Sync your calendar with the solar system
September 22
Autumnal equinox
The autumnal equinox is one of two points in Earth’s orbit where the sun creates equal periods of daytime and nighttime across the globe. Many mark it as the first day of the fall. See what it looks like from space here.
NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOctober 20
NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft could try to collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu
This NASA spacecraft has been orbiting an Empire State Building-sized near Earth asteroid for more than a year. It will attempt to collect a sample during a brief touch down on its surface, and eventually return it to Earth. Read about Osiris-Rex’s landing site here.
Petar Petrov/Associated PressStarting October 21
The Orionids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Oct. 21, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Orionids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesOctober 23
SpaceX could launch more astronauts to orbit in its Crew Dragon capsule
In May, SpaceX carried two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Now that those astronauts have safely returned to Earth, NASA is preparing for Crew Dragon to transport a team of four, including a Japanese astronaut, on the capsule’s second piloted trip. Read more about how NASA became SpaceX’s customer here.
James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star, via Associated PressStarting November 16
The Leonids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Nov. 16, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Leonids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Romeo Ranoco/ReutersStarting November 29
A lunar eclipse will be visible in the Americas, Australia and parts of Asia and Europe.
This will be a subtle, penumbral lunar eclipse much like the one in July, but shifted to the East. Moon gazers in the Americas and Australia can try to detect the change, as can people throughout East Asia. Read about forthcoming lunar astronomy events here.
JAXA, via Associated PressDecember 6
Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft could return a sample from the asteroid Ryugu to Earth
Throughout 2019, this Japanese probe collected multiple samples from this near Earth asteroid, including a memorable operation that blew a hole in the space rock’s surface. After returning to Earth, it will eject a sample capsule that will attempt to touch down in the Australian outback. Read more about Hayabusa2 here.
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesStarting December 13
The Geminids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Dec. 13, through the next day’s dawn, you might get your best chance to catch a glimpse of the Geminids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Toni Greaves for The New York TimesDecember 14
A total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of South America
Darkness will fall during daytime in parts of South America as the moon obscures the sun. See last year’s total solar eclipse in Chile and Argentina, here.
Ian Webster and Peter JenniskensStarting December 21
The Ursids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Dec. 21, through the next day’s dawn, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Ursids meteor shower. Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
Robert Simmon/NASADecember 21
Winter solstice
It’s the scientific start to winter in the Northern Hemisphere, when this half of the world tilts away from the sun. Read more about the solstice here.
Answers to common questions we’ve received
- Does the calendar work with Android devices?
- Yes. Use the signup at the top of this page to subscribe using your Google account. The calendar will be synced to your phone.
- Is there a webcal/iCal feed I can use to subscribe directly?
- I subscribed to the calendar on my iPhone but it isn’t showing up on my computer or tablet. How do I fix that?
- You will need to add an iCloud Calendar subscription. Use the webcal link mentioned above.
- Can I subscribe if I use Outlook?
- Yes. Using the webcal link above, you can add the calendar to Outlook.com or an Outlook desktop client.
- How do I submit feedback, or suggest another important space or astronomy event that I think you missed?
- Email us at spacecalendar@nytimes.com.
- How do I unsubscribe?
- Google Calendar: Unsubscribe using a desktop computer
iCloud: Delete the calendar from iCloud.com
iPhone/iPad: Open “Settings,” then “Accounts,” and remove the Space Calendar subscription. If you do not see any entry for Space Calendar, follow the directions for Google Calendar or iCloud.