A Moon eclipse in Australia, Southeast Asia and Antarctica: Expect to see a crescent-shaped sun above the sun on April 20
The crescent shape of the sun’s light will look out from underneath the moon during a partial eclipse since the sun and moon are not perfectly lined up. At the maximum eclipse, where there will be the most coverage of the sun, approximately 86% of the sun will be covered, according to EarthSky.
On Thursday, April 20 a total solar eclipse will be visible in Australia, Southeast Asia andAntarctica. This kind of event occurs when the moon is blocking out the sun.
The moon will be nearly four days from its perigee, its closest point to Earth in its 27-day orbit, during the eclipse, and thus will appear the slightest bit larger than usual.
Michael Kirk, the principal investigator at NASA, says that if you view the eclipse near the maximum you will be able to see a crescent-shaped sun pointed upward.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align so that the moon passes into Earth’s shadow. A lunar eclipse can be seen from anywhere in the world when the moon is at its full position during the night. There are usually stars that are obscured by the moons glow, but they will be revealed in the course of the eclipse.
Eyes in the Sky: 2019 EarthSky 2022 Meteor Showers and Other Space Happenings to See the Sun Through the Eyes of the Sun
It is also not advisable to look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device either, even while using proper eyewear.
A total lunar eclipse occurs approximately once every 1 ½ years on average, with the next total lunar eclipse not taking place until March 14, 2025 — although partial and penumbral lunar eclipses will continue to occur in the meantime. The visual effect of a penumbral lunar eclipse is more subtle because it happens in the outer shadow of the Earth.
While this partial solar eclipse and total lunar eclipse will be the last to see for the remainder of 2022, there are other space happenings to eye in the sky this year. Two more full moons will fall on November 8 (the Beaver moon) and December 7 (the Cold moon), and there are five more meteor showers on the calendar too, according to EarthSky’s 2022 meteor shower guide:
Set to turn a coppery shade of red in the sky this Tuesday, November 8, the full moon will kick off Election Day with an early morning event of its own — a total lunar eclipse.
The full moon doesn’t disappear when it moves into Earth’s shadow. When the moon is turned red by the sun through the atmosphere, it is referred to as a blood moon.
“They aren’t that common, so it’s always nice to get a hold of them when you can,” said Dr. Alphonse Sterling, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “I think they’re excellent learning devices for people who want to get into astronomy.”
The Beaver Moon: When an Urban Comet Makes its Closest Approach to the Sun (The Old Farmer’s Almanac)
Every first full moon of November is called the beaver moon in honor of the semiaquatic rodents. This is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter after storing their food for the winter, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The moon will be at its brightest at 6:02 a.m. ET, the almanac notes.
The whole universe can see the moon when it falls into the shadow during the night. So basically, it’s available to half the world.”
The same phenomenon that colors the sky blue and sunsets red is what causes the moon to turn its rusty red during a lunar eclipse, according to NASA. During a lunar eclipse, the sun’s light is dispersed through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering away the blue light that you typically see with the moon.
If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that isn’t littered with city lights. If you’re able to find an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors could be visible every couple of minutes from late evening until dawn.
A comet discovered in March will make its closest approach to the sun on January 12. The comet, spotted by astronomers using the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California, is named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and will make its closest pass of Earth on February 2.
sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere should see the comet through binoculars in the mornings of January and February, and those in the Southern Hemisphere in early February, according to NASA.
Sometimes the International Space Station can be seen overhead on a given day. And if you ever want to know what planets are visible in the morning or evening sky, check The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s calculator.
Once in a Blue Moon: When the Full Moon Comes Through the Penumbra and Out of the Earth’s Shadow (or Supermoon)
The phrase “once in a blue moon” is related to the fact that the second full moon in one month is known as a blue moon. Typically, full moons occur every 29 days, while most months in our calendar last 30 or 31 days, so the months and moon phases don’t always align. This results in a blue moon about every 2.5 years.
Astronomers think the phenomenon happens when the moon is in a position where it is closest to Earth. By that definition, the full moon for July will also be considered a supermoon event, according to EarthSky.
While these are the popularized names associated with the monthly full moon, each one carries its own significance across Native American tribes (with many also referred to by differing names).
There will be a penumbral eclipse on May 5 in Africa, Asia and Australia. This less dramatic version of a lunar eclipse happens when the moon moves through the penumbra, or the faint, outer part of Earth’s shadow.
Depending on the weather conditions in your area, it may be a rusty or brick-colored red. As sunlight shines on the moon, the most dominant color is red, because blue light undergoes stronger atmospheric scattering.
According to the American Meteor Society, there’s a good chance that people in North America will see between 60 and 100 meteors per hour on January 3 and 4.
There is an open area that has a view of the sky. A chair or blanket will help you look straight up. And give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness — without looking at your phone! — so the meteors will be easier to spot.