August 12, 13 – Perseids Meteor Shower

Posted on July 12, 2012 by

By far, the best meteor shower of 2012 will be the Perseids meteor shower. What will make this particular shower stand out is the fact that there will be up to 60 meteors per hour on both August 12 and 13. After reaching this zenith, the shower begins to decline in number with the last Perseids meteor shower being witnessed on August 22. The sheer volume of meteors that will be seen is something spectacular to behold and promises not to disappoint. Continue reading →

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August 6 – Curiosity Rover At Mars

Posted on July 8, 2012 by

The Curiosity Rover is scheduled to touch down on the red planet of Mars on August 16, 2012. If the landing is successful, the rover will have completed a journey totaling 352 million miles. Not only is the distance extreme, so is the price tag attached to it. The cost of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), whose mission it is to land the rover to collect samples, is an astronomical $2.5 billion. If everything goes as anticipated, it will be a huge advancement for mankind in the quest to understand the planet Mars. Continue reading →

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July 28, 29 – Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

The southern delta aquarids are one of the most predictable meteor shows. They always occur from mid July to mid August with the peak f the shower occurring on July 28 and 29. The contents of this meteor shower originates from the Kreutzt and Marsden sun-grazing comets. The sun-grazing comets are a group of comets that pass very close to the sun, sometimes coming to within a few thousand kilometers of the sun, giving the appearance that they are “grazing” the sun’s surface. These meteors are observed in the debris field left behind by the comet as the planet passes. Continue reading →

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June 5 and 6: Transit Of Venus Across The Sun

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

The transit of Venus is a very rare phenomenon and will next occur on June 5 and 6, 2012. If you happen to miss this extraordinary event, you will not have another opportunity within your lifetime since the next occurrence won’t be until the year 2117. Continue reading →

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May 5, 6 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

Posted on April 4, 2012 by

Meteors showers are a sight to behold, even though they typically don’t have a long duration.
Nevertheless, it is every night sky watcher’s dream to see meteors as they streak across the night skies. If you are one of the people who love meteors, then make sure you are out on the nights of May 5 and May 6. On these days, you’ll be able to witness the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. Continue reading →

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Astronomy Day 2012

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

This year’s astronomy day will be celebrated on April 28. This day will be celebrated with the theme entitled “Bringing Astronomy to the People”. Although Astronomy Day historically has no specific dates assigned with it, it still occurs on a Saturday sometime between mid-April and mid-May. The only significance is that it has to take place before the onset of the first quarter moon. Astronomy Day, which is recognized by the International Astronomical Union, also marks the start of “Astronomy Week”. Continue reading →

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April 15 – Saturn at Opposition

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

On April 15, 2012, the planet Saturn will be in opposition. This means that the planet will be opposite to the sun when viewed from the earth. Being opposite to the sun means that it will rise when the sun sets and set when the sun rises. The fact that Saturn will be in opposition means that it is closest to the sun and, thus, will be a spectacular view in the night sky. The planet Saturn belongs to a group of planets known as the superior planets. Other members of the superior planet family include Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Uranus. The best time to view this group of planets is during opposition. Continue reading →

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Lyrids Meteor Shower

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

The Lyrid meteor shower may not be one of the most intense meteor showers you can have in the night sky, however, it is still a sight to see. The Lyrids meteor shower typically starts on April 16 and continues through to the April 26. This shower reaches its peak on the 21 and 22 of the month. During maximum intensity, an average of 10 meteors per hour can be observed. Continue reading →

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A Spectacular Event is Coming to the Sky Soon

Posted on February 27, 2012 by

A great spectacle is coming to the sky soon. If you are an adherent of astronomy, you are probably aware that the two brightest planets are Jupiter and Venus. Just imagine the spectacle in the sky when the two will be within 3 degrees of each other. It will definitely be something worth looking forward to on the evening of March 14. To put the “icing on the cake”, the crescent moon will join Venus and Jupiter on the evenings of March 24 and 25. During these dates, make sure to stay out for up to four hours after the sun has set. These are two opportunities that you won’t want to miss. Continue reading →

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Mars at Opposition: The Best View of Mars on March 3

Posted on February 12, 2012 by

Saturday, March 3, 2012 is a date to mark on your calendar. This is the day when Mars will be in opposition with the earth. When such a position occurs, it is very easy to see planet Mars in the sky even with the naked eye. Continue reading →

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