What to look for in the Queensland night sky in 2023

If you’re an amateur astronomer living in Queensland, there are many exciting things to look out for in the night sky in 2023. Here are a few highlights to add to your observing calendar:

  1. The Quadrantid meteor shower. This annual meteor shower typically peaks in early January, and can produce up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak. The best time to view the Quadrantids is in the early morning hours, when the sky is darkest.
  2. The Venus-Jupiter conjunction. In late January, Venus and Jupiter will appear to be very close together in the night sky. This rare event, known as a conjunction, will be visible to the naked eye, and will be an impressive sight for amateur astronomers.
  3. The Perseid meteor shower. One of the most active and reliable meteor showers of the year, the Perseids typically peak in mid-August, and can produce up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak. The best time to view the Perseids is after midnight, when the sky is darkest.
  4. The Orionid meteor shower. This annual meteor shower, which occurs when the Earth passes through debris from Halley’s Comet, typically peaks in late October. The Orionids can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at their peak, and are best viewed in the early morning hours.

With these exciting celestial events on the horizon, 2023 is shaping up to be a great year for amateur astronomers in Queensland. If you want to learn more, the Astronomical Association of Queensland is a great place to start. Happy observing!