Explaining A Transit
In astronomy, a transit occurs when a smaller body passes in front of a larger one. During a transit, the smaller body appears as a dark object against the backdrop of the larger one. A transit is also known as a special type of solar eclipse but, due to the sheer size of the sun, only a small part becomes darkened. The only planets known to produce a transit are Venus and Mercury.
For a transit to occur in Venus, two things must happen:
1. Venus must be in inferior conjunction with the sun. This means that Venus must be located directly between the earth and the sun
2. Venus must cross Earth’s path. For this to occur, Venus must be tilted at an angle of 3.39 degrees
The bad news is that a Venus transit only lasts for three to seven hours. During the transit, expect Venus to appear bigger that it’s normal size due to the backdrop effect. However, the appearance of an increase in size is actually an optical illusion. Light from the sun is really being refracted by Venus’ dense atmosphere, making the planet appear to be stretched out.
There is one word of caution concerning the viewing: it is advisable not to look at the transit directly with your naked eyes as it can cause temporary blindness. To have the best view, use cross-polarized sunglasses.

Who Can See The Transit
Whether you experience the transit on June 5 or June 6 will depend largely on your geographical location. If you are in the western hemisphere, the transit will probably occur on the afternoon of June 5. If you are in the eastern hemisphere, the transit will be seen during the sunrise on June 6.

Conclusion
Of the many spectacular astronomical events that are expected in 2012, this is destined to be one of the most extraordinary. Since this is the only time within the next century to experience it, it is well worth the effort to make sure that you do not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime event.

The Reason Behind The Name
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower occurs as a result of earth passing through dust particles released by Halley’s Comet, or as it is sometimes called, Comet Hally. Halley’s comet only become visible to earth once every seventy five to seventy six years. The last time it was observed was in 1986. Even though the actual comet won’t be visible, the remnants of it will be displayed in the Eta Aquarids.
The Eta Aquarids originates from the Aquarius constellation. During their peaks, those living in the northern hemisphere are likely to only see ten or less Eta Aquarids in an hour. However, for those who live in the southern hemisphere, you could see as many as thirty in one hour.

The History Behind The Name
Lieutenant Colonel G.L.Tupman is the man history has credited with the “discovery” of the Eta Aquarids back in 1870 while sailing through the Mediterranean Sea. On the night of April 30, he plotted 15 meteors. On May 2 and May 3, he plotted 13 meteors each time. Credit was given to Tupman on April 29, 1871 when he successfully plotted 8 meteors, confirming the event’s recurrence.

Tips On Getting The Best Views Of The Eta Aquarids
It is imperative to note that the best time to view the Eta Aquarids is during the early morning hours right before daylight. The closer it is to sunrise, the better your chances of seeing meteorites. During these hours, the earth’s orbital motion is directly in line with the dawn terminator. The effect that this will have on earth is that it will allow earth to scoop up meteoroids on the dawn side.
But there is one major problem with this sighting. This also happens to coincide with the largest full moon of the entire year. This means that the brightness of this moon is sure to cover up all but the brightest of the meteors.
Considering the fact that there is such a broad peak connected to this particular meteor shower, it is quite possible that sky gazers may be able to see a few tray meteors a day or two before and even a day or two after May 5 and 6.

One Of The Most Important Components Of Astronomy Day
Out of all of the important people who labor to make this event possible, one of the most important of groups are the sponsors. Some of the sponsors who have consistently supported this event include:

• The Astronomical League
• The Astronomical Society for the Pacific
• Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
• American Astronomical Society
• Astronomical Association of Northern California
• Western Amateur Astronomers
• American Association of Physical Teachers
• Association of Lunar and Planetary Observation
• American Meteor Society
• American Association of Variable Star Observers
• The Planetary Society
• National Space Society
• International Planetarium Society
• The Association of Astronomy Educators.

Explaining the opposition on April 15th

As you are probably aware, our earth is relatively smaller compared to the planet Saturn and, thus, orbits the sun at a faster rate. Despite this disparity, there always comes a time when the two planets are opposite to each other. This is a yearly occurrence. But why is April 15 the best time to look at the planet Saturn? Of the brightest planets present in the sky, Saturn is the faintest. However, on April 15, Saturn will appear as a bright planet because of the fact that the earth will be passing Saturn from an inside track around the sun. On this date, regardless of your position on the globe, Saturn will be at its highest point around midnight. This will place the planet at an approximate distance of 8.72 AU, shinning at a magnitude of 0.7. Unfortunately, this distance does not make it possible for you to see it with your naked eyes, especially if you want a vintage view of Saturn rings. Once this opposition is achieved Saturn will reach the highest point in the sky at least four minutes earlier in the preceding night, gradually receding in the evening sky for the next few months to come.

Lyrids have been putting on their own private show in the sky for quite a long time. Astronomers believe that the first Lyrids were identified almost 2600 years ago by Chinese astronomers. This makes the Lyrids the first meteors to be “discovered”. Lyrids are especially fascinating in the fact that they have been known to exhibit bursts of as much as 100 meteors per hour. The reason for this burst is not yet clear to the astronomers. The best way to identify a Lyrid is by mentally tracing it’s origin when you see one. If the shower originates from the constellation Lyra, then you have most definitely seen a Lyrid.

What is a meteoroid?

To understand Lyrids, it is imperative that you fully understand meteoroids. Basically, meteoroids are bits of rocks hurdling through space that ignite once they enter the earth’s atmosphere. The Lyrid meteors and the Perseids are made up of rock particles and ice originating from comets. The reason why meteors increase in numbers during certain times of the year is because the earth is crossing the path of certain comets, which blow these dust particles into the earth’s path. When meteors enter into the earth atmosphere, they have the ability to move at speeds of up to 160,000 miles per hour. This high speed has the effect of making air compress in front of the meteor. The result is that the meteoroid becomes vaporized..

Why April is the best time to see the Lyrids

During the month of April 2012, the new moon will ensure that there will be a dark sky during the nighttime hours through to morning. These conditions make up the best scenario for watching Lyrid showers. Historically, out of the nighttime hours from dusk until sunrise, the meteors are best observed during the morning hours with peak viewing times starting around 3 AM, no matter where you are located on the planet. This is the best time to witness this spectacular display since the earth’s orbital motion rests in the direction of the terminator.

Defining a Conjunction

In astronomy, a conjunction refers to a phenomenon that occurs when two planets are in proximity as viewed from a given position. A conjunction can either be an inferior conjunction or a superior conjunction. An inferior conjunction occurs when two planets lie in the same line on the same line with the sun. On the other hand, a superior conjunction occurs when a planet passes behind the sun when viewed from the sun.

If you miss this conjunction, you will have to wait until May 28, 2013 for the next chance. However, the conjunction of 2013 will not be as spectacular. The reason for this is that, in the year 2013, the two planets will only set for about 120 minutes. This is the longest period expected for the two to stay in the mid-northern latitude.

For a conjunction to be spectacular, certain factors must be present. The planet Venus must be near the greatest evening elongation. This means that it has to be at the furthest angular distance from the setting sun. In addition, the ecliptic, or the pathway of the planets, has to make a steep angle with the setting horizon. It is of particular interest for astronomy buffs to know that these conditions will be present in the month of March.

The bottom line is that the planet Venus and Jupiter in this month will be a spectacle to behold. It will be the best night in years to witness such an event and the view will be especially spectacular to people living in the northern hemisphere. For those who take advantage of this opportunity, it will be both an exciting moment for viewing and photographing and will offer special memories for years to come.

Meaning of “Opposition”

Opposition is an astronomical term that refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a planetary body is directly opposite to the earth from the sun. In this context, opposition occurs when the sun is directly opposite to Mars. This phenomenon only occurs once in 26 months. During opposition, the earth and Mars are “close” together making Mars appear bright and large in the sky. On March 5th Mars and the earth will be approximately 62.6 million miles or 100.7 million kilometers. On March 5th Mars will shine at magnitude of -1.2 with an apparent disk diameter of 13”.9. Regardless of your position globally, the planet Mars will be well placed for observation. Maximum opposition will occur at approximately 20:03 UTC. This will not be the closest that Mars has come closest to the earth. In August 27, 2003 Mars and the earth were closer together for more than 60,000 years. During this opposition, the approximate distance between the earth and mass was 55,780,000 kilometers. Then, with the exception of the moon, Mars were the brightest object in the sky. Astronomers estimate that there will be approximately fifteen oppositions by the year 3000. The best opposition will occur in the year 2729. Then, Mars and the earth will be at a distance of 55,651,000 km. If you miss the opposition on 5th march, you will have to wait until July 2018.

How to Photograph Mars

For the ideal picture, you need to have a high resolution camera to get the fine details of Mars. That said, the best type of camera to buy is the planetary camera. This camera has been designed to capture thousands of frames at a short time. Software then analyzes the frames to give a detailed picture. Alternatively, you can use the Astronomical CCD camera. This camera is specifically designed to for scientific and imaging purposes. These cameras are primarily designed to be used through a telescope but have been customized with adapters for use with camera lenses. With the right camera, focus your camera past infinity. Focus manually, and use a tripod stand to stabilize your picture. Finally it is imperative to note that patience is required if you are to get the best shot.

Nevertheless don’t be disappointed if the results are not what you really wanted them to be – Mars is a difficult target. If you wished you had a lot better equipment – let’s say like NASA has – well, have a look at this site: http://www.uahirise.org/hiwish/ . Basically you can tell NASA your wishes which piece of Mars should be photographed next – and you don’t have to sit hours in the cold for that

Why is Mercury so Elusive?

Mercury is the smallest plant in the solar system. Mercury is so elusive that even the great German astronomer Johannes Kepler never saw it although he knew of its existence. As a matter of fact, not so many astronomers have seen this planet. The reason why this planet is elusive is because Mercury is quite close to the sun and, as a result, its brightness is always dimmed by the sun’s rays. With this fact, the best chance of seeing Mercury is when it is furthest from the sun or when there is a solar eclipse. That said, Mercury is best viewed at sunset or sunrise. During sunrise, it is at maximum western elongation. During sunset, Mercury is at maximum eastern elongation.

More on planet Mercury

Mercury has fascinated human beings since time in antiquity. Historical documents show that the first record of Mercury observations dates back to the 4^th century B.C. It was this fascination that made the Greek astronomers believe that Mercury was in-fact, two separate objects. One of which was visible during the sunrise while the other part was visible during sunset. They christened the former Apollo while the latter was christened the name Hermes. The modern day name Mercury was derived from the Romans who saw the planet as a swift messenger to the Gods.

Mercury has a similar appearance to the Moon. It has no substantial atmosphere; it is heavily cratered, and has no natural satellites. Mercury complete orbit takes approximately 87.969 days. Together with Venus, Mercury is known as the inner planets since they orbit nearer to the sun compared to other planets in the solar system. Mercury orbit has the highest eccentricity compared to the rest of the planets in the solar system. During the day, temperature reach highs of 427 degrees while during the night, temperatures reach lows of -183 degrees centigrade this makes survival of any species impossible.

The sheer size of the universe makes one thing very certain: There will never be a lack of objects to photograph and make a calendar from. And the astonishing beauty of our cosmos makes the 2012 astronomy calendar a piece of art, not merely science.
Click on the picture and get it now!

Astronomy calendars are a perfect introduction to science and everyone – not only the physics freaks – will immediately recognize the beauty of our universe.

If you want to learn more about the movie, have a look over here on Randy Halversons site:
http://dakotalapse.com/?p=448