Mankind has long turned to the stars to tell stories, seek meaning and find answers.
The sky is full of wonder, and every day, there is something beautiful to see. CNN invites you to watch the skies with us and share your best photos and videos of the most interesting space events that are happening just overhead.
March 8 and 9, 2016
Total solar eclipse
The sky will start to go dark around 6:20 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, in affected areas (5:20 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 8) as the moon will eclipse the sun. People in parts of Southeast Asia will be treated to this celestial event. Total darkness, also known as totality, will last one to four minutes, depending on your location.
Those in parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the middle of the Pacific Ocean will be able to view the total solar eclipse, which happens only once a year because the sun and moon do not orbit on the same plane. For those who are lucky enough to view the total solar eclipse, Sarah Jaeggli, a space scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, shared some insight on what to expect. “You notice something off about the sunlight. … Your surroundings take on a twilight cast, even though it’s daytime and the sky is still blue.”
A partial eclipse will be visible in parts of Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Australia. For those who are able to view the eclipse, it’s important to use protective eyewear.
March 8, 2016
Jupiter at opposition
The largest planet in our solar system will dominate the evening sky throughout March. On Tuesday, the gas planet was closest to Earth and was expected to shine brightly as it rose at sunset and set at dawn.
March 22, 2016
Atlas V launch
The Atlas V launch of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo craft will take place at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. There will be a 30-minute window for the rocket to launch.
April 22, 2016
Lyrids meteor shower
The Lyrids meteor shower will light up the sky with 10 to 20 meteors per hour in April, peaking near the end of the month. This meteor shower typically leaves glowing dust trains, or streaks across Earth’s atmosphere that last for several minutes before disappearing into the sky.
The best place to see this event is in the Northern Hemisphere, away from cities that cause light pollution. The Lyrids have been observed for about 2,700 years, making it one of the oldest meteor showers to be seen by man.
May 4 through 6, 2016
Eta Aquarids meteor shower
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak on May 5, during the daylight hours in the United States. However, there will still be opportunities to watch the speedy meteors during the early morning hours of April 4-6 in the northern and southern hemispheres.
These meteors are known to travel about 148,000 mph into Earth’s atmosphere. The fast Eta Aquarids meteors also can leave trains.
June 20, 2016
Summer solstice
The Northern Hemisphere will experience the longest day of the year, marking the beginning of summer, on June 20. The sun will reach its most northerly point on that date, directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. Some cultures celebrate the occasion by hosting bonfires, holding outdoor picnics or visiting places like Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.
August 12, 2016
Perseid meteor shower
The annual Perseids, known for being one of the brightest meteor showers, will happen toward the end of summer and will be visible throughout the Northern Hemisphere. From late July through much of August, stargazers will see the brightest meteors before dawn. But the best meteor watching will happen from midnight to dawn on August 12, with 100 meteors expected to visible per hour.
Share your photos and videos with CNN by visiting iReport, or post on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #CNNSpace.
If you have a space event that you think CNN should keep an eye out for, tell us!