Bring out those telescopes and gather your stargazing group as various astronomical events are happening this year. From meteor showers to eclipses, you will definitely be preoccupied. On April 8 [Monday], a total solar eclipse will be visible across the US [Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio]. Totality will last a mere four minutes, occurring between 1:40PM in Fort Worth, TX, and 3:18PM in Buffalo, NY (local time).
According to the American Meteor Society, a dozen meteor showers will make their appearance starting in May with the Eta Aquarids, Perseids in August, and Geminids in December. There will also be a potential increase in aurora sightings due to the predicted peak in solar activity and a rare display of a blue moon which usually happens when an extra full moon falls within a single season or a time between a solstice and an equinox.
To make the most of these events, try DarkSite for a light pollution map or visit these observatories: The Boeing Observatory, Midlands Astronomy Club, and Melton Observatory.