As 2013 draws to a close, astronomers and amateur stargazing fanatics should take a moment to mark their 2014 calendars with reminders of several celestial events that will light up the sky in the coming new year.

Here is a round-up of the most noteworthy sky dazzlers, including meteor showers, two total lunar eclipses, a near collision of a comet with Mars, and more:

January: Of note in January 2014 will be the Quadrantid Meteor Shower. The shower will be visible from Jan. 1 through Jan. 5, though it will peak overnight on Jan. 2 and into the early hours of Jan.3 with around 40 sightings per hour. According to iflscience.com, the meteors in this shower should be easy to view because the moon will not be present to wash them out.

December: The Geminid Meteor Shower, another favorite among stargazers, many of whom say it is the best meteor shower of the year, will run from Dec. 7 through Dec. 17. The Geminids will peak overnight on the 13th, with up to 120 sightings per hour. To add to the fanfare, the meteors in this year's Geminid show will appear multi-colored. Unfortunately, the light from the moon will wash out much of the highly anticipated astral performance.

---

For the latest news & updates, follow Bary Alyssa Johnson on Twitter: @MissBary