A new year means new stargazing events! We’ve combed through all of the cosmic events throughout 2022 and picked out our favourites. Check out our picks in this list below!
January 1st – Mars and the Moon
Look east in the early hours of the 1st day of the year, and you’ll see the Moon with Mars very close by. Unfortunately, in WA, we miss Mars being blocked by the Moon, but we still get to observe an interesting conjunction. For more info, check out this link.
March 29th – Early Morning Planet Party
Early risers on the 29th of March will be treated to a great sight in the eastern sky: the Moon, Saturn, Venus and Mars will all be grouped together, with Jupiter even closer to the horizon! Click here for more info on how to see this cosmic huddle!
June 14th – Supermoon
The first of three supermoons occurs on the 14th of June next year. During a supermoon event, the moon appears 14% larger than a regular full moon. The increased size of the Moon is due to it being closer to the Earth than normal, a position in its orbit known as perigee. For more info about the supermoons of 2022, and how to see them, check out our post here!
August 14th – Saturn at Opposition
Saturn is always a sight to behold, but it’s at its best when it reaches opposition. When a planet is at opposition, it is the closest it will be to the Earth for the whole year! This means that on the night of August the 14th, Saturn will be bigger and brighter than it will be for the rest of the year. The perfect excuse to image this beautiful giant planet. More info about Saturn at opposition can be found here.
September 26th – Jupiter at opposition
Much like Saturn the month before, Jupiter reaches opposition on the 26th of September. Opposition will make Jupiter the brightest and biggest it will be all year! For extra keen stargazers, Jupiter’s great red spot and three of its largest moons will be visible around midnight! Find out where to see Jupiter here.
November 8th – Total Lunar eclipse
November 8th will be a great night for stargazers in Western Australia, as the rising full Moon will be partially eclipse, appearing faintly red. Unfortunately, we miss totality here in the West, but the eclipse will continue until about 8:45pm that night. Find out more about lunar eclipses here.
November 2022 – Astrofest 2022
Always the best astronomy event of any year, Astrofest will be returning in 2022. Stay tuned to this page, as more information about next year’s Astrofest is announced.
December 13th – Geminids meteor shower
The brightest and most famous of all meteor showers will return next year, peaking on the night of the 13th/14th of December. The Geminids always produce plenty of bright meteors, and this year will be no different. However, a waning gibbous moon will likely block out most fainter meteors. To find out when and where to see the Geminids, check out our post.
Riley is an experienced astronomy guide who has been working within the astronomy community for several years. He is incredibly passionate about the night sky and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Math and Education.
Riley Johnston
Author
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