Everyone always gushes about Hilton Head Island’s natural beauty—and we don’t disagree, they have a reason to gush! There’s a very noticeable lack of neon signs, billboards, and really anything that’s designed to stick out, for that matter. Throughout your day, you’ll only see greenery, beautiful beaches, and architectural styles that blend in with the landscape on purpose.
But at night, that’s when the feeling-like-you’re-in-the-middle-of-nowhere bliss sets in. And that feeling is totally delightful for those visiting from big cities. Maybe it’s the main reason the trip was booked! That means when you look up on a clear night, the dazzling night sky will most likely catch you off guard, and make you wonder, “When was the last time I saw this many stars?”
This spring, the night sky is going to be full of amazing stargazing, meteor showers, and more! Here is a list of what to look out for:
March Equinox
March 20th
Spring has finally arrived! Regardless of what old, Punxsutawney Phil says back in February, March 20th marks the official first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. For many of you, Spring Break has already arrived or is just around the corner, so we’ll see you on the island very soon!
Full Pink Moon
April 2nd
This April, we’ll be able to see a beautiful full moon that’s nicknamed after early spring flowers called ground phlox–specifically the pink kind! The bad news? The moon won’t actually turn pink.
Learn about this full moon’s other nicknames on the Farmer’s Almanac website.
Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
April 3rd
Want to spot Mercury? If you didn’t get the chance in February, here’s another shot to spot Mercury as the planet will be at the furthest away from the sun. Mercury is the smallest and closest planet to the Sun, and normally that makes it a challenge for us to see it. In this case, it being “West” means you can see it during the morning hours. Look up around 30-45 minutes before sunrise.
Lyrid Meteor Shower
April 22nd & 23rd
This meteor shower will actually last from April 14th to the 30th, but the peak is considered to be the night of April 22nd and early morning of the 23rd, where you might be able to see around 18 meteors an hour! Set your alarms for early Wednesday morning to see some dazzling shooting stars falling from the Lyra constellation. Sounds like a great start to Earth Day, to us!
Full Flower Moon
May 1st
May’s full moon is often called the Flower Moon. As you might have guessed, it’s name stems from all of the beautiful flowers that have bloomed during this time period. Other nicknames of this moon are the Budding Moon, Planting Moon, and even the Moon of Shedding Ponies. The Farmer’s Almanac will give you a full explanation of these names of this specific full moon.
Eta Aquarid Meteors
May 5th & 6th
This meteor shower actually lasts from April 19th until May 28th, but if you’re trying to see some shooting stars, look up towards the constellation Aquarius between May 5th and 6th. This meteor shower is projected to have up to 50 meteors per hour, and is actually one of two that stems from Comet Halley’s debris.
Micro Blue Moon
May 31st
As per its saying, Blue Moons are rare–but they’re expected during some years, so they’re not that rare. Referring to its timing insomuch as its actual color, this year’s Blue Moon is a Seasonal Blue Moon (meaning the third full moon of the year with thirteen full moons) and it’s also a Micro Moon (when it’s near its farthest point from Earth). So, one could argue that because of these two things, May’s Blue Moon is a little bit more rare than usual, right?
