Tag Archives: night sky

Earth and Ecology, News, Science

A ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse Starts Thursday Dawn on east Coast

Above: Photo Credit / Bryan Goff / UnSplash

Look to the sky for a solar show that will create a stunning glow…

Stargazers and skywatchers are in for another treat, which come about two weeks after the lunar eclipse, also referred to as the “Super Flower Blood Moon”. Tonight and into Thursday, June 10th, an annular solar eclipse called “ring of fire” will be visible. Any discussion of all things lunar, blood moons and eclipses would certainly be congruent with a taste of the astrological perspective.

Unfortunately this time around, no parts of the United States will get to see the full eclipse, however some metropolitan areas like Toronto, Philadelphia and New York will be able to view a partial eclipse a little after the sunrise on Thursday morning.

Getting to see a partial eclipse looks kind of like the sun has a portion taken out of it. In total, this eclipse will last around 1 2/3 hrs (approximately 100 minutes) as it starts at sunrise in Ontario, Canada.

If you aren’t exactly clear on what a solar eclipse is, an annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is farthest from Earth. And because the Moon is far away it appears smaller. The Moon does not block the entire view of the Sun and thus creates the appearance of a ring around the Moon.

Check out additional detailed information and maps about the eclipse operated by retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenakly.

The word annular comes from the Latin word for ring. Since the Moon covers the sun’s center and what is left forms a ring, hence the name “ring of fire”.

If you are one of the lucky folks situated along the East Coast and Upper Midwest and want to catch a glimpse at the partial eclipse, it is strongly recommended to use solar eclipse glasses and to not look directly into the sun as it may cause permanent damage to your eyes.

Don’t fret if you aren’t able to experience the upcoming solar eclipse. This summer we have a couple more opportunities to gaze above. There is set to be a Supermoon June 24, a Meteor Shower on July 28, and the Blue Moon come August 22.

We have a couple years until the next total solar eclipse in the United States, in April 8, 2024, weather permitting.

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Earth and Ecology, Lifestyle

December 14th: The ‘Geminid’ Meteor Shower will Peak before Dawn

Above: Photo by Zetong Li on Unsplash

A Spectacular show in the sky on the night of the new moon

The 2020 Geminid meteor shower is already underway but will peak the night of December 13th and 14th. There’ll be natural fireworks in the form of star-like objects shooting across the sky. 

The date will also correspond with the new moon, enhancing visibility. For good measure 

will sling bright shooting stars this December. This will be an excellent year for the Geminids, as the shower’s peak on Dec. 13-14 coincides with the new moon. And, in case your superstitions are on high alert, December 14th, 2020 is the date of a total eclipse of the sun (which will track a visibility path across the southern end of South America).

Read more: Christmas Star: alignment of Jupiter and Saturn will be closest in 800 years

Geminid meteor showers derive their name from the constellation of Gemini. And, this year, on Sunday night and Monday morning at the peak of the shower’s activity – the source of the shooting stars will be from the area in the night sky near the very bright star Castor. Castor is one of the stars that make up the heads of the Gemini twin brothers. 

The most satisfying meteor shower this year is expected

If it’s a clear night it might well be worth it to brave the temperatures, as this is the biggest and most entertaining of all the showers that return annually. It is generally believed to be bigger and more spectacular than the Perseid showers that occur each year in August. 

Read more: Netflix: 5 best new shows to check out for the Holidays

Practically all of the other meteor displays have histories dating back many hundreds or even thousands of years. The first anecdotal account of the Leonids dates back to 902 A.D. The Perseids have been recorded since 36 A.D., and April’s Lyrids are the oldest of all, having first been recorded in Chinese chronicles as far back as 687 B.C.!

The recent Geminid occurrences have been studied and are on record as having been filled with both bright, slow moving meteors and hefty fireballs, in addition to less visible smaller meteors with a dearth of medium bright objects to observe. 

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Cutting Edge, Lifestyle, News

Christmas Star: alignment of Jupiter and Saturn will be closest in 800 years

Photo / NASA

Coming a few days before Christmas this year, Jupiter and Saturn will appear within a hair’s breadth of one-another to the naked eye

Although most of us consider this to be one of the worst, if not the worst, year that we are aware of, it may close out with something miraculous. If you take the time to gaze heavenward on December 21st,, just after sunset, you might see it: A Christmas Star.

Already in early December the two giant orbs can be seen ever so gradually nearing each other, as if they are feeling some sort of mutual attraction, an odd couple. perhaps, Jupiter and Saturn.

And, according to celestial experts at NASA, they will continue to converge until they appear nearly co-joined: just 1/10th of a degree apart, with a barley perceptible gap in-between.

It was in 1226 that this could last have been witnessed

Though these couplings are known to occur in intervals of roughly 20 years, this year they will be the closest they have been to each other since 1623. In that year, however, they were too near the sun to look at, and because this year the event will take place on the winter solstice, you’d have to go all the way back to 1221 for a similar show. 

These two spectacular giants, which are the largest in the entire solar system, each with a personality, astrologically speaking, so divergent that they are said to be more like opposites, rather than twins or lovers. 

Jupiter, a king and believed to be bringer of good fortune, looks the part in a spectacular explosion of color and power, planet of miracles, hope, and opportunity. 

Saturn, meanwhile appears mysterious, unpredictable, even dangerous. Saturn has an air of the impossible and the forbidden. Best known, in astrological circles, for the so-called “quarter-life crisis” and for unexpected challenges to the status-quo. 

Across the USA,  a view of the two planets coming into near-alignment is going to be most visible and best viewed,  just after sunset, in the southwestern part of the sky.

In a glimpse into the relativity of all things in the universe, though this duo will appear to be close together — resembling a double star or a gleaming figure 8 shaped blob, the two planets will not , in reality, be that close. 

They will actually be more than 400 million miles apart. It is only from our lonely vantage on this little blue planet that they will appear to be “close” to each other.

Since it will be 2080 before a similar spectacle will grace our view, and that means that all but those who are currently quite young will not likely be alive, it is imperative to search the southwestern sky (from the USA) both the day before, after and of course on December 21st: as this is a rare opportunity to witness a spectacular and special event, and a last chance to do so for a long, long time to come. 

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