Astronomical Events!

[Crazybob]

I wanted to start this thread for everyone who is even mildly interested in the goings on around us in the Universe. I wanted to post this in the Astronomy section, but since it was under Project Discussion, I decided to go ahead and put it here.

First of all, if you are going to be outside tonight doing anything, the Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower reaches its peak. Although it's a pretty weak shower with around 10-20 meteors an hour, viewing should be good with a moonless night. Look to the Southeast after dark, but the best viewing will be when the radiant, Aquarius rises higher towards the early hours of Saturday morning. Also, the best shower of the year has begun. Rates right now are very weak with only a couple an hour. These should seem to come from the Northeast. Remember, you don't have to be looking in the exact direction to see meteors. I will post updates to the Persied Shower as the peak gets closer on the 12th and 13th of August. They can be in any part of the sky, but their track will lead back to the radiant. Clear Skies and good luck.

http://www.astronomy.com/~/media/Images/News%20and%20Observing/Sky%20this%20Month/2011/07/Delta-Aquarid-meteors.ashx?bc=ffffff&mw=200

If you have any news, please post it to this thread so we can all enjoy it!:D

[YoDude9999]

Sweet! I'll be watching!

[Fire$torm]

Sweet! I'll be watching!

+1 :-bd

[Crazybob]

Went out Friday night for about a half hour. Whether was great and surprisingly the bugs weren't bad. Saw 1 from each shower, so not a bust.

[Crazybob]

Heads up for Friday the 5th. Sun Spot 1261 has released 3 M class solar flares. The latest being an M9.3 almost into the X range. The latest CME is earth bound and should actually engulf the first 2 CME's before it's arrival. It should hit earth sometime tomorrow and create the possibility of Northern Lights. Keep your fingers crossed and you eyes on this.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SWN/sw_dials.gif

Hopefully it will update itself everytime someone opens the thread. The BZ component needs to be as far South as possible and the higher the speed and pressure of the solar wind is the better.

[Crazybob]

Say Hello to Vesta.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=104094441

[Crazybob]

As you can see above, it looks like the CME has impacted us. Magnetic field is tipped slightly South and Solar wind speed and pressure is up significantly. Now if it will last into the night, we might see some lights!

[Crazybob]

Update on the perseid meteor shower. Was able to go out for a little while over the weekend. Mosquitos were nasty, so we didn't stay out long. We did see 2 pretty decent meteors in about 20 minutes, so all in all not too bad. Remember, Thursday through probably Saturday are going to be the best night, weather permitting. Set up some chairs with the family and watch the show.

This morning, sunspot 1263 burped and belched out an X7 solar flare. It also through out a Coronal Mass Ejection, but fortunately, or unfortunately, it was not Earth directed. We might get a glancing blow though.
http://spaceweather.com/images2011/09aug11/x7_strip.jpg
http://spaceweather.com/images2011/09aug11/cme_c3.gif

[Crazybob]

Sunspot 1283 erupted twice in the last day with an M class flare and an X class flare. It is directly pointed at Earth, so the chances for Northern Lights goes way up. Impact should happen sometime on the 8th, to the 10th depending on the speed of the cloud. If I see any new updates, I'll post them here.

http://www.spaceweather.com/images2011/06sep11/x2flash.mov

[Crazybob]

Shock waves from the recent eruptions by sunspot 1283 have impacted Earth and are causing a geomagnetic storm. Electrical currents have already been detected by ground instruments in Norway. Be on the look out for Northern Lights tonight as more shock waves are expected to impact Earth.

Of course it's cloudy by me. :(

[Crazybob]

Looks like Northern latitudes that are in the dark right now are having a pretty good show.

http://www.spaceweather.com/POES_PICS/poes_latest240_northamerica.gif

[Crazybob]

There is a meteor shower comming up, that usually I wouldn't even mention. The Draconids peak on Saturday. This shower usually throws 5-10 meteors an hour at it's peak. This year however, scientists think it might put on a great show. Good news is that it could be possibly 600 an hour, but the bad news is the peak favors Europe and not North America. The peak should come somewhere around 4PM Eastern time and only last a few hours. Some scientists are so sure of a good show, they are going to launch 2 planes to fly above Scandanavia with as many cameras as possible to record and track meteors to verify their origin and chemical make-up. There has also been talk of observing the dark side of the moon for impacts. Might be worth a shot, specially if they are off on their predictions by a couple of hours. The radiant for this show is the peak of a triangle formed by the last star in the handle of the big dipper, the North Star, going NorthEast and Northwest. Have fun and clear skies!
http://meteorshowersonline.com/showers/images/draconids.jpg

[trigggl]

There is a meteor shower comming up, that usually I wouldn't even mention. The Draconids peak on Saturday. This shower usually throws 5-10 meteors an hour at it's peak. This year however, scientists think it might put on a great show. Good news is that it could be possibly 600 an hour, but the bad news is the peak favors Europe and not North America. The peak should come somewhere around 4PM Eastern time and only last a few hours. Some scientists are so sure of a good show, they are going to launch 2 planes to fly above Scandanavia with as many cameras as possible to record and track meteors to verify their origin and chemical make-up. There has also been talk of observing the dark side of the moon for impacts. Might be worth a shot, specially if they are off on their predictions by a couple of hours. The radiant for this show is the peak of a triangle formed by the last star in the handle of the big dipper, the North Star, going NorthEast and Northwest. Have fun and clear skies!

Here's a Sky & Telescope article (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/131303399.html) about it.

The airplanes they are using are Falcon 20's. Obviously I'm a Falcon fanboy since I work there.


Still, Jenniskens encourages you to look anyway during the day on Saturday. "Use binoculars looking 10° to 40° elevation away from the Sun (toward north) to spot bright Draconids from 19h to 21h UT," he suggests. "In the hours after the shower, telescopic observers might find it interesting to watch for possible lunar impacts in the sliver of darkness on the Moon near the north pole." (Make sure you identify which pole is which in your eyepiece.)

[Cappy]

sucks we wont be able to veiw it ,,, grrrrrrrrrr my son and i love this shit :)

[Beerdrinker]

sucks we wont be able to veiw it ,,, grrrrrrrrrr my son and i love this shit :)

We also really looked forward to this spectacular show...But at the time of the event (which has already accoured here in DK) the sky got overclouded....DAMN! Coulden´t see a thing!!

[trigggl]

We also really looked forward to this spectacular show...But at the time of the event (which has already accoured here in DK) the sky got overclouded....DAMN! Coulden´t see a thing!!

It's not supposed to be until 19-21 hr UTC. It's only 17:30.

[Fire$torm]

Crud, especially since MI had perfectly clear skies the last several nights. Thats what I get for overlooking this thread. My bad... :(

[Crazybob]

A second chance for everyone who missed the last shower. Halley's Comet makes an appearance tonight! Or at least parts of it. The annual Orionid Meteor shower will peak tonight into tommorow morning. Onlookers can expect between 20-30 meteors an hour at the peak. A crescent moon will be a little bit of an annoyance, but not that big of a deal. Of course, as with most meteor showers, it is best after midnight into the dawn as the planet plows into the meteor stream. These are fast meteors at 148,000 MPH, the leave a quick bright streak. Look towards the SouthEast as the constellation of Orion rises. The further up in the sky it gets, the more meteors you can see.

Good Luck and Clear Skies!:o

http://www.astronomy.com/~/media/Images/News%20and%20Observing/Sky%20this%20Month/2011/10/Orionid-meteor-shower%20finder%20chart.ashx?la=en&mw=900&mh=650

[trigggl]

A second chance for everyone who missed the last shower. Halley's Comet makes an appearance tonight! Or at least parts of it. The annual Orionid Meteor shower will peak tonight into tommorow morning. Onlookers can expect between 20-30 meteors an hour at the peak. A crescent moon will be a little bit of an annoyance, but not that big of a deal. Of course, as with most meteor showers, it is best after midnight into the dawn as the planet plows into the meteor stream. These are fast meteors at 148,000 MPH, the leave a quick bright streak. Look towards the SouthEast as the constellation of Orion rises. The further up in the sky it gets, the more meteors you can see.

Well, that sucks. I didn't see this post until just now.

[Crazybob]

Should have posted this earlier, but just found out myself. The Leonid meteor shower peaks tomorrow night, but there is a chance in about an hour or 2 to catch a brief outburst of meteors. If it's dark enough in your area, look to the east. Might be a show. If not, there is always tomorrow night.;)

[Crazybob]

Comet survives close encounter with the sun. Should have vaporized, but didn't. Might even make for some sky watching. Interesting videos at this site.

http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/index.php?p=news/birthday_comet

[Crazybob]

For all of you in the Southern Hemishere, If you get out looking for Santa before sunrise, make sure to take a look at this!

http://spaceweather.com/submissions/pics/s/Scott-Alder-lovejoycomet_1324729062_med.jpg

There is also a video taken by the ISS crew. You can see thunderstorms popping below as they come up on the comet before sunrise.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=125774121

[Crazybob]

If you want to brave the cold tonight, the Quadrantid meteor shower will be peeking at about 2:20 AM Eastern time. The further west you are, the earlier you can see the peek. The radiant for this shower is very near the North Star, but meteors can be seen in any part of the sky. Good Luck!

[Crazybob]

Update: Observers from Europe to the US reported up to 70 meteors an hour with last nights shower. Of course for me, the clouds rolled in right after sunset and moved out right before sunrise. :(

[Crazybob]

A large solar flare erupted on the Sun the other day hurling a large CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) towards Earth and Mars. This wave of charged plasma struck the Earth at about 10:30 AM Central time this morning. It has already sparked Auroras in Europe and could have the potential to create great displays for the US if it holds together long enough. Make sure to take a look at the sky tonight if it's clear near you!
http://www.spaceweather.com/images2012/24jan12/postimpact1_strip.jpg

[Crazybob]

The strange crap that happens while your getting a ticket in texas.

http://www.spaceweather.com/images2012/02feb12/dashcam.mov?PHPSESSID=8f8hea6n0d4s5c1flk87pfics5

A very nice sized fireball was caught on this dash camera.

[Crazybob]

Got a decent telescope, clear skies and can actually find crap by the coordinates? Then tonight might be the night for you. Comet Garradd is approaching the globular cluster, M92 in Hercules. Should make for a good view and pictures.

http://www.spaceweather.com/images2012/01feb12/rolando-ligustri1_strip.jpghttp://media.skyandtelescope.com/images/CC_garradd_Oct_Jan.jpg

[Crazybob]

The Lyrid meteor shower will peak this weekend on the night of the 21st, through the 22nd. There should be no lunar interference. Set yourself up watching towards the Northeast. Lyra should rise soon after sun down. It will slowly rise through the night and be straight above at sunrise. Lyra is a small constellation shaped mainly by 4 stars in the shape of a lyre. With a good telescope, you can see a planetary nebula between the stars. Good luck!

[Mumps]

It's raining here. :(

But, there's one heck of a pretty aura around all the clouds this evening. :)

[Crazybob]

Not doing anything in the we hours of the morning? Well, there's another meteor shower for you if you happen to be awake. Here are the details.

http://www.astronomy.com/News-Observing/News/2012/05/Mays%20first%20meteor%20shower%20battles%20a%20Ful l%20Moon.aspx?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ASY_NonSub_news_120504_final&utm_content=

[Crazybob]

If you haven't heard it by now, Today starting at 5:04 P.M. CDT, lasting for 6 hours and 40 minutes, Venus will be making a transit of the Sun. This will not happen again for 105 years, so if your young enough and eat your vegies, you can blow this one off and wait for the next. DO NOT!, under any circumstances, look directly at the Sun. This could cause permanent eye damage. Use a filter, or a welders mask, or make a pinhole projector to see the hole in the Sun, as it is called. There is also what they call the tear drop effect, when the planet reaches either edge of the Sun. Good luck and clear skies!

[trigggl]

If you haven't heard it by now, Today starting at 5:04 P.M. CDT, lasting for 6 hours and 40 minutes, Venus will be making a transit of the Sun. This will not happen again for 105 years, so if your young enough and eat your vegies, you can blow this one off and wait for the next. DO NOT!, under any circumstances, look directly at the Sun. This could cause permanent eye damage. Use a filter, or a welders mask, or make a pinhole projector to see the hole in the Sun, as it is called. There is also what they call the tear drop effect, when the planet reaches either edge of the Sun. Good luck and clear skies!

Seen it and showed it to the wife. I could barely see it, but she could see it pretty well. I bought some solar shades for the occasion. :-B

The sky cleared up nicely for us to view it.

[Crazybob]

Watched the first part of it on live feed from Hawaii. Then using a couple pairs of sunglasses with a cheap welders goggles we were able to see it without damaging our eyes. Looked pretty cool.:cool:

[Duke of Buckingham]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/120607-coslog-venus-715p.photoblog900.jpg
Thierry Legault / Astrophoto.fr
French astrophotographer Thierry Legault captured this view of the Hubble Space Telescope passing over the sun's disk during this week's transit of Venus. The circles highlight the Hubble on multiple exposures taken every tenth of a second during the telescope's 0.9-second transit.

By Alan Boyle
Over the past few days, we've seen lots of amazing photos showing Venus' last-in-a-lifetime crossing of the sun, but this shot of the Hubble Space Telescope zooming past Venus may be the only picture of its kind.

It's actually a combination of photographs, snapped every tenth of a second by master astrophotographer Thierry Legault. Nine speck-sized images of Hubble are highlighted with circles in the image. Legault, who is famed for his pictures of spacecraft transits across the sun, traveled from his home base in France to northern Australia for the shot.
Advertise | AdChoices

After conducting the calculations with CalSky software, Legault made sure he was in Queensland at 01:42:25 UTC June 6, pointing his Takahashi FSQ-106ED telescope at the sun with the proper filters attached. "Thanks to the continuous shooting mode of the Nikon D4 DSLR running at 10 fps [frames per second], nine images of the HST were recorded during its 0.9s transit (1/8000s, 100 iso, raw mode). Turbulence was moderate to high," Legault reported on his website.

You read that right: While it took Venus more than six hours to inch its way in front of the solar disk, the Hubble Space Telescope zipped across in just nine-tenths of a second. Imagine how disappointing it would have been to have a cloud in the way at that moment!

Legault is promising more pictures of Venus, taken during the transit and afterward. But it'll be hard to match this one. The next transit of Venus won't occur until the year 2117, and even though Hubble has long outlasted its projected lifetime, the space telescope will surely be sent down to its fiery doom by then. So chances are this is the only picture that will ever be taken of Hubble and Venus simultaneously silhouetted by the sun.

By the way, Hubble was conducting its own transit tasks during Venus' crossing. Hubble focused on the moon and analyzed the reflected sunlight to find out how easy it will be for future telescopes to pick out the spectral signature of Earthlike planets passing over alien suns. Stay tuned for more about the results of that experiment.

Where in the Cosmos
This picture served as today's photo puzzle for our "Where in the Cosmos" contest, open to Cosmic Log Facebook followers. It took just a couple of minutes for Ollie Nanyes to tell me what those little specks represented. For being so quick on the draw, I'm sending Nanyes a pair of 3-D glasses donated by Microsoft Research's WorldWide Telescope project. Kent Avery, the runner-up in the guessing game, is getting 3-D specs as well. (Microsoft is a partner along with NBC Universal in the msnbc.com joint venture.)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VkvaOvI_gNY

Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.

[Crazybob]

X-Flare: Big sunspot AR1520 unleashed an X1.4-class solar flare on July 12th. Because the sunspot is directly facing Earth, everything about the blast was geoeffective. For one thing, it hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) directly toward our planet. According to a forecast track prepared by analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, the CME will hit Earth on July 14th around 10:20 UT (+/- 7 hours) and could spark strong geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras this weekend.

Curtesy of Spaceweather.COM

I would wish for you to have clear skies, but with the lack of moisture, I would rather get some rain.:)

[Fire$torm]

X-Flare: Big sunspot AR1520 unleashed an X1.4-class solar flare on July 12th. Because the sunspot is directly facing Earth, everything about the blast was geoeffective. For one thing, it hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) directly toward our planet. According to a forecast track prepared by analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, the CME will hit Earth on July 14th around 10:20 UT (+/- 7 hours) and could spark strong geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras this weekend.

Curtesy of Spaceweather.COM

I would wish for you to have clear skies, but with the lack of moisture, I would rather get some rain.:)

Yeah I heard about this today. They say my part of Michigan is good for sky watching. And for the record... Rain? We don't need no stinking rain! says the Fire$torm. >:)

[Crazybob]

What part of Michigan you in. Couldn't find Dead Broke on the map.=)) I used to have a good place to go West of here about 70 miles, but they sold it and now when the Perseids come around in August I have limited good sky locations. I have a Niece about 100 miles Southwest and a friend about 60 miles West, but both live inside of their towns. Their light pollution isn't too bad, but trying to watch anything from my house is almost impossible. Have a park 2 blocks away that leave the big lights for the ball diamond on until about 11:30 P.M. Getting harder and harder to find a good dark spot.

Looks like I'm gonna get clouds for the night, but probably no rain. We had 1 rain storm since June 1st. It knocked down probably 5,000 trees in the area and gave about 3-4 inches of rain which ran down the sewers. 90 mile an hour wind was clocked about 3-4 miles from me. Now the ground is cracked, lawn dead and piles of brush everywhere. Got some firewood though.:) They even cancelled all 4th of July festivities due to the dry conditions.:mad:

[Fire$torm]

Wow, that doesn't sound good...

For this area, NW of Detroit, there has been sporadic ran, about once a week, that lasts about 20 minutes and then an hour later everything is dry. It's a little dusty and most lawns are a faded brown. But the trees are still growing, along with the weeds as we have a fairly high water table. On the bright side no lawn mowing needs to be done. :) The forecast has tonight being the only cloud free one for the next 4~5 days :(

[Crazybob]

Well I didn't see anything from my location, however, there were reports of sightings as far south as Saint Louis. Just my luck I guess. Will have to wait for next time.

Update: I got that wrong. Ozark Arkansas......
http://spaceweather.com/submissions/pics/b/Brian-Emfinger-07151202_1342362853_med.jpg

[Crazybob]

It's that time of year again. The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the nights of Sat-Sun, and Sun-Mon. This is one of the best showers of the year, mainly bacause the whether is usually warm and the rates can be up near 100 an hour. The shower started on July 25th and has been gaining in intensity since then. You can go out tonight if you want, but the rates will be lower, but your chances are still good. The radiant for this shower id the constellation of Perseus, which rises in the Northeast and is in rising near it's zenith near dawn. You can still see meteors as soon as it gets dark, but you will see more the closer to dawn you get. Meteors can be seen in just about any part of the sjy you look at, but more towards the Northeast. The moon doesn't rise until later, so thee shouldn't be much interference and much less over the weekend.

Cleear Skies!

[Crazybob]

Was out last night for about 3 hours. Pesky clouds and light pollution kept us from seeing alot, but we did manage to see 24 shooting stars. 3 of which were real bright with smoke trails hanging around for at least half a minute. All in all, pretty good. Looks like tonight we will be in the clouds and I don't feel like trying to drive out from under them. Will try again tomorrow.

[Duke of Buckingham]

Astronomical events for 2012



January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower. The Quadrantids are an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on January 3 & 4, but some meteors can be visible from January 1 - 5. The near first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Bootes.

January 9 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 07:30 UTC.

January 23 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 07:39 UTC.

February 7 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 21:54 UTC.

February 20 - March 12 - Best Chance to see Mercury. The planet Mercury will be far enough from the Sun's glare to be visible shortly after sunset. Mercury will reach greatest elongation from the Sun on March 5, reaching a relatively bright magnitude of about -1. This will be your best chance to see the planet this year.

February 21 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 22:35 UTC.

March 3 - Mars at Opposition. The red planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars.

March 8 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 09:39 UTC.

March 14 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. The two brightest planets in the sky will be within 3 degrees of each other in the evening sky. On March 25 and 25, the crescent Moon will be near the two planets, creating a dazzling evening spectacle.

March 20 - March Equinox. The March equinox occurs at 05:14 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the southern hemisphere.

March 22 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 14:37 UTC.

April 6 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 19:19 UTC.

April 15 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons.

April 21 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 07:18 UTC.

April 21, 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids are an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. These meteors can produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The shower usually peaks on April 21 & 22, although some meteors can be visible from April 16 - 25. With no moon to get in the way this year, this really should be a good show. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation of Lyra after midnight.

April 28 - Astronomy Day Part 1. Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," and on this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and other organizations around the world will plan special events. You can find out about special local events by contacting your local astronomy club or planetarium. You can also find more about Astronomy Day by checking the Web site for the Astronomical League.

May 5, 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids are a light shower, usually producing about 10 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on May 5 & 6, however viewing should be good on any morning from May 4 - 7. The full moon will probably ruin the show this year, washing out all but the brightest meteors with its glare. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight, far from city lights.

May 6 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 03:35 UTC. The Moon will be at its closest point to the Earth, so this will be the largest full moon of the year.

May 20 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 23:47 UTC.

May 20 - Annular Solar Eclipse. The path of annularity will begin in southern China and move east through Japan, the northern Pacific Ocean, and into the western United States. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout parts of eastern Asia and most of North America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

June 4 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 11:12 UTC.

June 4 - Partial Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Americas. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

June 5, 6 - Transit of Venus Across the Sun. This extremely rare event will be entirely visible throughout most of eastern Asia, eastern Australia, and Alaska. A partial transit can be seen in progress at sunrise throughout Europe, western Asia, and eastern Africa. A partial transit can be seen in progress at sunset throughout most of North America, Central America, and western South America. The next transit will not take place until the year 2117. (NASA Transit Information | NASA Transit Map)

June 19 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 15:02 UTC.

June 20 - June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 23:09 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the southern hemisphere.

July 3 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 18:52 UTC.

July 19 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 04:24 UTC.

July 28, 29 - Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids can produce about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on July 28 & 29, but some meteors can also be seen from July 18 - August 18. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. The near first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight.

August 2 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 03:27 UTC.

August 6 - Curiosity Rover at Mars. NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is scheduled to land on the red planet between August 6 and August 20, 2012. Officially named Curiosity, it is an autonomous rover similar to the Spirit and Opportunity rovers that previously visited Mars. This much larger rover will carry many more instruments and experiments than its previous cousins. Curiosity’s high definition color cameras will photograph the Martian surface while a host of instruments will sample the soil and air and search for organic compounds.

August 11, 12 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on August 11 & 12, but you may be able to see some meteors any time from July 23 - August 22. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. The near last quarter moon will be hanging around for the show, but shouldn’t be too much of a problem for a shower with up to 60 meteors per hour. Find a location far from city lights and look to the northeast after midnight.

August 17 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 15:54 UTC.

August 24 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view Neptune. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

August 31 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 13:58 UTC. Since this is the second full moon in the same month, it is known as a blue moon. This rare calendar event only happens once every few years, giving rise to the term, “once in a blue moon.”

September 16 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 02:11 UTC.

September 22 - September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 14:49 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the southern hemisphere.

September 29 - Uranus at Opposition. The blue-green planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

September 30 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 03:19 UTC.

October 15 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 12:02 UTC.

October 20 - Astronomy Day Part 2. Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," and on this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and other organizations around the world will plan special events. You can find out about special local events by contacting your local astronomy club or planetarium. You can also find more about Astronomy Day by checking the Web site for the Astronomical League.

October 20, 21 - Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. This shower usually peaks on the 21st, but it is highly irregular. A good show could be experienced on any morning from October 20 - 24, and some meteors may be seen any time from October 17 - 25. The first quarter moon will set by midnight, leaving a dark sky for what should be a good show. Best viewing will be to the east after midnight. Be sure to find a dark location far from city lights.

October 29 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 19:49 UTC.

November 13 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 22:08 UTC.

November 13 - Total Solar Eclipse. The path of totality will only be visible in parts of extreme northern Australia and the southern Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse will be visible in most parts of eastern Australia and New Zealand.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is one of the better meteor showers to observe, producing an average of 40 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year every 33 years where hundreds of meteors can be seen each hour. The last of these occurred in 2001. The shower usually peaks on November 17 & 18, but you may see some meteors from November 13 - 20. The crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Look for the shower radiating from the constellation Leo after midnight, and be sure to find a dark location for viewing.

November 27 - Conjunction of Venus and Saturn. These two bright planets will be within 1 degree of each other in the morning sky. Look to the east around sunrise.

November 28 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 14:46 UTC.

November 28 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of Europe, eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and North America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

December 3 - Jupiter at Opposition. The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons.

December 13 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 08:42 UTC.

December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. Considered by many to be the best meteor shower in the heavens, the Geminids are known for producing up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. The peak of the shower usually occurs around December 13 & 14, although some meteors should be visible from December 6 - 19. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Gemini. This year the new moon will guarantee a dark sky for what should be an awesome show. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight from a dark location.

December 21 - December Solstice. The December solstice occurs at 11:12 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the southern hemisphere.

December 28 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 10:21 UTC.

[Crazybob]

Orionid Meteor Shower will be peaking soon. It is expected to peak somewhere in the early hours of Sunday, but can be seen tonight and up to the 24th. Although better viewing early in the morning, they can be seen anytime after dark looking towards the Southeast. As in the name, the meteors will seem to originate from the constellation Orion. It will be overhead at about 4:20 in the morning. Looks like I will be clouded in again for this one, but hopefully tomorrow it will clear out.

[Duke of Buckingham]

Location of the Orionids
For Northern Hemisphere Observers
http://meteorshowersonline.com/images/orionidsnorth.jpg

Location of the Orionids
For Southern Hemisphere Observers
http://meteorshowersonline.com/images/orionidssouth.jpg

[Duke of Buckingham]

Here are the Astronomical Events for 2013

January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower. The Quadrantids are an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on January 3 & 4, but some meteors can be visible from January 1 - 5. The near last quarter moon will hide many of the fainter meteors with its glare. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Bootes.

January 11 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 19:44 UTC.

January 27 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 04:38 UTC.

February 10 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 07:20 UTC.

February 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 20:26 UTC.

March 11 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 19:51 UTC.

March 20 - March Equinox. The March equinox occurs at 11:02 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the southern hemisphere.

March 27 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 09:27 UTC.

April 10 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 09:35 UTC.

April 20 - Astronomy Day Part 1. Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," and on this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and other organizations around the world will plan special events. You can find out about special local events by contacting your local astronomy club or planetarium. You can also find more about Astronomy Day by checking the Web site for the Astronomical League.

April 21, 22 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids are an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. These meteors can produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The shower usually peaks on April 21 & 22, although some meteors can be visible from April 16 - 25. The gibbous moon could be a problem this year, hiding many of the fainter meteors in its glare. It will set before sunrise, providing a short window of dark skies. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation of Lyra after midnight.

April 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 19:57 UTC.

April 25 - Partial Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

April 28 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons.

May 5, 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids are a light shower, usually producing about 10 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on May 5 & 6, however viewing should be good on any morning from May 4 - 7. The crescent moon will hang around for the show, but should not cause too many problems. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight, far from city lights.

May 10 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 00:28 UTC.

May 10 - Annular Solar Eclipse. The path of annularity will begin in western Australia and move east across the central Pacific Ocean. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

May 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 04:25 UTC.

May 28 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. The two bright planets will be within 1 degree of each other in the evening sky. The planet Mercury will also will also be visible nearby. Look to the west near sunset.

May 25 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of North America, South America, western Europe, and western Africa. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

June 8 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 15:56 UTC.

June 21 - June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 05:04 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the southern hemisphere.

June 8 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 15:56 UTC.

June 23 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 11:32 UTC.

July 8 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 07:14 UTC.

July 22 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 18:15 UTC.

July 28, 29 - Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids can produce about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on July 28 & 29, but some meteors can also be seen from July 18 - August 18. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. The last quarter moon will be around for the show and may hide some of the fainter meteors. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight.

August 6 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 21:51 UTC.

August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on August 13 & 14, but you may be able to see some meteors any time from July 23 - August 22. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. The near first quarter moon will set before midnight, leaving optimal conditions and dark skies for what should be an awesome show. Find a location far from city lights and look to the northeast after midnight.

August 21 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 01:45 UTC.

August 27 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view Neptune. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

September 5 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 11:36 UTC.

September 19 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 11:13 UTC.

September 22 - September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 20:44 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the southern hemisphere.

October 3 - Uranus at Opposition. The blue-green planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

October 12 - Astronomy Day Part 2. Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," and on this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and other organizations around the world will plan special events. You can find out about special local events by contacting your local astronomy club or planetarium. You can also find more about Astronomy Day by checking the Web site for the Astronomical League.

October 5 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 00:34 UTC.

October 18 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 23:38 UTC.

October 18 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of the world except for Australia and extreme eastern Siberia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. This shower usually peaks on the 21st, but it is highly irregular. A good show could be experienced on any morning from October 20 - 24, and some meteors may be seen any time from October 17 - 25. The gibbous moon will be a problem this year, hiding all but the brightest meteors with its glare. Best viewing will be to the east after midnight. Be sure to find a dark location far from city lights.

November 3 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 12:50 UTC.

November 3 - Hybrid Solar Eclipse. The eclipse path will begin in the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern coast of the United States and move east across the Atlantic and across central Africa. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

November 17 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 15:16 UTC.

November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is one of the better meteor showers to observe, producing an average of 40 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year every 33 years where hundreds of meteors can be seen each hour. The last of these occurred in 2001. The shower usually peaks on November 17 & 18, but you may see some meteors from November 13 - 20. The full moon will prevent this from being a great show this year, but with up to 40 meteors per hour possible, this could still be a good show. Look for the shower radiating from the constellation Leo after midnight.

December 3 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 00:22 UTC.

December 13, 15 - Geminids Meteor Shower. Considered by many to be the best meteor shower in the heavens, the Geminids are known for producing up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. The peak of the shower usually occurs around December 13 & 14, although some meteors should be visible from December 6 - 19. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Gemini. The gibbous moon could be a problem this year, hiding man of the fainter meteors. But with up to 60 meteors per hour predicted, this should still be a good show. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight from a dark location.

December 17 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 09:28 UTC.

December 21 - December Solstice. The December solstice occurs at 17:11 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the southern hemisphere.

[Duke of Buckingham]

Thursday 31st Jaunary – Mercury makes a brief appearance low down in the southwest just after sunset. Those with a flat horizon and clear skies may find this a challenging photo target (but then Mercury usually is!)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Mercury_Globe-MESSENGER_mosaic_centered_at_0degN-0degE.jpg

[Duke of Buckingham]

Astronomical Events for 2015 second half.

July 1 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. A spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will be visible in the evening sky. The two bright planets will be extremely close, appearing only 0.3 degrees apart. Look for this impressive pairing in the western sky just after sunset.

July 2 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 02:19 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Full Thunder Moon and the Full Hay Moon.

July 14 - New Horizons at Pluto. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Pluto after a nine and a half year journey. Launched on January 19, 2006, this will be the first spacecraft to visit Pluto. New Horizons will give us our first close-up views of the dwarf planet and its moons. After passing Pluto, the spacecraft will continue on to the Kuiper belt to examine some of the other icy bodies at the edge of the Solar System.

July 16 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 01:24 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

July 28, 29 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The nearly full moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should still be able to catch a quite few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

July 31 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 10:43 UTC.

August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The thin crescent moon will be no match for the bright Perseids this year so be prepared for a great show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

August 14 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 14:53 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

August 29 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:35 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes and other major lakes were more easily caught at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon. This is also the first of three supermoons for 2015. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

September 1 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

September 4 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 27 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.

September 13 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 06:41 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

September 13 - Partial Solar Eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun's reflection. The partial eclipse will only be visible in southern Africa, Madagascar, and Antarctica. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

September 23 - September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 08:21 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.

September 28 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 02:50 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year. This moon is also known as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox each year. This is also the second of three supermoons for 2015. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual. This will be the closest full moon of the year.

September 28 - Total Lunar Eclipse. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of North and South America, Europe, Africa, and western Asia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

October 1 - Comet C/2013 US10 Catalina. Newly discovered comet C/2013 US10 Catalina may reach naked eye visibility on October 1. The comet will continue to brighten and could reach magnitude 5 by November 6.

October 8 - Draconids Meteor Shower. The Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other showers. The shower runs annually from October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the night of the 8th. The second quarter moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. If you are patient, you may be able to spot a few good ones. Best viewing will be in the early evening from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

October 11 - Uranus at Opposition. The blue-green planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

October 16 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 18.1 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

October 13 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 00:06 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving fairly dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

October 26 - Venus at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 46.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.

October 26 - Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. A conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will take place on October 26. The two bright planets will be visible within 1 degree of each other in the early morning sky. Look to the east just before sunrise for this impressive planetary pair.

October 27 - Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 12:05 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Hunters Moon because at this time of year the leaves are falling and the game is fat and ready to hunt. This moon has also been known as the Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This is also the last of three supermoons for 2015. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

October 28 - Conjunction of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. A rare, 3-planet conjunction will be visible on the morning of October 28. The planets Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will all form a tight 1-degree triangle in the early morning sky. Look to the east just before sunrise for this spectacular event.

November 5, 6 - Taurids Meteor Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of November 5. The second quarter moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. If you are patient, you may still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

November 11 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 17:47 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is an average shower, producing an up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving fairly dark skies for what could be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

November 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 22:44 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. It has also been known as the Frosty Moon and the Hunter's Moon.

December 7 - Conjunction of the Moon and Venus. A conjunction of the Moon and Venus will take place on the morning of December 7. The crescent moon will come with 2 degrees of bright planet Venus in the early morning sky. Look to the east just before sunrise.

December 11 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 10:29 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

December 22 - December Solstice. The December solstice occurs at 04:48 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

December 21, 22 - Ursids Meteor Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. This year the waxing gibbous moon will be bright enough to hide most of the fainter meteors. If you are patient, you might still be able to catch some of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

December 25 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 11:11 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the cold winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. This moon has also been known as the Moon Before Yule and the Full Long Nights Moon.

December 29 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 19.7 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.