Sep 20: Harvest Moon
In many Native American cultures, September’s Full Moon is called the Full Corn Moon. This year, it is also the Full Moon closest to the September equinox, making it 2021’s Harvest Moon as well.
Sep 22: September Equinox
Also known as the autumnal (fall) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, the September Equinox is considered by many as the first day of fall.
Oct 6: New Moon
The New Moon phase is the best time to explore the night sky.
Find planets, stars, and constellations using our Interactive Night Sky Map!
Oct 8/9: Draconid Meteor Shower
The best time to see the shooting stars of the peaking Draconids is just after nightfall.
Oct 20: Hunter’s Moon
The October Full Moon is traditionally called the Hunter’s Moon. The month of October is a time to start preparing for the coming winter by hunting or slaughtering animals and preserving meat.
Oct 21/22: Orionid Meteor Shower
The Orionids are the second meteor shower in October. The shower peaks on October 21-22 but usually remains active between October 2 and November 7. The best time to see these shooting stars is just after midnight and before the Sun rises.
Oct 25: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
Oct 29: Venus at Greatest Elongation East
Venus shines brightly as the “evening star,” appearing at its farthest distance from the Sun.
Nov 4: Super New Moon
This New Moon takes place very close to its perigee—the point on its orbit closest to the Earth.
Nov 17/18: Leonid Meteor Shower
The Leonids’ shooting stars are visible between November 6 and 30, and peak on the night of November 17 and early morning of November 18, 2020 with up to 15 meteors per hour.
Nov 19: Partial Lunar Eclipse
On November 19, nearly the entire Moon will plunge into the Earth’s umbra, the central, dark portion of its shadow. This partial lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Australia, and parts of Europe and Asia.
Nov 19: Micro Full Moon / Beaver Moon
This is a Micro Full Moon—it occurs when the Moon is closest to its apogee. November’s Full Moon is traditionally called a Beaver Moon, after beavers that build their dams during this time of the year.
Dec 4: Super New Moon
This New Moon takes place very close to its perigee—the point on its orbit closest to the Earth.
Dec 13/14: Geminid Meteors
One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids peak on the night of December 13 and early morning hours of December 14, 2021, but will be visible from December 4-20.
Dec 19: Micro Full Moon / Cold Moon
The 2021 December Full Moon is a Micromoon—it occurs when the Moon is closest to its apogee. One of the traditional names for the Full Moon in December is Cold Moon.
Dec 21: December Solstice
The December solstice will take place at 15:59 UTC. Also known as the winter solstice, it is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year and is called the summer solstice.
Dec 22/23: Ursid Meteors
Catch the shooting stars of the last major meteor shower of the year, the Ursids, when it peaks between the night of December 22 and 23, 2021.