March 19
Vernal equinox
The vernal equinox is one of two points in Earth’s orbit where the sun creates equal periods of daytime and nighttime across the globe. Many people mark it as the first day of the spring. See what it looks like from space here.
NASAApril 11
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission’s launch
On this day, John Swigert, Fred Haise and James Lovell headed for the moon and nearly didn’t come back. The explosion of an oxygen tank resulted in the “successful failure” that showed that NASA could not only send men to the moon but rescue them when things went wrong.
Jimmy Westlake/NASAStarting April 21
The Lyrids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of April 21, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Lyrids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
NASAStarting May 6
The Eta Aquariids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of May 4, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Robert Simmon/NASAJune 20
Summer solstice
It’s the scientific start to summer in the Northern Hemisphere, when this half of the world tilts toward the sun. Read more about the importance of the solstice for life on Earth here.
Visual China Group, via Getty ImagesJune 21
A “ring of fire” eclipse will be visible in parts of Africa and Asia
During an annular eclipse, the moon moves between the sun and Earth, but at a distance that it does not completely block the sun. The result is a ring-like circle of sunlight. It will be most visible in parts of the Arabian peninsula, India and maritime Southeast Asia. Watch a video about eclipses all around our solar system here.
JPL-Caltech/NASAJuly 1
The window opens for four Mars missions to launch
No fewer than four different missions are scheduled to launch in the timeframe when Earth and Mars are closest. NASA will launch its new Mars 2020 rover. China and a joint Russia-European mission will both attempt to join the United States with successful landings on the red planet. And a United Arab Emirates spacecraft will attempt to orbit Mars. We’ll provide updated launch dates for these missions when their timing becomes clearer.
K.M. Chaudhry/Associated PressStarting July 4
A lunar eclipse will be visible in parts of the Americas and Africa
During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the moon is covered by the thinnest parts of Earth’s shadow. The change in the moon’s color will be very subtle. But you can try to see it if you are almost anywhere in North America (sorry, Alaskans), as well as in South America and Africa up to its horn. Read about forthcoming lunar astronomy events here.
NASA GoddardJuly 4
Earth is at aphelion
Even as the Northern Hemisphere experiences the heat of summer, our planet is the farthest it will get from the sun during its elliptical orbit. Read more about aphelion, and what it’s like on other worlds in our solar system, here.
John Chumack/Science SourceStarting July 29
The Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of July 29, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Bill Ingalls/NASAStarting August 11
The Perseids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Aug. 11 through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Perseids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaAugust 25
NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft could try to collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu
This NASA spacecraft has been orbiting an Empire State Building-sized near Earth asteroid for more than a year. It will attempt to collect a sample during a brief touch down on its surface, and eventually return it to Earth. Read about Osiris-Rex’s landing site here.
September 22
Autumnal equinox
The autumnal equinox is one of two points in Earth’s orbit where the sun creates equal periods of daytime and nighttime across the globe. Many mark it as the first day of the fall. See what it looks like from space here.
Petar Petrov/Associated PressStarting October 21
The Orionids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Oct. 21, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Orionids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star, via Associated PressStarting November 16
The Leonids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Nov. 16, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Leonids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Romeo Ranoco/ReutersStarting November 29
A lunar eclipse will be visible in the Americas, Australia and parts of Asia and Europe.
This will be a subtle, penumbral lunar eclipse much like the one in July, but shifted to the East. Moon gazers in the Americas and Australia can try to detect the change, as can people throughout East Asia. Read about forthcoming lunar astronomy events here.
JAXA, via Associated PressDecember 1
Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft could return a sample from the asteroid Ryugu to Earth
Throughout 2019, this Japanese probe collected multiple samples from this near Earth asteroid, including a memorable operation that blew a hole in the space rock’s surface. After returning to Earth, it will eject a sample capsule that will attempt to touch down in the Australian outback. Read more about Hayabusa2 here.
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesStarting December 13
The Geminids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Dec. 13, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Geminids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Toni Greaves for The New York TimesDecember 14
A total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of South America
Darkness will fall during daytime in parts of South America as the moon obscures the sun. See last year’s total solar eclipse in Chile and Argentina, here.
Ian Webster and Peter JenniskensStarting December 21
The Ursids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Dec. 21, through the next day’s dawn, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Ursids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Robert Simmon/NASADecember 21
Winter solstice
It’s the scientific start to winter in the Northern Hemisphere, when this half of the world tilts away from the sun. Read more about the solstice here.
