PUNE: A parade of celestial events is all set to unfold this year, and sky-gazers can scout for good watching grounds, whip out their binoculars, and ready their telescopes.
The first interesting astronomical event will in February on the great conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter and Venus.
Meteor showers that have drawn star-gazers will peak in August, and the zero shadow day will be witnessed on May 14. Four total eclipses are set to occur. But, not one can be observed in India.
Director of Nehru Planetarium at Nehru Centre Arvind Paranjpye said the great conjunction is on February 10 and 11. Early risers will be rewarded with a unique spectacle.
“Observing the eastern direction about 30 minutes before sunrise on February 10, one can see the thin lunar crescent, below which will be Saturn, then Jupiter and finally Venus. On February 11, Jupiter and Venus will be less than half a degree from each other. It will be a beautiful conjunction to watch as both are the top two brightest planets,” he said.
A month later, on March 10, one can see Saturn and to its right will be the lunar crescent. Below it will be Jupiter and then Mercury. On March 11, the next day, the lunar crescent will be below and to the right of Mercury. Mars will be above the western horizon soon after sunset for nearly the entire night and it pairs up with other celestial objects.
On April 17, Mars will be eclipsed by the moon. At about 5.30pm, the moon will block Mars behind it and by 7.15pm, Mars can be seen emerging from behind the moon.
“Mars then pairs up with Venus on July 12. This will be another interesting event as the shining Venus will be seen alongside a muddy red Mars. Mars then pairs up with Mercury on August 19. It will be closest to Mercury at 8.48pm. In the evening of August 18 and 19, one has an excellent chance to see both. Mars again pairs up with Mercury on November 10, but that will be seen in the morning sky,” Paranjpye said.
Meteor showers attract many people. Paranjpye said the Perseid meteor shower will peak on August 12 and 13, but this will be in the midst of the monsoon. Both the Leonid and Geminid showers in November will be washed out by bright moonlight.
As the Earth and other planets go around the Sun in elliptical orbits, the distance between the planets and the Sun keeps changing. “The Earth will be closest to the Sun on January 2 in perihelion when it will be 147 million km away. It will reach its farthest point from the Sun called aphelion on July 6 and will be 152 million km away,” Paranjpye said.