Don’t Miss The 9 Best Stargazing Events That Will Light Up The Maine Sky In 2022
There’s plenty of nature surrounding us here in Maine, which makes this a great place to be if you enjoy being outside. And that makes it easy to give you great hike ideas and ways to enjoy your time across all seasons. And while we love the trees and shoreline, today we’re focused on the sky above! Get out your calendar to mark down the best celestial events taking place over the next few months!
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
1. January 7th: Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation
On this night those who look up will see that Mercury is extra-visible and totally illuminated in the western sky after the sun goes down. Later in the year, on February 16th, Mercury will reach its western elongation, being highly visible in the eastern sky just before sunrise at that time. Totally opposite!
This is one we look forward to every year! This year's is expected to be moderate with about 20 meteors per hour during its peak. This year's shower will take place during the full moon which means visibility might be tough, but the larger meteors should still be visible as they radiate from the constellation Lyra.
While the best viewing for this one will be in the southern hemisphere, those of us up here certainly won't be missing out. Look skyward to catch about 30 meteors per hour at the peak. To see the best of it you'll want be viewig the sky in the early hours of May 6th into the early hours of May 7th. While the moon will be bright these days, you should still be able to see the brightest of the fireballs!
Few things are as breathtaking (and spooky) as a total lunar eclipse. It takes on such a beautiful rusty-red hue as the moon moves through the shadow of the earth (also known as the "umbra"). This one is visible throughout all of North America, so lucky us!
This is one of our favorite things to catch in the night sky! This is when the moon appears larger and brighter than usual due to its place in the sky and proximity to Earth. If you miss this one, be sure to check out the next two that will take place this year. One is on July 13th, and the other is August 12th.
6. July 28th-July 29th: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower
Peaking late on the night of July 28th through the early morning hours of July 29th, this shower will have about 20 meteors an hour at its peak all seemingly radiating from the constellation Aquarius.
Appearing to be at its closest position to earth, Saturn will be fully illuminated by the sun. This sight which is expected to be incredible will be at its brightest all year and you can catch it from dusk to dawn. Then, on September 16th, check out Neptune when it comes into its own opposition.
8. August 12th-August 13th: Perseids Meteor Shower
One of our favorite celestial events all year will shine bright from the late evening of August 12th through the early morning hours of August 13th. With the moon dim things should look even more magnificent as the meteors fly across the sky from Perseus.
Another partial lunar eclipse will grace the night sky for us in the late autumn. This beautiful sight is one of our favorites and worth staying up to catch!
Which events are you going to make sure to catch? And, even more important, if you have any tips for stargazing let us know in the comments! Looking for more fun night sky things to see? Check out seasky.org!
Maine is a wonderful place for stargazing! Essentially, you’re going to want to go somewhere away from city lights where you can get a clear view of the dark sky. Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for about twenty to thirty minutes, and enjoy! Some of our favorite places throughout Maine to go stargazing include Moosehead Lake, which isn’t just the best place for it in Maine – it might be the best in the entire country! Cadillac Mountain is another great one; it’s open 24/7, with the exception of times when the weather is particularly bad. We’re also big fans of Katahdin Woods and Waters, which is also some of the best stargazing country in the nation, if not the world. Stargazers will find that Maine is a special kind of place – it’s ideal for gazing into the night sky. There’s nothing quite as amazing as looking into the heavens and seeing a field of stars so dense that it looks like it’s four-dimensional. Absolutely amazing!
What are some interesting things to do in Maine?
Well, first and foremost, if you’ve never been to Acadia National Park, you definitely need to. It’s absolutely breathtaking, and from the moment you arrive, you’ll understand why it’s Maine’s top “must-see” destination. A visit to Bug Light Park is also great, especially if you’re a lighthouse fan; the beautiful Portland Breakwater Light is a majestic sight even if you’re not a big lighthouse person. And, if you are, you’ll also want to check out the Pemaquid Point Light and the iconic Portland Head Light (which you have no doubt seen on postcards). Another interesting, highly popular attraction is the legendary Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which is breathtakingly beautiful, especially during the warmer months. For more of our favorite, must-do interesting things to do in Maine, take a look at this article.
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Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
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