FIELD NOTES BLOG

2024 In The Sky

Emma Zimmerman
January 11, 2024

The New Year brings new opportunities to view astronomical events. From once in a lifetime comets, to dazzling meteor showers, and a total solar eclipse, you will not want to miss these astronomical events of 2024. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer, or you’re hoping to view your very first meteor shower, here is a glimpse of what you can look forward to viewing this year:

Meteor Showers/Comets:  

photo of the persieds shot by nasa on flickr

Jan. 3-4: Quadrantid meteor shower

Quadrantids are known for their short, intense peak, dazzling the skis with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak.  Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky. They are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere.

April 12, 2024: 'Devil comet' crosses the sky

While the total solar eclipse will no doubt be in the the headlines this week of April, a second, even rarer event will occur at the same time. A large comet commonly called the "devil comet" will make its closest pass by Earth in 70 years. The comet, 12P/Pons-Brooks, got its nickname because of two ice and gas formations that mimic the shape of horns. The last time 12P/Pons-Brooks was visible to us was in 1954. To increase the chances of seeing the devil comet, gaze on the part of the sky where Jupiter appears.

April 21-22: Lyrid meteor shower

The Lyrids are usually a moderate meteor shower, producing up to 20 meteors per hour at it’s peak, best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.  Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky. The full moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. 

May 6-7: Eta Aquariid meteor shower

The Eta Aquariids are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere and can be prolific, producing fast and bright meteors. The meteors will peak at 60 meteors per hour in the Southern Hemisphere, and up to 30 miles per hour in the Northern Hemisphere. The nearly new moon means dark skies for what should be an excellent show this year. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky

July 30-31: Delta Aquariid meteor shower

The Delta Aquariids can be seen best from the Southern Hemisphere, peaking at 20 meteors per hour. Their fast, faint meteors radiate from the constellation Aquarius.

Aug. 12-13: Perseid meteor shower

My personal favorite meteor shower, the Perseids are an annual shower that produces up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak. They are known for their bright meteors and fireballs, which are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. This shower can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere and  best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Oct. 7: Draconids meteor shower

The Draconids are a minor meteor shower producing about 10 meteors per hour that can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere. The Draconids are an unusual shower in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other showers.  Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Oct. 12-13: A newly discovered comet makes its closest approach to Earth

First detected by Chinese astronomers in January 2023, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comes within 44 million miles of Earth just a couple weeks after a close encounter with the sun. If the comet survives it’s proximity to the sun, scientists expect an impressive sight .

Oct. 21-22: Orionid meteor shower

The Orionids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere and are known for their fast-moving meteors associated with Halley's Comet. The shower will peak at 20 meteors per hour.  Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky

Nov. 4-5: Taurid meteor shower

The Taurids are known for their long duration and relatively low meteor rate, producing 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak. They are visible in the Southern and Northern hemispheres. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Nov. 17-18: Leonid meteor shower

The Leonids are unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen, last occurring in 2001. During an average year, the Leonids produce up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Dec. 13-14: Geminid meteor shower

The Geminids are one of the most reliable and active meteor showers of the year, producing up to 120 meteors an hour. The Geminid meteor shower is most prominent in the Northern Hemisphere, but can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere.  Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Dec. 21-22: Ursid meteor shower

The Ursids typically produce 5-10 meteors an hour originating from the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). The Ursid meteor shower is visible in the Northern Hemisphere, and best viewing is after midnight.

photo of the 2017 total solar eclipse shot by skip russel on flickr

Eclipses:

March 25: Penumbral lunar eclipse

A penumbral lunar eclipse, or partial eclipse, occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not completely. This eclipse will be visible from the Americas, western Europe and western Africa.

April 8: Total solar eclipse

Arguably the most anticipated meteorological event of the year is the total solar eclipse happening this April. The last total solar eclipse visible in the continental United States occurred in 2017 and the next one will not take place until 2045. The path of totality will begin in the Pacific Ocean and move across parts of Mexico and the eastern United States and Nova Scotia. The total eclipse will be visible in parts of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Sept. 17: Penumbral lunar eclipse

This lunar eclipse will be visible from the Americas, Europe and Africa.

where to view the total solar eclipse on april 8th in the united states

RECENT ARTICLES

By Emma Zimmerman August 26, 2025
When I started at Severson Dells nearly two years ago, I never would have believed I’d still be here today. What was supposed to be a short detour turned into one of the meaningful positions I have served. These years have flown by, and as I sit down to write this farewell, I keep circling back to my early days here. It feels important to revisit that beginning, because in so many ways, it shaped everything that followed.
By Shannon Osadjan August 26, 2025
While my time at Severson Dells is coming to an end, my time and experience as a junior naturalist is just beginning. When I accepted this job position, I was a recent college graduate who was ready to get into the environmental work force but didn’t know where to start. Here I am, a year later, and I feel ready and excited to take on whatever comes my way. Last September, when I first started working here at Severson Dells, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never been an educator before and I was nervous about my skill-set, but I pleasantly surprised myself. I found myself enjoying teaching, and the goofy experiences and questions that came with it. When I started here, my biggest goal for myself was to become better informed about the ecology of Rockford, and being more aware and able to identify what’s growing around me. A year later, I am proud of myself and how much I have learned. Because of my schooling background being in geology, I already had a familiarity with looking at the outside world in a different lens. I know how to look at the geology and the basic layout of an area to understand the depositional environment, or what the land most likely looked like back in the day. However, being at Severson Dells for the past year has shown me how to appreciate nature and the outdoors in a new way, in a biological sense. I now know how to look at the ecology of an area and see how the plants are working together, and how this compliments what the birds and the bugs are doing, and how the trees play a role too, and this cycle keeps going. I knew forests were interconnected, but I feel like I truly get it now. It’s helped me to connect the pieces of nature that I wasn’t aware of before, and put them all together now to see a new, bigger picture. Severson Dells is a place I will always hold dearly to me. The experiences I had, the challenges I overcame while being here, and the personal growth I’ve been able to experience: all of this helps shape my love for this lovely forest preserve here in Northern Illinois. I want to be sure to express my appreciation for the staff here at Severson Dells Nature Center, and the kindness they always treat everyone with. The people here are always so willing to help me with learning new skills, diving into intimidating science topics, and trying to help foster that curiosity that everyone has inside of them. As I close this chapter, I feel inspired and grateful for the connections I’ve made, and ready for what the future has in store for me.
By Sydney Sherbitsky August 26, 2025
I’m sitting at my desk listening to the distant chatter of kids outside and the excited murmuring of my coworkers. I am surrounded by tokens of memories - a sticker from the rot museum and a walnut shell owl I made with campers. On my computer screen, a half edited video about the Grove. In my desk drawer, a stack of lesson plans I once felt nervous to teach, but I now know by heart. Next is the bigfoot code from the cryptid hike, handwritten notes from my coworkers, and the spot where my notebook lives. This notebook has been with me from the start of this position and is full of the many things I have learned at Severson Dells. As my time here comes to a close, I flip back through the pages and reflect on what the past year has taught me…