From grand coincidences to impactful comets, 2020 was full of exciting celestial events, but the horizon in the night sky for 2021 is even higher. This year, stargazers can look forward to meteor showers, lunar eclipses, supermoons, and even a total solar eclipse.
To help you keep track of them all, I am sharing with you an astronomical calendar with some of 2021 celestial highlights through which you can get the other reasons to go outside and gaze at the nighttime sky in 2021.
1) About Meteor Showers:
i) Delta Aquariids, July 27-30:
The Delta Aquariids shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, though skywatchers in the tropical latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere may see 15 or 20 shooting stars an hour. The best time to see them is in the predawn hours. These Delta Aquariid showers are consistent clearly throughout late July and early August.
ii) Alpha Capricornids, July 28-29:
The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is active from July 3 to August 15. It will offer only about five shooting stars an hour, according to the American Meteor Society.
2) About Full Moons And Supermoons:
A supermoon occurs when the Moon is closest to the Earth as it completes its orbit.
When a full moon appears closest, it is slightly brighter and more extended than an actual full moon - and then a supermoon happens.
So, here are some dates of Full Moons And Supermoons you need to know about:
i) July 24, Full Moon:
The next Full Moon will happen on July 24. It is also known as the full buck moon, the thunder moon, and the hay moon.
ii)August 22, Full Moon, seasonal Blue Moon:
The Seasonal Blue Moon will happen on August 22.
This August full moon is a Blue Moon under the earliest definition of the phrase because it is the third of four Full Moons between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox.
3) Solar And Lunar Eclipses:
Solar eclipses result from the Moon blocking the Sun relative to the Earth. In this, Earth, Moon, and Sun all lie on a line.
Lunar eclipses work the same way in a different order: Moon, Earth, and Sun all on a line. In this case, the Earth's shadow hides the Moon from view.
Solar And Lunar Eclipses are some other 2021 notable happenings in the sky:
i) November 19, partial lunar eclipse:
This partial lunar eclipse will be visible throughout North America, eastern Russia, Japan, the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, and parts of western South America on November 19.
ii) December 4, total solar eclipse:
This total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely blocks the Sun.
It will be visible to Antarctica and the southern Atlantic Ocean only. It has a limited range in comparison to the partial lunar eclipse.
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