Jakarta –
Sky we are full of cosmic wonders. In 2022, a number of celestial phenomena will greet you, from a total lunar eclipse to shooting stars.
Of course, there are many celestial phenomena if one has to mention one by one. But at least, there are 9 phenomena that are worth waiting for and witnessing in 2022, as quoted from National Geographic. Astronomy lovers, don’t miss it, if necessary mark it on your calendars!
January 3 and 4: Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peak
For people living in the northern hemisphere, they are coming meteor Rain The first major event of 2022, the Quadrantids, will peak on the evening of January 3 and the early hours of January 4.
The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving behind ideal darkness. These meteor showers are known to produce shooting stars that are brighter than average, with 25 to 100 meteors seen per hour depending on local light pollution.
As with all meteor showers, the best way to see as many shooting stars as possible is to find a viewing location away from urban lights and wait about 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness of late night or early morning.
March 24 – April 5: Venus, Mars, and Saturn “Couple”
From late March to early April, early risers in both hemispheres will see some of the brightest neighbours. Look into the southeastern sky about an hour before sunrise local time to see Venus, Mars, and Saturn “coupled” together in a tight triangular cluster. On March 27 and 28, the crescent Moon will pass by the planets.
Sky watchers who watch the planets from morning to morning will see their positions shift. The planets will form triangles that will change their angles until after April 1, when all three will appear in a straight line.
In early April, you can also see Saturn approaching Mars until the two appear side by side between April 3 and 5. The two planets will appear closest on April 4, when they are only half an arc degree apart, equal to the width of the full moon.
April 30: Partial Solar Eclipse
Two solar eclipse partial (when the Moon partially blocks the Sun’s disk in the sky) will occur in 2022. The first will be visible in southern South America, parts of Antarctica, and parts of the Pacific and Southern Oceans.
On April 30, the Moon will pass between Earth and the Sun, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 20:41 UT, when up to 64% of the Sun’s disk will be covered by the Moon.
To see the extent of the largest eclipse, the viewer must be positioned in the Southern Ocean to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula. However, eclipse hunters in the southernmost parts of Chile and Argentina will be able to see about 60% of the Sun being erased by the Moon.
Protective glasses are required to safely view all phases of a partial solar eclipse. While the Sun may not appear as bright as in the sky, looking at it directly can cause serious eye injuries. So if you’re planning on seeing the eclipse on April 30, make sure to wear glasses that meet international safety standards.
April 30 and May 1: Venus-Jupiter Conjunction
As April progresses, stargazers can watch the bright planet Jupiter slowly rise higher and higher in the southeastern sky each day before dawn. This giant planet will continue to approach the very bright Venus.
Before dawn on April 30, the two planets will be so close that they almost appear to be fused. Couple planet iThis will be visible at the same time through binoculars and some types of telescopes by amateur astronomers. As an added bonus, Mars and Saturn will be visible in the sky towards the top right.
Get ready to find a good vantage point with an unobstructed line of sight towards the southeast horizon. This heavenly miracle will happen near Sun. The trick is to let the planets rise high enough in the morning sky to observe them before the bright light of dawn drowns out the view. The best time to start this hunt is approximately 30 minutes before sunrise local time.
Next up: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower – Flower Moon Eclipse
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