Astronomical events to look out for in 2015

Yesterday morning Capetonians could see the moon cover 43% of the sun as a result of the second solar eclipse for the year.

Sunday’s stellar event was a partial solar eclipse where the moon only covers a part of the sun.

South Africa was one of three locations where the spectacle could significantly be seen.

Here’s a line up of stellar events for the rest of the year:

• September 23 – September Equinox where the sun will shine directly on the equator and all around the world day and night will last the exact same amount.

• September 28 – Full moon, Supermoon also known as the Harvest Moon. The moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth as the sun and will be completely illuminated. This will occur at 2:50 UTC. This is the second out of three Supermoons for this year.

• September 28 – Total lunar eclipse. This is where the moon completely passes through the Earth’s dark shadow (umbra). During this eclipse the moon turns red. Subsequently this eclipse is also known as the blood moon.

• October 1 – Comet C.2013 US0 Catalina. This newly discovered comet may reach naked eye visibility.

• October 8 – Draconids meteor shower. This meteor shower produces 10 meteors an hour. It was discovered in the 1900s. Best viewing will be in the early evening from a dark location far away from city lights.

• October 11 – Uranus at opposition. Uranus will be at its closest approach to Earth. The blue-green planet will be fully illuminated by the sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long.

• October 16 – Mercury at the greatest Western elongation. This is the best time to view the planet. It will be at its highest point above the horizon. Look for Mercury low in the Eastern sky before sunrise.
• October 13 – New moon. The moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
• October 21 and 22 – Orionids meteor shower. This shower produces 20 meteors per hour. Best viewing time is at midnight away from city lights.

• October 26 – Venus at greatest Western elongation. Look for the planet in the Eastern sky before sunrise.
• October 26 – Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. Look to the East before sunrise to see the two planets.

• October 27 – Full moon, supermoon. This will be the last of the three supermoons for this year.
• October 28 – Conjunction of Venus, Mars and Jupiter. This is a rare event. It will be visible in the morning. The three planets will form a one degree triangle in the morning sky. Look East before sunrise to see it.

• November 5 and 6 – Taurids meteor shower. This shower produces 5 to 10 meteors per hour. This shower is unusual because it consists of two separate streams.

• November 11 – New moon,
• November 17 and 18 – Leonids meteor shower. This shower produces 15 meteors per hour.
• November 25 – Full moon.
• December 7 – Conjunction of the moon and Venus. A crescent moon will come with two degrees of Venus. This stellar event can be seen looking East before sunrise.
• New moon.
• December 13 and 14 – Geminids meteor shower. This shower has been called the king of meteor showers. It produces 120 multicoloured meteors per hour. This shower is one not to be missed.

• December 22 – December solstice. In this solstice the South Pole will be tilted towards the sun. This is the first day of winter in the Northern hemisphere and the first day of Summer in the South.
• December 21 and 22 – Ursids meteor shower. This shower produces five to 10 meteors per hour.
• Christmas Day – Full moon.
• December 29 – Mercury at the greatest Eastern elongation. Look for the planet in the low Western sky.