Supermoons, Lunar Eclipse, Meteor Showers In Georgia In 2018

ATLANTA, GA — Skywatchers in Georgia are in for several exceptional shows in 2018. The year sets up with two supermoons in January, the first of which is on New Year's Day. There will be no full moon in February, followed by two full moons in March. A special treat for metro Atlanta residents is a total lunar eclipse on Jan. 31.

Atlanta area folks should get a great glimpse of the first supermoon, with skies expected to be mostly clear. Just bundle up, the low will drop to 16 degrees tonight.

Astronomers don't expect any spectacular meteor outbursts in 2018, but there's always a chance that something unexpected can happen, so stargazers should keep their eyes on the heavens throughout the year.
Read on to find out when to get out your telescopes, binoculars and cameras to view the planets as they reach opposition.

Full Moons And Supermoons

There will be two supermoons in 2018, both of them in January. The year is also unique because both January and March have blue moons — that is, two full moons in the same month — and February has no full moon.
Jan. 1-2: The moon will look larger than it actually is — that's the supermoon effect — as it reaches its closest approach to Earth in its monthly orbit, known as lunar perigee, on Jan 1. The January full moon was known as the Wolf Moon by early Native American tribes because that's when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps, but it also has been called the Snow Moon, the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule. The best time to see the supermoon in the Atlanta area is 9:24 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, according to Space.com.
Jan. 31: The second full moon of January, known as a blue moon, is also a supermoon. Its occurrence on the last day of the month means there won't be a full moon in February. In other years, the February full moons were called the Snow Moon or the Hunger Moon by Native American tribes, because hunting became difficult.
March 2: The full moon in March was called the Worm Moon by Native American tribes as earthworms begin to crawl out of the ground, but it also has been called the Crow Moon, the Crust Moon, the Sap Moon and the Lenten Moon.
March 31: March gets a second full moon, the last blue moon of the year.
April 30: The April full moon isn't pink, but Native American tribes called it Pink Moon because that's when wild ground phlox, one of the first spring flowers, begins to make an appearance. It's also been called the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon and the Egg Moon. Among coastal tribes, it was known as the Fish Moon because that's when shad begin their swim upstream to spawn.
May 29: Remember the rhyme you learned as a child: "April showers bring May flowers"? The full moon in May was called the Flower Moon by Native American tribes, but it also has been called the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.
June 28: The June full moon was called the Full Strawberry Moon by Native Americans, because that's when fruit begins to ripen and the strawberry harvesting season peaks. Other names attached to this moon are the Rose Moon, Honey Moon and Hot Moon.
July 27: Native Americans called the July full moon the Full Buck Moon because that's when male deer begin to grow new antlers. This moon is also known as the Full Thunder Moon and the Full Hay Moon.
Aug. 26: Native American tribes called the August full moon the Full Sturgeon Moon because that's when the large fish are more easily caught in the Great Lakes and other large lakes. You might also hear it referred to as the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon.
Sept. 25: The September full moon was known as the Corn Moon by Native American tribes because that's when corn was typically harvested. It also has been called the Barley Moon to coincide with the time for harvesting and threshing ripened barley. In some years, it is known as the Harvest Moon — the name always given to the moon closest to the autumnal equinox — and it can occur in either September or October.
Oct. 24: The full moon in October was dubbed the Hunters Moon by Native Americans because game were fat and ready for hunting. It has also been called the Travel Moon, the Blood Moon and the Dying Moon.
Nov. 23: Native Americans called the November full moon the Full Beaver Moon because tribes set their beaver traps at that time before swamps and rivers froze over for the winter. You might also hear it referred to as the Frosty Moon.
Dec. 22: Native Americans called the December full moon the Full Cold Moon. Winter settles n in many areas of the country, and nights are longer and darker. You may also hear it referred to as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule.

Meteor Showers

Below are the peak dates for 2018 meteor showers. With one exception — the Draconid meteor shower — the best viewing times are after midnight, and it's always a good idea to get away from light sources for the best shows.
Jan. 3-4: The annual Quadrantids meteor shower, which runs Jan. 1-5, offers about 40 meteors an hour at its peak. It has the potential to be dazzling, but weather conditions often make for unpleasant viewing, the peak only lasts only a few hours and a nearly full moon will wash out all but the brightest of the shooting stars. The shower is produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, discovered only 15 years ago. Patient skywatchers may see a few blazing meteors despite the nearly full moon They radiate from the constellation Bootes, but are visible anywhere in the sky.
April 22-23: The Lyrids meteor shower, which runs annually from April 16-25, is an average shower producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. Viewing conditions should be ideal because the first quarter moon will set right after midnight, and those who stay up may be able to see trails lasting several seconds and, occasionally, fireballs.One of the oldest showers on record, the Lyrids were detected in China around 687 BC, but its source, the comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, wasn't discovered until 1861. The meteor shower originates from the constellation Lyra, but meteors will be visible from anywhere in the sky. The best viewing conditions are after midnight.
May 6-7: The Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which runs from April 19-May 28, is an above average shower that can produce as many as 60 meteors an hour at its peak. It favors the Southern Hemisphere, but should still be a good show in the Northern Hemisphere with about 30 meteors an hour. A waning gibbous moon will be problematic, blocking out the faintest of the meteors. They radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but are visible from anywhere in the sky.
July 28-29: The Delta Aquarids meteor shower, produced by debris left behind by the comets Marsden and Kracht, runs from July 12-Aug. 23. It's an average show, producing about 20 meteors an hour at its peak, but a nearly full moon will be problematic. The meteors radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can be seen from any location in the sky. The best viewing times are after midnight.
Aug. 12-13: The annual Perseids meteor shower, which runs July 17-Aug. 24, is typically one of the best of the year, producing from 60 to 100 meteors an hour at its peak. The meteors are historically bright, and this should be a great year for skywatchers because a thin crescent moon should make for dark skies. The Perseids are produced by the comet Swift-Tuttle, discovered in 1862. The meteors fall between the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia, but just look up and you should be able to see them from anywhere in the sky.
Oct. 8: The annual Draconids meteor shower, which runs Oct. 6-10, often passes without fanfare, offering only about 10 an hour. The shower's name comes from the constellation Draco the Dragon, and sometimes, Draco breathes fire, as it did in 2011 when an outburst produced more than 600 an hour. The Draconid meteor shower is also unlike many meteor showers in that the peak viewing time is between dusk and nightfall, not the early morning hours, and there won't be any interference from the moon. It is produced by dust grains left behind by the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, discovered in 1900.
Oct. 21-22: The Orionids meteor shower, which runs Oct. 2-Nov. 7, is another so-so meteor shower, producing only about 20 an hour at its peak. It's produced by dust grains from the comet Halley and originates from the constellation Orion. Despite a nearly full moon, the show is still worth catching because the shooting stars associated with this shower tend to be especially bright and fast, traveling through the sky at about 41 miles per second. The best viewing times are after midnight.
Nov. 5-6: The Taurids meteor shower is long running, from Sept. 7-Dec. 10, and is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams — the first produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10, and the second by debris from Comet 2P Encke. It's a minor show, producing only about 5 or 10 meteors an hour, and is best viewed after midnight. The meteors originate from the constellation Taurus, but you should be able to see them anywhere in the sky.
Nov. 17-18: The Leonid meteor shower runs from Nov. 6-30. It's an average shower offering up to 15 meteors an hour at its peak, but the Leonids has a cyclonic peak every 33 years where hundreds of shooting stars can be seen. The last time that happened was in 2001. Though not as prolific as some other meteor showers, the meteors are extremely fast, moving at a speed of about 44 miles per second, which increases the chances of fireballs. The shower originates from the constellation Leo, but meteors can be seen from any point in the sky. It is produced by dust grains left behind by the comet Tempel-Tuttle, discovered in 1865. The best viewing time are in the early morning, and skies should be fairly dark thanks to a waxing gibbous moon.
Dec. 13-14: The Geminid meteor shower, which originates from the constellation Gemini, is typically the best of the year, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors an hour at its peak. The shower runs from Dec. 7-17, and is produced by debris left behind by the asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, discovered in 1982. Viewing conditions should be excellent because the first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies. The peak viewing times are in the early morning hours, but the Geminids also are active before midnight.
Dec. 21-22: The year's final meteor shower is a minor one, and it's often overlooked. The Ursids meteor shower, which runs Dec. 17-25, produces about 5 to 10 meteors an hour, although occasional outbursts have produced 25 or more an hour. A full moon will wash out all but the brightest, however. The Ursids originate from the constellation Ursa Minor, and are produced by dust grains left behind by the comet Tuttle discovered in 1790. The best viewing times are after midnight.

Equinoxes And Solstices

March 20: Spring officially begins at 12:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The spring, or vernal equinox, occurs the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north.
June 21: Summer officially arrives with the June solstice, which occurs at 6:07 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. During the summer solstice, the sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude.
Sept. 22: Signaling the beginning of fall, the autumnal equinox occurs at 9:54 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, when the sun will be directly over the equator.
Dec. 21: The winter solstice occurs at 5:23 p.m. Eastern Standard Time when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

Other Celestial Events

You'll have several chances to see Mercury in 2018, the closest planet to the sun and the smallest in our solar system, just a little larger than Earth's moon. It is the swiftest of the sun's family, making its yearly journey in only 88 Earth days.
Jan. 1: Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation of 22.7 degrees from the sun. The best time to see the red planet at its highest point above the horizon is in the eastern sky, just before sunrise.
Jan. 31: A total lunar eclipse will be visible throughout most of western North America, eastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific Ocean. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra, blocks the sun's light, which would otherwise reflect off the moon. During a full lunar eclipse, the moon will gradually get darker and take on a rusty or blood red color. At its height, the Earth's umbra completely obscures the moon. In Atlanta, the total eclipse will begin around 5:51 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with the maximum eclipse visible at 7:30 a.m. in Georgia.

March 15: Mercury, the smallest planet in the solar system, reaches its greatest eastern elongation of 18.4 degrees from the. The best time to see Mercury at its highest point in the sky is just after sunset, and you'll be able to spot it in the western sky.
April 29: Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation at 27 degrees from the sun. The best time to see Mercury it at its highest point in the sky is in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
May 9: The giant planet Jupiter is at opposition, which means it is on exactly the opposite side of the Earth from the sun and will be fully illuminated and brighter than at any other time of the year. You should be able to see Jupiter and its moons all night long, and with a medium-sized telescope, you may be able to see the planet's cloud bands. With a good pair of binoculars, look for Jupiter's four largest moons, which will appear as small dots on either side of the planet.
June 27: The ringed planet Saturn is at opposition and will be fully illuminated by the sun. This is the best time of the year to take a look at the second-largest planet in our solar system, as it will be brighter than at any other time of the year. You'll be able to see it all night, and with a medium-sized or larger telescope, you can see its rings and a few of its brightest moons.
July 12: Here's another chance to look at Mercury, which reaches its greatest eastern elongation at 26.4 degrees in the sky. You can see it low in the western sky just after sunset.
July 27: Mars is at opposition as it makes its closest approach to Earth. Its face will be fully illuminated, and you should be able to see some of the dark details on the planet's surface with a medium-sized telescope.
Aug. 17: Venus, the second planet from the sun, is at its greatest eastern elongation at 45.9 degrees from Sol. To see it, just look in the western sky after sunset.
Aug. 26: Did you miss Mercury before? The planet is at its greatest western elongation of 18.3 degrees from the sun. Look for it low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
Sept. 7: The giant blue planet Neptune is at opposition, and you should be able to see it all night. But because Neptune is the farthest known planet in our solar system, you'll need a powerful telescope to see it, and even then it will appear only as a small blue dot.
Oct. 23: Uranus is at opposition as the blue-green plant makes its closest approach to the Earth and is fully illuminated by the sun. You should be able t see it all night, but due to its distance — it's the seventh planet from sun, and is the fourth-largest planet in our solar system.
Nov. 6: Here's another chance to gander at Mercury, which reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the sun, at 23.3 degrees. Look for it low in the western sky just after sunset.
Dec. 15: Again, little Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation of 21.3 degrees from the sun. You should be able to see it low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

— By Beth Dalbey, Patch National Staff and Shannon Antinori, Patch National Staff

Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Sources: Seasky.org, The Old Farmer's Almanac, Astronomy.com, International Meteor Organization, American Meteor Society, Space.com, NASA