The sky over Charlotte will put on a stunning show this week, featuring the last supermoon of 2024. This “Super Beaver Moon” will appear larger and brighter as it comes within 225,000 miles of Earth on Thursday night, reaching its supermoon peak phase on Friday. Stargazers can also catch a glimpse of Saturn to the left of the moon.
Additionally, the Taurid meteor shower will peak this week, with bright fireballs lighting up the sky, despite the bright moon. The Leonid meteor shower will also be active, but visibility may be reduced due to the supermoon’s glow. The best time to catch the Taurid fireballs is around midnight.
This week also offers a unique opportunity to observe Uranus, which will be visible for those using telescopes under dark skies as it reaches its annual opposition.
Sky-Watching Highlights This Week:
- Supermoon: Final supermoon of 2024 visible Thursday, peaking Friday.
- Northern Taurid Meteor Shower: Expect bright fireballs, peaking around midnight tonight.
- Leonid Meteor Shower: Active but harder to see due to the supermoon.
- Uranus Viewing: Best chance to see it using a telescope under dark skies.
Don’t miss the chance to catch these celestial events illuminating Charlotte’s skies before the year ends.
