2020 brought tons of exciting astronomical events that stargazers went gaga over including the great conjunction and impressive comets. This year, there’s tons to look forward too! From meteor showers and supermoons, to a total solar eclipse, we’re already planning our outdoor viewing spot. Hint – it’s in your own backyard at Jellystone Park™! Want to take your stargazing to the next level? Start planning a trip today and claim your spot under the stars! You can also invest in a telescope or good binoculars, so you can see even more in the night sky. Keep reading for 5 major celestial events to look forward to this year!
April 26-27: Full Supermoon
You’ve probably seen tons of full moons in your lifetime, but have you have experienced a supermoon? This rare event happens when the full moon occurs at perigee — the point at which the moon appears closest to the Earth in its orbit. This makes the moon look brighter and closer to Earth!
May 26: Total Lunar Eclipse
Happening every 2.5 years, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow. The Sun, Earth, and Moon need to be exactly aligned and a total lunar eclipse can happen only on the night of a full moon. During the eclipse, you’ll see the Earth’s shadow creeping across the Moon’s face. The shadow will look dark, until it completely covers the Moon. Then, during the time of totality, the shadow on the Moon’s face changes, creating a breathtaking red hue. This is definitely a celestial event not to be missed!
June 10: Annular Solar Eclipse
August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower
With fireballs (or large explosions of light and color) blasting through the night sky – the Perseid Meteor Shower is surely an astronomical event to look forward to. It’s best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though at times it is possible to view the meteors as early as 10 p.m. Either way, planning your camping trip around this event will have the whole crew excited for the action in the sky!
December 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower
This is the strongest meteor shower of the year so grab your coats and mittens because you won’t want to miss it. Up to 50 meteors per hour are expected! As always and for best viewing, find a remote location, free of city lights and obstructions. Hint — Jellystone Park™ in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, along the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia!
Now that you have 2021’s astronomical calendar of top events at your fingertips, it will be easy to plan your outdoor camping vacation! Whether you’re pitching a tent, parking your RV, or glamping in a cabin at Jellystone Park™, your family will love gathering around at night with s’mores for the celestial viewing.
