Under the stars

Look up at the night sky. You will be amazed at the activity that goes on there.

January 29, 2015 03:20 pm | Updated 03:20 pm IST

So many things happen in space and we need to be a part of it.. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

So many things happen in space and we need to be a part of it.. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The beginning of a new year means a lot of work not just for astrologers but for astronomers too. So many things happen in space and we need to be a part of it. Let’s see what we can look forward to in the next few months.

February

NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft will meet the dwarf planet Ceres. This is one of the largest objects in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It almost resembles a planet and hence it is known as a dwarf. Dawn will study the planet and send images.

Not to miss : The conjunction of Mars and Venus on the 22nd. When two or more planets appear to be close, they are called conjunctions. This is a rare event. Look to the west right after sunset to get the best view.

March

The first solar eclipse of the year falls on the 20th. The North Atlantic regions and the Faeroe Islands will witness a two-minute total eclipse. Iceland, Europe, North Africa and North Asia will be able to see a partial eclipse.

Not to miss : The Spring Equinox falls on March 21. The sun will shine directly on the Equator and that day will have nearly equal amounts of day and night.

April

The first lunar eclipse of the year falls on the 4th. It will be visible throughout North America, South America, Eastern Asia, and Australia. It will last for nearly 12 minutes. Partial eclipse will be seen in India from 17:31 hours to 19:15 hours.

Not to miss : The Lyrids meteor shower will happen on the 22nd and 23rd. A meteor shower is an accumulation of dust particles left behind by a comet. This one is called G 1 Thatcher. The best time to watch is from 3.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m. as you can see about 20 meteors every hour.

Did you know?

Though January is the coldest month, every January 5 the earth is closest to the sun. While in July it is still hot, on the 5th we are farthest from the sun.

Once every 13 months Jupiter is closest to Earth and this will occur again this year on February 6. This phenomenon is called an opposition as it is right opposite the sun. The next time you get to see this will be on March 8, 2016.

Europe will have to wait till August 12, 2026, to see the next total solar eclipse.

News

Just to make the night a tad more interesting, get together on one of the days and form a group of four. Head to the terrace to watch the showers. Make sure you sit with your backs facing each other in four different directions. The person who has counted the maximum number of meteors in an hour is the winner.

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