Hello Hello thar everyone! I am back with more exciting Eclipse News!!!! ^-^ This has been crazy this year, so many spectacular shows! With all the meteor showers, the supermoon, 2 solar eclipses, and some lunar eclipses, and a RARE special treat (you have to keepin reading to find out! )
I have posted this 2 weeks before June, I know, so everyone can get prepared whether they have a DIY project or someone needs to order something online. I want everyone reading this who is interested be be prepared- this month something serious will occur! Its good, not bad-dont worry!
Lunar eclipse event
First off, there will be a partial lunar eclipse on June 4th 2012. This is the second eclipse of the year out of 4. *cough*cough* technically 5 *cough* Australia will have the greatest view after moonrise, and in North America it will start just before moonset-so watch for it carefully!
Well, what exactly is it?
A partial lunar eclipse is when the sun, earth, and moon align in that order and the moon encounters the earth's umbral shadow. Only about a third of the moon will be a reddish color at it's maximum, making this a partial lunar eclipse.
NOTE: You do NOT need special eye protection to view a lunar eclipse in fact, a telescope or binoculars work amazing for viewing!
My Lunar eclipse diagram-not to scale!
O------O--O
Sun=yellow Earth=blue Moon=grey
Local Lunar Eclipse times and websites:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?sort=2&iso=20120604T0848&msg=Partial%20Lunar%20Eclipse%20on%20June%204,%202012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2012_lunar_eclipse
http://astrobob.areavoices.com/
http://www.space.com/15689-lunar-eclipses.html
Bootid Meteor Shower
What is it?
The June-Bootid meteor shower will take place on the 22th at the start and peaks at the 27th and ends July 2nd. So if you happen to see a "shooting star" Hooray! You witnessed the June-Bootids!! I believe that the parent object is Comet 7P aka "Pons-Winnecke" and we are entering it's left-over trail between June 22-July 2nd. The left over particles in the comet trail enter Earth's atmosphere and cause the "meteor showers" we see. Sometimes the comets per hour/ ZHR really depends. There are amazing years ( 100 ZHR ) and ehh years ( 20 ZHR ) since its unpredictable every year, you will have to wait and see for yourself! : P
Best times?
For the very best probability of seeing the most meteors, personally from experience I would say after moonset but before dawn on its peak-June 27th because its a first quarter moon and after moonset, the sky is the darkest!.The darker, the better because in june its still kinda light out at night! :/
I suggest driving into an field out in the middle of the country side away from light pollution so the meteors arnt blinded out by the city. Look towards the constellation Bootes, in the SW/W towards the night sky's zenith ( highest point in the sky ) As the night progresses, the constellation will slightly move ( because its towards the zenith ) so be careful!
Websites:
http://spaceweather.com/meteors/junebootids.html
http://www.meteorblog.com/2010/06/june-meteor-shower-bootes-up-next/
http://calgary.rasc.ca/skychart1206.htm
Special Event you shouldnt miss: Transit of Venus!
If the annular and lunar eclipse weren't enough eclipse madness, there's more! Something much more!!!! 0.0 June 5th, 2012 the next day after the lunar eclipse: please welcome the Transit of Venus! This is a VERY RARE "solar eclipse" in which Venus will be eclipsing the Sun instead of the moon. This has happened only 7 other times since to telescope was invented and it wont happen again for another 105 years! Venus will only be a small spot on the moon because obviously Venus is farther away than the sun. This is a very special event! SO DO NOT MISS IT!!! Venus eclipses the sun in a pair only once a century. There was already one in Jun 2004 so this June will be the last of the century!! I highly recommend watching a live broadcast online since it will be hard to see.
NOTE: If you plan to view this eclipse in person, eye protection MUST be considered!!! There will be more of the sun visible than a regular solar eclipse so PLEASE WEAR EYE PROTECTION YOU COULD GO BLIND!!!!!
Viewing tips:
-check ahead of schedule your local viewing time and review your viewing equipment for malfunction- dont wait last minute!
-using eclipse glasses/solar filters are ok but its not efficient for the "black drop effect"
-Most of North America will only get to see the 1st and 2nd contacts because of sunset. Sunset eclipses can be covered by trees or buildings-I see LOTS of people use hot air balloons to view such events!
- I recommend viewing it live online for the safest and best method of viewing.
-Refraction telescopes work good but not recommended for looking at the sun because too much heat from sunlight becomes concentrated in the lens.
-Another cool trick I learned over the years is to hold a pair of binoculars upside-down on a white sheet of paper This works poorly though if the sun is setting because of how you would have to hold them. So if your local viewing time is at sunset, this isnt recommended.
Sites and Local showing times:
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/where-to-be
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety/281-six-ways-to-see-the-transit-of-venus
http://www.popastro.com/news/newsdetail.php?id_nw=117
http://www.exploratorium.edu/venus/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Venus
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/transit-of-venus-next-solar-eclipse.html
http://www.astronomytoday.com/skyguide.html
Eclipse Glasses and viewing techniques
A few ppl have asked me where to get solar eclispe/sun viewing glasses I know a few cheapo products that work really well! *these are not efficent for trying to see the "black drop effect" for the Transit of Venus!!!!
Eclipser Mirrored Sunglasses: found on Ebay around $1
Blk Polymer Solar Viewer Sheets- Thousand Oaks Optical: around $2 on ebay
** several websites might be sold out because of the 5-20-12 annular viewing!
Here are some fun ways to view solar eclipses and the ToV. Some of these are do-it-yourself! Fun fun fun!-make one before June 5th ; )
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6hj3rxG_EQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp0o2quAxuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGCYu7RMZLo&feature=related
I have posted this 2 weeks before June, I know, so everyone can get prepared whether they have a DIY project or someone needs to order something online. I want everyone reading this who is interested be be prepared- this month something serious will occur! Its good, not bad-dont worry!
Lunar eclipse event
First off, there will be a partial lunar eclipse on June 4th 2012. This is the second eclipse of the year out of 4. *cough*cough* technically 5 *cough* Australia will have the greatest view after moonrise, and in North America it will start just before moonset-so watch for it carefully!
Well, what exactly is it?
A partial lunar eclipse is when the sun, earth, and moon align in that order and the moon encounters the earth's umbral shadow. Only about a third of the moon will be a reddish color at it's maximum, making this a partial lunar eclipse.
NOTE: You do NOT need special eye protection to view a lunar eclipse in fact, a telescope or binoculars work amazing for viewing!
My Lunar eclipse diagram-not to scale!
O------O--O
Sun=yellow Earth=blue Moon=grey
Local Lunar Eclipse times and websites:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?sort=2&iso=20120604T0848&msg=Partial%20Lunar%20Eclipse%20on%20June%204,%202012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2012_lunar_eclipse
http://astrobob.areavoices.com/
http://www.space.com/15689-lunar-eclipses.html
Bootid Meteor Shower
What is it?
The June-Bootid meteor shower will take place on the 22th at the start and peaks at the 27th and ends July 2nd. So if you happen to see a "shooting star" Hooray! You witnessed the June-Bootids!! I believe that the parent object is Comet 7P aka "Pons-Winnecke" and we are entering it's left-over trail between June 22-July 2nd. The left over particles in the comet trail enter Earth's atmosphere and cause the "meteor showers" we see. Sometimes the comets per hour/ ZHR really depends. There are amazing years ( 100 ZHR ) and ehh years ( 20 ZHR ) since its unpredictable every year, you will have to wait and see for yourself! : P
Best times?
For the very best probability of seeing the most meteors, personally from experience I would say after moonset but before dawn on its peak-June 27th because its a first quarter moon and after moonset, the sky is the darkest!.The darker, the better because in june its still kinda light out at night! :/
I suggest driving into an field out in the middle of the country side away from light pollution so the meteors arnt blinded out by the city. Look towards the constellation Bootes, in the SW/W towards the night sky's zenith ( highest point in the sky ) As the night progresses, the constellation will slightly move ( because its towards the zenith ) so be careful!
Websites:
http://spaceweather.com/meteors/junebootids.html
http://www.meteorblog.com/2010/06/june-meteor-shower-bootes-up-next/
http://calgary.rasc.ca/skychart1206.htm
Special Event you shouldnt miss: Transit of Venus!
If the annular and lunar eclipse weren't enough eclipse madness, there's more! Something much more!!!! 0.0 June 5th, 2012 the next day after the lunar eclipse: please welcome the Transit of Venus! This is a VERY RARE "solar eclipse" in which Venus will be eclipsing the Sun instead of the moon. This has happened only 7 other times since to telescope was invented and it wont happen again for another 105 years! Venus will only be a small spot on the moon because obviously Venus is farther away than the sun. This is a very special event! SO DO NOT MISS IT!!! Venus eclipses the sun in a pair only once a century. There was already one in Jun 2004 so this June will be the last of the century!! I highly recommend watching a live broadcast online since it will be hard to see.
NOTE: If you plan to view this eclipse in person, eye protection MUST be considered!!! There will be more of the sun visible than a regular solar eclipse so PLEASE WEAR EYE PROTECTION YOU COULD GO BLIND!!!!!
Viewing tips:
-check ahead of schedule your local viewing time and review your viewing equipment for malfunction- dont wait last minute!
-using eclipse glasses/solar filters are ok but its not efficient for the "black drop effect"
-Most of North America will only get to see the 1st and 2nd contacts because of sunset. Sunset eclipses can be covered by trees or buildings-I see LOTS of people use hot air balloons to view such events!
- I recommend viewing it live online for the safest and best method of viewing.
-Refraction telescopes work good but not recommended for looking at the sun because too much heat from sunlight becomes concentrated in the lens.
-Another cool trick I learned over the years is to hold a pair of binoculars upside-down on a white sheet of paper
This works poorly though if the sun is setting because of how you would have to hold them. So if your local viewing time is at sunset, this isnt recommended.Sites and Local showing times:
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/where-to-be
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety/281-six-ways-to-see-the-transit-of-venus
http://www.popastro.com/news/newsdetail.php?id_nw=117
http://www.exploratorium.edu/venus/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Venus
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/transit-of-venus-next-solar-eclipse.html
http://www.astronomytoday.com/skyguide.html
Eclipse Glasses and viewing techniques
A few ppl have asked me where to get solar eclispe/sun viewing glasses I know a few cheapo products that work really well! *these are not efficent for trying to see the "black drop effect" for the Transit of Venus!!!!
Eclipser Mirrored Sunglasses: found on Ebay around $1
Blk Polymer Solar Viewer Sheets- Thousand Oaks Optical: around $2 on ebay
** several websites might be sold out because of the 5-20-12 annular viewing!
Here are some fun ways to view solar eclipses and the ToV. Some of these are do-it-yourself! Fun fun fun!-make one before June 5th ; )
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6hj3rxG_EQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp0o2quAxuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGCYu7RMZLo&feature=related
