Friday, December 31, 2010

Astronomical Events of 2011

As we are fast approaching the calendar year 2011, let us have a look at the Astronomical Events that will take place this year.

1. Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = 1st January
- Active End Date = 10th January
- Peak Date = 4th January
- Peak Rate = 60-120 per hour

2. January 4 - New Moon

3. Partial Solar Eclipse
- Date = January 4, 2011
- Visibility = Most parts of Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa and Western Asia and Northern India.

SE2011Jan04P.gif
Animated Path of the Eclipse. Credit - A.T Sincalir and NASA

4. January 19 - Full Moon

5. February 3 - New Moon

6. February 17 - Neptune in Conjunction with Earth. A conjunction occurs when two celestial bodies appear one near another in the sky.

7. February 18 - Full Moon

8. March 4 - New Moon

9. March 19 - Full Moon

10. March 20 - The Vernal Equinox. This means that there will be equal hours of day and night. This is also the beginning of Spring.

11. April 3 - Saturn closest to Earth at 8,61 AU. This is the best time to view Saturn.

12. April 3 - New Moon

13. April 6 - Jupiter in conjunction with Earth.

14. April 8 - Jupiter at its furthest from Earth at 5,95 AU.

15. April 9 - Mercury in lower conjunction with Earth.

16. April 18 - Full Moon

17. Lyrids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = April 16
- Active End Date = April 25
- Peak Date = April 22
- Peak Rate = 20 per hour

18. May 3 - New Moon

19. Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = May 4
- Active End Date = May 7
- Peak Date = May 6
- Peak Rate = 12 per hour

20. May 17 - Full Moon

21. Partial Solar Eclipse
- Date = June 1, 2011
- Visibility = Eastern Asia, Alaska, Northern Canada, and Greenland.

SE2011Jun01P.gif
Animated Path of the Eclipse. Credit - A.T Sincalir and NASA

22. June 1 - New Moon

23. June 12 - Mercury in upper conjunction with Earth.

24. Total Lunar Eclipse
- Date = June 15, 2011
- Visibility = South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Visible throughout India.

Visibility Lunar Eclipse 2011-06-15.png
Map of the Eclipse. Credit - NASA

25. June 15 - Full Moon

26. June 21 - The Summer Solstice. This occurs when Sun is at its highest point in the sky. This day is the longest day of the year and also the first day of summer.

27. June 26 - Pluto at its closest to Earth at 31,04 AU.

28. Partial Solar Eclipse
- Date = July 1, 2011
- Visibility = Only visible off the coast of Antarctica.

SE2011Jul01P.gif
Animated Path of the Eclipse. Credit - A.T Sincalir and NASA

29. July 1 - New Moon

30. July 4 - Sun at its furthest from Earth at 1,02 AU.

31. July 15 - Full Moon

32. Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = July 18
- Active End Date = August 18
- Peak Date = July 29
- Peak Rate = 20 per hour

33. July 30 - New Moon. This is the second new moon of the month, this is also referred to as the Black Moon.

34. Perseids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = July 23
- Active End Date = August 22
- Peak Date = August 13
- Peak Rate = 60 per hour

35. August 13 - Full Moon

36. August 13 - Venus at its furthest from Earth at 1,73 AU and Mercury at its closest to Earth at 0,61 AU.

37. August 22 - Neptune at its closest to Earth at 29,00 AU. This is the best time to view the planet.

38. August 29 - New Moon

39. September 12 - Full Moon

40. September 23 - The Autumnal Equinox. This means that there will be equal amounts of day and night. This is also the beginning of Fall.

41. September 25 - Uranus at its closest to Earth at 19,08 AU. This is the best time to view the planet.

42. September 27 - New Moon

43. October 6 - Mercury at its furthest from Earth at 1,42 AU.

44. October 12 - Full Moon

45. October 13 - Saturn in conjunction with Earth. Also, at this point Saturn is at its furthest from Earth at 10,67 AU.

46. Orionids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = October 17
- Active End Date = October 25
- Peak Date = October 21
- Peak Rate = 20 per hour

47. October 26 - New Moon

48. October 29 - Jupiter at its closest to Earth at 3,97 AU. This is the best time to view the planet.

49. November 10 - Full Moon

50. Leonids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = November 13
- Active End Date = November 20
- Peak Date = November 18
- Peak Rate = 40 per hour

51. Partial Solar Eclipse
- Date = November 25, 2011
- Visibility = Over Antarctica and parts of South Africa and Tasmania.

SE2011Nov25P.gif
Animated Path of the Eclipse. Credit - A.T Sincalir and NASA

52. November 25 - New Moon

53. December 4 - Mercury at its closest to Earth at 0,68 AU.

54. Total Lunar Eclipse
- Date = December 10, 2011
- Visibility = Europe, Eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and North America. Visible throughout India at Moonrise.

Visibility Lunar Eclipse 2011-12-10.png
Map of the Eclipse. Credit - NASA

55. Geminids Meteor Shower 2011
- Active Start Date = December 6
- Active End Date = December 19
- Peak Date = December 14
- Peak Rate = 60 per hour

56. December 21 - The Winter Solstice. This occurs when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky. It will also be the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter.

57. December 24 - New Moon

58. December 31 - Pluto at its furthest from Earth at 33,13 AU.

That's all from 2011. Happy viewing!

Copyright AFA (Goa), this calendar is an original work of the Association of Friends of Astronomy, Goa.

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