2012:

January

01-4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower – Look near the constellation Bootes starting after midnight. Peak Viewing Jan 3/4

01-9: Full Moon

01-23: New Moon

February

02-7: Full Moon

02-21: New Moon

March

03-3: Mars is at opposition

03-8: Full Moon

03-14: Venus and Jupiter are at Conjunction

03-20: Spring Equinox

03-22: New Moon

April (Global Astronomy Month!)

04-6: Full Moon

04-12: Yuri’s Night! (Celebrate the first human in space!)

04-15: Saturn is at opposition.

04-21: New Moon.

04-21/22 : Lyrids Meteor Shower (Look near the Constellation Lyra after midnight local time)

May

05-5/6: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower (Look to the east, near Aquarius after midnight local time)

05-06: Full Moon.

05-20: New Moon and Solar Eclipse. The Solar Eclipse will be visible in Asia, the pacific rim and the western United States.

June

06-04: Full Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible in Asia, Australia, the pacific rim and the Americas.

06-5/6: Transit of Venus across the sun. This is your last chance to catch a transit of Venus from Earth until 2117!

06-19: New Moon

06-20: Summer Solstice

July

07-3: Full Moon

07-19: New Moon

07-28/29: Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower – Look to the east after midnight local time, near the constellation Aquarius.

August

08-2: Full Moon

08-6: NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) rover will land on Mars.

08-12/13: Perseids Meteor Shower (best viewing after midnight local time)

08-17: New Moon

08-24: Neptune at Opposition. The blue planet will be at its closest approach to Earth. This is the best time to view Neptune

08-31: Full Moon

September

09-16: New Moon

09-22: Autumnal Equinox (first day of fall)

09-29: Uranus is at Opposition (closest approach to Earth)

09-30: Full Moon

October

10-15: New Moon

10-21/22: Orionid Meteor Shower (Look to the east after midnight local time)

10-29: Full Moon

November

11-13: New Moon

11-17/18: Leonid Meteor Shower (Look at the constellation Leo, after midnight local time)

11-27: Venus and Saturn at conjunction

11-28: Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible from most of Europe, Africa, Asia, the pacific rim and North America.

December

12-3: Jupiter is at Opposition (closest approach to Earth)

12-13: New Moon

12-13/14: Geminid Meteor Shower (Look at the east after midnight local time)

12-21: Winter Solstice

12-28: Full Moon