March 20: The vernal equinox occurs at 23:31 UT, or 7:21 p.m. EDT, when there will be equal amounts of daylight and nighttime. This is also the first day of spring.
April 3: Saturn will be at opposition on this day, when the planet will be at its closest approach to the earth. This is thus the best time to view the Saturn and its moons.
April 21, 22: The Lyrids meteor shower peak. This shower is best viewed before sunrise emanating from the constellation of Lyra, the little harp, and it can produce up to 20 meteors per hour.
May 5, 6: The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks, but this is not an active shower; expect to see about 10 meteors per hour before the sun rises.
June 21: The summer solstice occurs at 17:16 UT, or 1:16 p.m. EDT. The sun will be at its highest point in the sky, thus making this the longest day of the year. This is also the first day of summer.
July 12: Today, Neptune will complete its first complete orbit since its discovery on Sept. 23, 1846. Neptune, which was discovered through mathematical calculations and not by telescope, takes more than 164 years to orbit the sun.
July 28, 29: The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower peak. Radiating from the constellation of Aquarius, this meteor shower can produce around 20 meteors per hour.
August 12, 13: The peak of the Perseids meteor shower. This shower, radiating from Perseus in the northeastern sky, is one of the best shows of the year, producing about 60 meteors per hour.
August 22: Neptune is at opposition. Although the blue planet will be at its closest approach to the earth, it will remain a small blue dot even in powerful telescopes.
September 23: The autumnal equinox occurs at 9:04 UT, or 5:04 a.m. EDT.
September 25: Uranus will be at opposition. The blue-green planet is at its brightest as it makes its closest approach to the earth.
October 21, 22: The Orionids meteor shower peak, with about 20 meteors per hour.
October 29: Today, Jupiter is at opposition, promising to be bright and beautiful.
November 17, 18: The Leonids meteor shower peak. The Leonids can produce an average of 40 meteors per hour, radiating from the constellation of Leo after midnight.
December 13, 14: The peak of the Geminids meteor shower. One of the best showers of the year, the Geminids can produce an average of 60 meteors per hour. The meteors emanate from the constellation of Gemini and are best seen after midnight.
December 22: The winter solstice occurs at 5:30 UT, or 12:30 a.m. EST. This is the shortest day of the year.
