New Mexico
Eclipses, comets and meteor showers: Check out the celestial events viewable in 2024
Turn your attention to the sky this year, New Mexico, and you’ll see celestial events happening every month of 2024.
What can I expect to see in the sky in 2024?
From full moons, new moons and planets to meteor showers, eclipses and a comet, 2024 is full of astrological happenings visible to the naked eye. The new year started with a continuation of the Quadrantids meteor shower, which started on Dec. 26.
Several super and micro moons are expected throughout the year. Micro moons are when the full or new moon is at apogee, or the farthest point on its orbit away from Earth. In contrast, the super moons are when the full or new moon is at perigee, or at the closest point on its orbit to Earth.
And along with the annual solar eclipse which will take place in October and is visible in New Mexico, there will also be two lunar eclipses and a total solar eclipse. The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in March will show a lighter shadow around the main eclipse shadow. A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in September.
A total solar eclipse will pass through in April. According to the Time and Date website, North America will be the only continent to view the full eclipse. The site notes that the last time a total solar eclipse was visible from the entire lower 48 states in the U.S. was in August 2017 and in February 1979 prior to that.
The next time a total solar eclipse will be visible from the mainland U.S. will be in August 2044.
Another significant astronomical occurrence this year will be the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS passing at its closest point to Earth in October. The comet was first detected in early 2023.
According to Starwalk, the comet is expected to develop a significant tail and be particularly visible from the northern hemisphere. This favoring of the north was last seen with Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997.
The comet will pass closest to Earth on Oct. 12 and will be visible to the naked eye through mid-November.
Calendar of New Mexico celestial events in 2024
Here is a list of dates for events you can expect to see in the sky this year.
January
- Dec. 26 to Jan. 16 – Quadrantids Meteor Shower (peak viewing is between 1 and 5 a.m. with an average of 25 meteors per hour)
- Jan. 1 to Feb. 11 – Venus at its brightest in the morning sky
- Jan. 5 to Jan. 26 – Mercury at its brightest in the morning sky
- Jan. 11 – New Moon
- Jan. 25 – Full Wolf Moon
February
- Feb. 9 – Super New Moon
- Feb. 24 – Micro Full Snow Moon
March
- March 10 – Super New Moon
- March 10 to March 31 – Mercury at its brightest in the evening sky
- March 24 to March 25 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- March 25 – Micro Full Worm Moon
April
- April 8 – Total Solar Eclipse
- April 8 – Super New Moon
- April 15 to April 29 – Lyrids meteor shower
- April 15 to May 27 – Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower
- April 23 – Full Pink Moon
May
- May 7 – New Moon
- May 23 – Full Flower Moon
June
- June 6 – New Moon
- June 21 – Full Strawberry Moon
July
- July 5 – New Moon
- July 7 to Aug. 15 – alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower
- July 14 to Sept. 1 – Perseids Meteor Shower
- July 18 to Aug. 21 – Southern delta Aquariids Meteor Shower
- July 21 – Full Sturgeon Moon
- July 23 to Nov. 19 – Neptune at its brightest
August
- Aug. 4 – New Moon
- Aug. 19 – Full Blue Moon
- Aug. 25 to Oct. 1 – Saturn at its brightest in the evening sky
September
- Sept. 2 – New Moon
- Sept. 17 to Sept. 18 – Partial Lunar Eclipse
- Sept. 17 – Full Corn Moon
- Sept. 23 to Dec. 8 – Southern Taurids Meteor Shower
- Sept. 26 to Nov. 22 – Orionids Meteor Shower
October
- Oct. 2 – Annual Solar Eclipse
- Oct. 2 – Micro New Moon
- Oct. 5 to Dec. 31 – Venus at its brightest in the evening sky
- Oct. 12 – Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS makes closest pass to Earth
- Oct. 13 to Dec. 2 – Northern Taurids Meteor Shower
- Oct. 15 to Dec. 21 – Uranus at its brightest in the evening sky
- Oct. 17 – Super Full Hunter’s Moon
November
- Nov. 1 – New Moon
- Nov. 3 to Dec. 2 – Leonids Meteor Shower
- Nov. 14 to Dec. 28 – Jupiter at its brightest
- Nov. 15 – Full Beaver Moon
- Nov. 19 to Dec. 24 – Geminids Meteor Shower
- Nov. 30 – Black Moon (second full moon in one calendar month)
December
- Dec. 13 to Dec. 24 – Ursids Meteor Shower
- Dec. 15 – Full Cold Moon
- Dec. 18 to Dec. 31 – Mercury at its brightest in the morning sky
- Dec. 30 – New Moon
- Dec. 31 – Mars at its brightest in the night sky
Where is the best place to view celestial events?
According to NASA, the best places to skywatch are found away from urban areas where light pollution hinders viewers’ ability to see fainter stars, planets and other objects. Open areas such as large fields, valleys, hiking trails and camping sites. However, be sure to ensure your safety before stargazing in a secluded area.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on X, formerly Twitter.
Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.
The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.
Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.
ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.
April 19
Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.
April 22
Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
April 23
Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.
Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.
Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.
April 24
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.
April 25
Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
Good morning!
Heading out the door this morning? Bundle up! Cold air has settled into the Land of Enchantment after two cold fronts passed through New Mexico within the last 24 hours. Temperatures have fallen to the teens, 20s and 30s throughout northern New Mexico. The metro area is just as cold with Moriarty falling to the teens and several other cities bottoming out near the freezing point. The National Weather Service (NWS) has Freeze Warnings in place until 9 a.m. for several locations in northern and central New Mexico. However, one of the aforementioned cold fronts is still moving through eastern New Mexico this morning. That back door cold front has brought 30-45 mph wind gusts, or more, in southeastern New Mexico. The front will push west further west this morning bringing breezy winds to far south and southwestern New Mexico this afternoon. Otherwise, much calmer weather will be on tap for the state compared to the majority of this week.
The colder air this morning will bring cooler and seasonable weather to the Land of Enchantment later on Saturday. Afternoon highs will range from the high 50s, in sections of the northern mountains, to the 70s in southern New Mexico. Throughout the weekend into early next week a warming trend is expected as a ridge of high pressure builds on Sunday, which is forecasted to last through at least Tuesday. By next Tuesday, high temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, and even warmer for some locations by next Wednesday with breezy conditions returning to the state.
Moisture does stream back into the state early next week across New Mexico. Tomorrow’s forecast is expected to have cloud coverage increase with warmer weather. On Monday sufficient moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere will bring the chance for showers; however, moisture levels toward the surface will be lower. That will also bring the chance for dry showers and thunderstorms throughout the state. Have a great weekend and stay warm this morning!
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