Year 2023

2023 is a good year for stargazing here on Hawaiʻi with 2 out of the 3 big annual meteor showers happening during favorable viewing conditions: the August 12-13 Perseids meteor shower and the December 14 Geminids meteor shower.

These are the most important 2023 stargazing dates for Hawaiʻi:

If you are in the mood of planning ahead you should reserve the following dates in your calendar for stargazing:

This stargazing calendar will help you plan your nights to make the best of the biggest celestial events of 2023. To make the most of your time we recommend that you go to one of our favorite stargazing spots and read our Meteor shower guide, which is filled to the brim with viewing tips and background information about shooting stars.

Also, don’t forget to have a look at our guide: stargazing on the Big Island. The MaunaKea volcano hosts some of the best telescopes of the world, and a visit to these telescopes is a must if you are into stargazing!

Stargazing events for Hawaiʻi (2023)

Stargazing highlights for Hawaii in 2023 are hands down the August 12-13 Perseids meteor shower and the December 14 Geminids meteor shower.

January 3rd: Quadrantids Meteor Shower #

Active: December 28–January 12; Maximum: January 3, 5:40 PM HST, ZHR = 110 (can vary ≈ 60 − 200).

The Quadrantids are one of the 3 biggest meteor showers of the year, but 2023 is a poor year to see its shooting stars. All but the brightest of the shooting starts belonging to this meteor shower will be drowned out by the near-full moon, which will set only at 05:28 am on January 4th. The sunrise, happening that day at 07:09 am, leaves precious little dark time to see shooting stars. The early morning of January 3rd offers slightly better viewing conditions, because the moon sets already at 04:32 am that morning.

Regardless, if you are willing to give it a shot wake up early on the morning of January 3rd or 4th – times before twilight (06:15 AM) are the best.

Quadrantids trivia

The Quadrantids meteor shower is named after an abandoned constellation named Quadrans Muralis. This constellation was invented in 1795 by the astronomer Joseph Jérôme de Lalande to honor the wall-mounted instrument which he used for measuring star positions (a “Quadrant” is an improved astrolabe, and is used to measure angles up to 90°; “muralis” is Latin for wall). The constellation never really “caught on” and its use was quickly abandoned. However, it now is the most well known out-of-date constellation because it gives its name to the Quadrantids meteor shower.

The Quadrantids are special among meteor showers because this shower has a very ‘sharp’ peak intensity. The shower is most active for only a short amount of time (the meteor rates exceed one-half of their highest value for only about 8 hours). This means that the space debris that causes this shower has been left ‘on location’ pretty recently, within the last ±500 years.

Late January/ early February: comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)#

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is a green comet that may become visible with the naked eye at the end of January. Because this is the first time in over 10.000 years that the  comet passes through our solar system it is difficult to predict how its brightness will evolve, but at the moment (an observed magnitude of 4.6 for January 31st) it already is visible with the naked eye during moderately dark conditions. We are keeping our fingers crossed!

What will it look like? Well, it wont be as spectacular as the NEOWISE comet was a few years ago, with its long curved tail and bright head. Rather, it will most likely look like a smudge in the sky – like someone has dipped their finger in greenish chalk dust and dabbed it on a blackboard.

When to look? Here, the moon plays a bit of interference. With the moon setting around 5 am and the sun rising around 7, this leaves only a small window with a dark and moonless sky. Check out the moonset and sunrise times for the coming days on Hawaiʻi here.

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered by astronomers using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility in March 2022.

How bright is comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), and can I see it without binoculars?

You can find the latest coordinates and brightness for C/2022 E3 (ZTF) here. The most important thing to look at is the “Observed Magnitude (COBS)”.  A value of 6 is about the limit an observer can see with a naked eye a telescope in a dark and clear sky. Lower COBS values mean that the object is brighter. For example, in a light-polluted sky only objects with a COBS of 4.6 or brighter are visible (learn how to estimate the naked-eye magnitude limit for your location here).

Current estimates are that the comet will reach a peak apparent brightness somewhere between 5 and 6 early February, when it will be close to Polaris  (the Pole Star, see the finding chart below). This is just at the limit of naked-eye-observability and you will probably need a dark and clear sky to see it. Take binoculars to up your chances of seeing the faint white/green smudge.

Where to see comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

The comet will be most visible in the hours before sunrise looking towards the north-north-western direction. If you know where to find Polaris, the brightest star in the sky, and the Ursa Major (the big dipper), you can find the comet. See the finding chart below for where to expect C/2022 E3 (ZTF), when.

Where is comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) at the moment? Finding chart showing the location of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF in January 2023. Credit: Pete Lawrence

April 22: Lyrids Meteor Shower#

Active: April 14–30; Maximum: April 22, 3 PM HST; ZHR = 18 (can be variable, up to 90).

The Lyrids in 2023 reach their maximum just after New Moon on April 23. This year peak activity of the meteor shower is expected be on April 22nd around 3 PM HST. The tiny and almost new moon sets just after 8 PM that evening, leaving the whole night for stargazing.

The best time to see look for shooting stars belonging to this meteor shower are the hours after midnight on April 23rd.

Fun Facts about the Lyrids meteor shower

The shooting stars of the Lyrids are small parts of space-debris left behind by the comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1). They are (arguably) the first documented meteor shower with reports going back possibly up to 2600 years (687 BC, two years after King Sennacherib of Assyria sacked Babylon).

most years you can see between 10 and 20 shooting stars/hour at peak intensity, but there have been years where a true meteor shower took place, and peak rates of 90/hour were reported. The last time this happened was in 1982, but there is also a very interesting report from a newspaper in Richmond, Virginia on April 23rd, 1803. This newspaper described the shower as follows:

…Shooting stars. This electrical phenomenon was observed on Wednesday morning last at Richmond and its vicinity, in a manner that alarmed many, and astonished every person that beheld it.

From one until three in the morning, those starry meteors seemed to fall from every point in the heavens, in such numbers as to resemble a shower of sky rockets…

These outburst are quite rare, but the point we want to make is that you never know what to expect with the Lyrids.

May 5: Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower#

The η-Aquariids meteor shower is badly affected by the full moon on May 5th, making 2023 not a good year to stay up for this meteor shower.

This meteor shower has a reasonable ZHR (zenith hourly rate, or the amount of shooting stars estimated to be visible during the peak activity under ideal circumstances) and has broad peak activity. Shooting stars belonging to this shower can be observed between April 19th up to May 28th.

Eta Aquariids Trivia

Did you know that the Eta Aquariids have a sister meteor shower? The Eta Aquariids meteor shower happens when earth passes through the space-debris left by Halley’s Comet. Because Halley’s comet and our planet orbit the sun in the same plane, there is another point in space where earth crosses the debris from this comet. When this happens, we see the meteor shower the Orionids (and not the Delta Aquariids as people often think).

Current position and orbit of Halley’s comet around our solar system. Every blue dot shows you where the comet is in that year. You can see the comet passes twice (in 1986 and 2061) close to earth, leaving enough space-debris to cause two meteor showers: the Eta Aquariids (early May) and the Orionids (late October). Image adapted from source.

Halley’s Comet is the most famous short period comet of our solar system, and returns every 75 or 76 years. The last time it flew by was in 1986, the next time will be in 2061. Right now Halley’s Comet is deep in the outer solar system (beyond Neptune!) but you will still be able to see little particles of it burn up into earths atmosphere twice a year during the Eta Aquariids and the Orionids meteor showers.

Each time it swings by the sun, solar heat vaporizes about 6(!) meters of ice and rock from the nucleus. The debris particles, about the size of sand grains, spread along the comet’s orbit, filling it with tiny meteoroids.

May 18-31: lāhainā noon#

Hawai’i is the only tropical state in the USA. This comes with certain perks such as tropical weather and the two times each year when  the sun is directly overhead and you don’t cast any shadow!

Lāhainā noon is a recent (1990) term, introduced to give a name to the time of day on which the sun is directly overhead. “Lā haina” means “cruel sun” in the Hawaiian language, but don’t worry, the sun isn’t that cruel here! Unless you are on the hot lava plains without enough water to drink that is.

On the Hawaiian islands the 2023 lāhainā noon will happen at the following times for these cities:

• Honolulu (O‘ahu): 12:28 PM (May 26+27)
• Kahului (Maui): 12:22 PM (May 24)
• Līhuʻe (Kauai): 12:35 PM (May 31)
  
• Hilo: 12:16 PM (May 18)
• Kona: 12:20 PM (May 18)

June 21st: Summer Solstice and Midsummer Night#

Happy Summer Solstice, today is the first day of astronomical summer! The 2023 summer solstice takes place in Hawaiʻi at June 21st at 04:57 am HST (calculated for Hilo).

The Hawaiian term for summer solstice is “Ka māuikiʻikiʻi o ke kauwela” [source].

Midsummer night is the shortest night of the year, and you could try to make your midsummer night a special one. What better excuse is there for a celebration? Many cultures have festivities linked to the summer solstice, so what about organizing your own midsummer night party or pau hana’s?

July 11-25: lāhainā noon (2/2) #

Lāhainā noon is the moment when the sun is standing directly above you. This means that the only shadow you cast is directly below you, and that tall vertical objects. such as for example phone poles and beer bottles, won’t cast a shadow at all!

You can read a more elaborate explanation about the lāhainā noon at the may listing of this event(1/2).

On the Hawaiian islands, the 2023 lāhainā noon will happen at the following times for these cities:

• Honolulu (O‘ahu): 12:37 PM (July 15 + 16)
• Kahului (Maui): 12:32 PM (July 18)
• Līhuʻe (Kauai): 12:43 (July 11)
  
• Hilo: 12:26 PM (July 24)
• Kona: 12:30 PM (July 24+25)

August 12-13: Perseids Meteor Shower#

Active: July 17–August 24; Maximum:  from August 12 9:00 PM to August 13 4:00 AM; ZHR = 100.

The Perseids are one of the “Big 3” meteor showers and 2023 is an excellent year to watch them! The moon is in its waning crescent phase on the evening of August 12th and moonlight will be unobtrusive to start with, but avoiding the moon altogether is easy because it rises only on 03:39 am on August 13th.

This makes the hours around midnight on the evening of August 12/ the early hours of August 13th the best time to see shooting stars belonging to this meteor shower.

Perseids Trivia

The Perseids happen each year as earth passes by a trail of dust, gas and ice left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet was first documented in 1862, and returns to the sun every 130 years (the next time it will be visible from the earth will be in 2122). The earliest recorded sighting of Perseids dates back to 36 AD, when mention was made of “more than 100 meteors” in Chinese annals (source).

The Perseids are also referred to as the “tears of St. Lawrence”, because the festival of this saint is very close (August 10th) to the peak of the Perseids. The story of Laurentius (Lawrence), a Christian deacon, is the following: Laurentius was martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an iron outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out: (source)

I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other.

In honor of this history, one very appropriate midnight-snack to take out is the typically Hawaiian “Huli-Huli” (= turn-turn in Hawaiian) Chicken.

In Polynesia, Perseus was not commonly recognized as a separate constellation; the only people that named it were the people of the Society Islands, who called it Faa-iti, meaning “Little Valley” (more).

October 22: Orionids Meteor Shower #

Active: October 2–November 7; Maximum: October 22; ZHR = 20+.

The Orionids reach their maxima in 2023 around the first quarter Moon so that the morning hours with the high radiant positions remain undisturbed. This means that stargazers will need to restrict their meteor shower watching between ~midnight and an hour before sunrise.

How to best see shooting stars from the Orionids meteor shower

Shooting stars from the Orionids meteor shower are easy to find: just find the Orion constellation, look in its general direction, and relax your gaze.

To find the Orion constellation you should look for the three bright stars in a line that make up the belt of Orion. These stars rise over the Eastern horizon just after sunset and will keep rising towards the east-south-east until they are almost overhead at dawn [how-to guide].

You can read more viewing tips in our meteor shower guide.

Orionids Trivia

The Orionids are the brighter sibling of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower (early May). Both showers are caused by debris left by Halley’s comet.

Current position and orbit of Halley’s comet around our solar system. Every blue dot shows you where the comet is in that year. You can see the comet passes twice (in 1986 and 2061) close to earth, leaving enough space-debris to cause two meteor showers: the Eta Aquariids (early May) and the Orionids (late October). Image adapted from source.

Halley’s Comet is the most famous short period comet of our solar system, and returns every 75 or 76 years. The last time it flew by was in 1986, the next time will be in 2061. Right now Halley’s Comet is deep in the outer solar system (beyond Neptune!) but you will still be able to see little particles of it burn up into earths atmosphere twice a year during the Eta Aquarids and the Orionids meteor showers.

Each time it swings by the sun, solar heat vaporizes about 6(!) meters of ice and rock from the comet. The debris particles, about the size of sand grains, spread along the comet’s orbit, filling it with tiny meteoroids.

December 14: Geminids Meteor Shower#

Active: December 4–17; Maximum: December 14, 09 AM HST; ZHR = 150.

2023 is a great year to watch the Geminids meteor shower.

The best and most reliable of the major annual showers presently observable reaches its broad moon-free maximum on December 14th. The moon sets shortly after the sunset, making midnight and the early hours of December 14 (before the peak) and December 15th (after the peak) the best times to watch this meteor shower.

Skymap showing the Hilo nightsky at December 14th at 01:30 am made using the free planetarium software Stellarium

December 21: Winter solstice#

This year the winter solstice will take place on December 21st  at 5:27 PM HST (calculated for Hilo).

The winter solstice represents the shortest day and thus the longest night on the Northern hemisphere. A solstice is an event that occurs twice each year as the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. You can find a good explanation of exactly what a solstice is here.

The Hawaiian term for winter solstice is “Ka māuikiʻikiʻi o ka hoʻoilo” [source].

Resources used to compile the 2023 stargazing calendar

All dates were selected from the International Meteor Organization Shower Calendar for 2023 (PDF). Moon rise and moon set times were retrieved from the timeanddate lunar calendar.