Is one of your bucket list items to see a meteor show while at anchor? Maybe a solar eclipse away from bright city lights? Well, we've got you covered. Mark you calendars now and make it happen this year. Definitely make note of the three supermoons (October 16, November 14, December 14), the Perseids Meteor Shower (August 12-13), the Taurids Meteor Shower (November 4-5), and the Geminds Meteor Shower (December 13-14). Better yet, print this page out and keep it on your fridge or boat. Happy Stargazing!
A special thank you to Scott Davis for the awesome photos.
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Dark Side of the Moon. Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
March 8: Jupiter at Opposition - The 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. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.
March 20: Vernal Equinox - First day of Spring! There will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world.
March 23: Full Moon - Known by Native American tribes as the Full Worm Moon. As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. Often considered to be the last full moon of winter.
April 22: Full Moon - Known by Native American tribes as the Full Pink Moon. This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring.
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The Dumbbell Nebula. Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
April 22-23: Lyrids Meteor Shower - Unfortunately this year the full moon coincides with the peak of this shower. About 10 to 15 meteors per hour can be expected on a dark, moonless night. This year, a meteor or two might overcome the drenching light of the full moon.
May 5-7: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower - The most meteors will probably rain down on May 6, in the dark hours before dawn, but watch on May 5 and 7 as well. The hour or two before dawn tends to offer the best viewing no matter where you are on Earth, though this shower tends to favor the Southern Hemisphere. This year the moon turns new at or near the shower’s peak, insuring dark skies. In the southern half of the U.S., 10 to 20 meteors per hour might be visible in a dark sky.
May 9: Rare Transit of Mercury Across the Sun - The planet Mercury will move directly between the Earth and the Sun. Viewers with telescopes and approved solar filters will be able to observe the dark disk of the planet Mercury moving across the face of the Sun. This is an extremely rare event that occurs only once every few years.
May 21: Full Moon, Blue Moon - This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. Since this is the third of four full moons in this season, 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.” There are normally only three full moons in each season of the year, but since full moons occur every 29.53 days, occasionally a season will contain 4 full moons.
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The Orion Nebula. Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
June 20: Full Moon - This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of year to gather ripening fruit.
June 20: Summer Solstice - First day of summer! Also the longest day of the year.
July 19: Full Moon - 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.
July 28-29: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower - This shower tends to favor the Southern Hemisphere and tropical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The maximum hourly rate can reach 15-20 meteors in a dark sky. An hour or two before dawn usually presents the most favorable view.
August 12-13: Perseids Meteor Shower - Perhaps the most beloved meteor shower of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, often producing 50-100 meteors per hour. The waxing gibbous moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving fairly dark skies which should make for an an excellent early morning show. Meteors tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into midnight, and typically produce the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn. For maximum results, watch after moonset and before dawn August 11, 12 and 13.
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The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules. Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
August 18: Full Moon - 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.
August 27: Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter - The two bright planets will be extremely close. Look for this impressive pairing in the western sky just after sunset.
September 16: Full Moon - 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.
September 22: Autumnal Equinox - First day of fall! There will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world.
October 7: Draconids Meteor Shower - A minor meteor shower producing about 10 meteors per hour. Best viewing will be in the early evening hours from a dark location far away from city lights.
October 16: Full Moon, Supermoon - 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 is also the first of three supermoons for 2016. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
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Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
October 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower - The Orionids is an average shower producing 10 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. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Unfortunately this year presents a less than optimal year due to the waning gibbous moon, which will be out during the morning hours before sunrise when the Orionid meteors fall most abundantly.
November 4-5: Taurids Meteor Shower - The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location, far from city lights. The Taurids are well known for having a high percentage of fireballs, or exceptionally bright meteors so keep an eye out!
November 14: Full Moon, Supermoon - This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. Second supermoon of 2016; the Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
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Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
November 17-18: Leonids Meteor Shower - The Leonids is an average shower, producing 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 waning gibbous moon will block many of the fainter meteors this year, but if you are patient you should be able to catch quite a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight and before dawn November 17.
December 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower - Considered by many to be the best meteor shower of the year, producing up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak. The meteors are plentiful, rivaling even the Perseids, and are often bold, white, and bright. The nearly full moon will block out many of the fainter meteors this year, but the Geminids are so bright and numerous that it could still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.
December 14: Full Moon, Supermoon - 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. The last of three supermoons for 2016; the Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
December 21: Winter Solstice - First day of winter! Also the shortest day of the year.
December 21-22: Ursids Meteor Shower - A minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. The second quarter moon will block many of the fainter meteors. But if you are patient, you might still be able to catch a few of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights.
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Photo by Scott Davis[/caption]
Astrological info courtesy of earthsky.org; seasky.org; and farmersalmanac.com
