The thin waning crescent moon (mostly dark skies) and bright meteors might just make this an impressive show!
(N.B. Some sources list the peak as Sunday’s pre-dawn hours, October 22.)
October 25: New Moon
During a new moon, the moon is not visible in the night’s sky, as it is located on the same side of Earth as the Sun. This also means a dark sky perfect for stargazing, with no light competition from the moon.
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. Visible across most of Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Western Asia. Maximum eclipse at 11:00 UTC.
November 4-5: Taurids Meteor Shower
This is a modest meteor shower (5-10 meteors per hour) and will be harder to see due to the upcoming full moon, but patience might mean spotting a return of the Taurids’ anticipated “fireballs”. Best viewed around midnight. (The Taurids don’t have a definite peak, so try a few days beforehand as well, especially when moon isn’t as bright/full.)
November 8: Beaver/Frosty Moon + Total Lunar Eclipse
This month’s full moon will also coincide with a total lunar eclipse!
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. The moon will gradually get darker, changing in color and taking on a reddish hue. This total lunar eclipse will be visible from Asia, Australia, North America, parts of northern and eastern Europe, and most of South America.
The partial eclipse will begin at 9:09 UTC (5:09 EST), full moon at 10:19 UTC (5:19 EST), maximum eclipse at 10:59 UTC (5:59 UTC), and partial eclipse will end at 12:49 UTC (7:49 EST).
The Beaver Moon is 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.
November 17: Peak of Leonids Meteor Shower
This meteor shower is termed “average”, with only about 15 meteors per hour, only the brightest of which will be visible next to the moonlight. Head out after midnight, as far away from light pollution as possible, and hope for clear skies!
November 23: New Moon
During a new moon, the moon is not visible in the night’s sky, as it is located on the same side of Earth as the Sun. This also means a dark sky perfect for stargazing, with no light competition from the moon.
December 8: Cold (Christmas) Moon
Peak fullness will occur at 4:09 UTC.
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
The most exciting meteor shower of the year, producing up to 120 meteors per hour! This meteor shower happens not long after December’s full moon, so bright moonlight will spoil much of the show. But it’s still well worth a look! Get as far away from light pollution as you can, head out after midnight, lie back and enjoy the show!
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.