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The universe is ever-changing, and the upcoming decades are set to deliver a series of celestial wonders that will both amaze and inspire. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just someone who enjoys stargazing, these events present a unique opportunity to observe the forces shaping our universe in real-time. From rare planetary alignments to stunning meteor showers, each event provides a rare chance to glimpse the complex mechanisms of space. As these spectacular events unfold over the next fifty years, they call us to look skyward and connect with the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos.
10. Planetary Conjunction (2040)
A planetary alignment doesn’t mean that the planets perfectly line up in space as many people believe. Instead, they appear to come close together from our perspective on Earth, an event called a ‘conjunction.’ These alignments are caused by the planets orbiting the sun at different speeds and distances, sometimes making their paths visually converge in the sky. While planetary alignments involving more than two planets are rare due to their different orbital planes, they are highly significant both historically and scientifically.
Throughout history, these events were often surrounded by mythological and prophetic meanings. Cultures such as the Mayans and Babylonians carefully recorded these occurrences. From a scientific standpoint, alignments are critical for calibrating astronomical instruments and have been crucial in space exploration, such as NASA’s Voyager 2 mission, which utilized a rare alignment to efficiently explore the outer solar system.
The last significant alignment took place in January 2024, featuring Mars, Venus, and Mercury. Another one will happen in 2040, where Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible next to a crescent moon.
9. Super Blue Moon (2037)
A rare phenomenon known as a 'super blue moon' occurred on August 30-31, 2023. This event combined a supermoon with a blue moon. A supermoon happens when the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, causing it to appear larger and brighter in the sky, up to 14% bigger than at its furthest point. A blue moon occurs when two full moons fall within a single calendar month, which happens approximately every two to three years due to slight discrepancies between the moon’s 29.5-day cycle and the calendar. It’s important to note that a ‘blue moon’ does not mean the moon actually turns blue, though under certain conditions like smoke or dust in the atmosphere, it can appear bluish due to light scattering.
Although a super blue moon is a rare spectacle, its size difference may not be noticeable to the casual observer—comparable to the difference in size between a quarter and a nickel. Supermoons occur three to four times a year, making up about 25% of all full moons. Blue moons, however, are much rarer, appearing only about 3% of the time. The unique alignment that led to the super blue moon in 2023 was quite exceptional, happening roughly once every ten years. The next ones are expected in January and March of 2037.
8. Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (2040)
In December 2020, skywatchers were treated to an extraordinary celestial event known as the 'Great Conjunction,' when Jupiter and Saturn appeared astonishingly close in the night sky. This rare event had not occurred in nearly 400 years and had been visible at night nearly 800 years ago. Commonly referred to as the 'Christmas Star,' the spectacle peaked on December 21st, with the two gas giants appearing only a tenth of a degree apart. Remarkably, viewers could cover both planets with their pinkie finger at arm’s length, underscoring the rarity and beauty of the phenomenon.
This phenomenon happens due to the alignment of the planets' orbits, making it seem as though they are incredibly close together from our vantage point on Earth, despite being separated by hundreds of millions of miles in space. Such conjunctions are not uncommon, occurring roughly every 20 years as a result of the planets' orbital paths aligning. However, the extraordinary closeness of the planets during this particular event made it truly remarkable.
Coincidentally, this conjunction occurred on the winter solstice, further enhancing the event's charm. Yet, this timing was purely by chance. The next conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn will take place in November 2040, where the planets will be positioned about two full moons apart. The following occurrence of such a minimal separation will be in March 2080.
7. The Leonid Meteor Shower Peak (2031)
The Leonid Meteor Shower has historically produced some of the most impressive meteor storms, with these dramatic events occurring roughly every 33 years. The showers in 1966 and 1833, in particular, witnessed thousands—and sometimes over a hundred thousand—meteors per hour, offering a breathtaking celestial display. These meteor storms are the result of Earth passing through dense clouds of debris left behind by a comet.
Witnessing the Leonid meteor shower can be an exhilarating experience, particularly when observed from a dark, unobstructed location. The meteors appear to radiate from the Leo constellation, identifiable by its distinctive backward question mark shape, referred to as 'The Sickle.' It is suggested that viewers avoid focusing directly on Leo and instead scan the surrounding sky for meteors with longer, more visible trails.
For the best viewing experience, enthusiasts should seek out the darkest possible spot and allow their eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. This helps enhance their ability to spot meteors, which can be easily seen with the naked eye—no special equipment is necessary. The next Leonid meteor shower will be visible from November 6 to November 30, 2031, with the peak expected around November 18.
At its peak, around midnight MST, the meteor shower is expected to produce up to 15 meteors per hour under ideal dark sky conditions. The timing of the 2031 Leonid peak is especially favorable since it coincides with the new moon phase, minimizing any interference from moonlight.
6. Perseid Meteor Shower Peak (August 2028)
The Perseid meteor shower, a much-anticipated event of summer, is expected to offer an extraordinary show in 2028. This shower is tied to Comet Swift-Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1862, and has been the recognized source of the Perseid meteors since Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli first identified the connection in the 19th century.
Every year, between late July and August, Earth passes through the debris trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, causing the Perseids to light up the sky with brilliant streaks. A notable surge in activity occurred in the early 1990s, coinciding with the comet’s close approach to the sun, which resulted in denser clumps of meteoroids and a more impressive display. Although the activity has decreased over time, a resurgence is expected in 2028 when Earth encounters dense dust filaments ejected by the comet centuries ago.
Finnish astronomer Esko Lyytinen has forecast that in 2028, Earth will pass through debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle that dates back to 1479. This could trigger a “meteor storm,” producing over 1,000 meteors per hour, most visible in the United States around 1:30 a.m. EDT on August 12. The gravitational influence of Jupiter may further amplify the shower, potentially making it one of the most impressive in recent memory. However, moonlight may hinder visibility as the moon will be nearing its last quarter.
5. Full Moon on a Leap Day (2048)
A full moon occurring on Leap Day, February 29—an exceptionally rare date that only appears once every four years to adjust the calendar year to the astronomical year—is a noteworthy event. Since February 29 occurs every 48 months, a full moon on this specific day is exceedingly uncommon. In fact, the likelihood of a full moon on Friday the 13th is greater than on February 29.
Throughout history, a full moon on Leap Day has only taken place a handful of times over the centuries, specifically in the years 1504, 1600, 1752, 1820, and more recently in 1972. Dan Joyce, an astronomer at Triton College’s Cernan Earth and Space Center, notes that the probability of a full moon occurring on any given date is approximately twice in a 59-year span. However, since February 29 only occurs once every four years, the likelihood drops to about two occurrences every 236 years.
Looking ahead, the next full moon on February 29 is projected to occur in 2048, followed by subsequent occurrences in 2124 and 2268. These predictions are based on extensive long-term tracking, taking into account the interplay between the lunar cycle, which sees a full moon approximately every 29.5 days, and the rare appearance of February 29 within the Gregorian calendar.
4. Total Solar Eclipse (August 12, 2045)
The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2045, often referred to as the “Greatest American Eclipse,” will be a breathtaking event, offering a record-breaking totality duration of 6 minutes and 4 seconds. This eclipse will cross 12 states in the U.S., starting from Florida and traversing notable locations such as California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, before continuing across Central and South America.
This rare event presents an extraordinary opportunity for both avid eclipse watchers and the general public, as its path passes through numerous easily accessible locations, including major cities like Reno, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, and Miami. Iconic sites like Disney World in Orlando and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida will also fall within the path of totality. The totality itself will be exceptionally wide, averaging 318 miles (511.7 kilometers), offering diverse viewing spots from Mount Shasta in California to Port Saint Lucie in Florida, where the longest duration of totality in the U.S. will be visible.
Notably, the path of totality for the 2045 eclipse will overlap with the path from the April 8, 2024, eclipse in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Such intersections are rare, as the typical recurrence of a total solar eclipse at the same location is roughly once every 366 years, making this event an unforgettable experience.
3. Mercury's Transit (November 13, 2032)
The next Mercury transit, a remarkable astronomical event in which Mercury passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, will occur on November 13, 2032. This phenomenon is rare, contributing to its special allure and excitement. The infrequency is due to the fact that both Mercury and Venus orbit the Sun on a slightly tilted plane relative to Earth’s orbit. Transits of Mercury are uncommon, happening roughly 13 to 14 times per century, making each occurrence a significant event for astronomers and sky watchers.
During the mesmerizing Mercury transit, the planet can be observed as a small dot moving slowly across the Sun's surface. This provides a rare chance to witness Mercury in motion against the Sun's fiery background. The last transit occurred on November 11, 2019, and NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the event in remarkable detail across multiple wavelengths.
It’s important to note that neither the 2032 Mercury transit nor the one in 2039 will be visible from North America. Observers in North America will have to wait until 2049 to experience this captivating phenomenon. Meanwhile, those on the West Coast will have an even longer wait, as visibility will not occur until 2052.
2. Saturn’s Rings Will 'Disappear' (2025)
In 2025, Saturn's renowned rings will seem to 'vanish' due to the planet's changing tilt as it orbits the Sun. Saturn completes a full orbit every 29.4 Earth years, with each day on Saturn lasting about 10.7 Earth hours. Over millions of years, the planet’s rings are gradually being pulled into its atmosphere. However, this 'disappearance' is merely an optical illusion caused by the perspective shift.
In 2025, Saturn's rings will align edge-on with Earth, making them almost invisible from our vantage point, much like trying to spot the edge of a thin sheet of paper from a great distance. While this alignment causes the rings to appear as if they have disappeared, it also presents a rare opportunity to clearly observe Saturn’s moons.
NASA anticipates that by 2032, the tilt of Saturn and its rings will shift, providing a breathtaking view of the rings’ underside. These changes occur roughly every 15 years. The ongoing cycle of the rings disappearing and reappearing will continue, with 'favorable ring plane crossings,' as NASA describes them, expected in 2038 and 2039. During these years, Saturn will appear even more devoid of rings. This remarkable celestial event highlights the dynamic nature of Saturn's moons, which are believed to influence the planet’s tilt.
1. Halley’s Comet Return (2061)
Halley’s Comet, the most famous of all comets, has begun its long journey back toward Earth. On December 8, 2023, the comet reached its aphelion, the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun, located 3.27 billion miles (5.26 billion kilometers) away. This marks the comet's first movement back toward the Sun since 1986, a journey that will carry it through the orbits of several planets before it reaches Earth again in 2061.
Halley’s Comet follows an elliptical orbit, causing it to accelerate as it nears the Sun and decelerate as it moves away. As of December 8, 2023, it has begun gradually speeding up. A major milestone will occur in 2041 when it crosses Neptune’s orbit. After this, Halley will continue its journey towards the Sun, passing through the orbits of Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter before heading back to Earth.
In 2061, when Halley’s Comet reaches perihelion—the closest point in its orbit to the Sun—it will create a stunning sight. Its approach will be visible most clearly to observers in the Northern Hemisphere during late spring and early summer. The comet is expected to be much brighter than during its last appearance in 1986, potentially becoming a brilliant object in the northern summer night sky. However, its visibility in 2061 could be diminished by light pollution, a growing concern that could interfere with our ability to witness such celestial wonders.
