Astronomical calendar for February. Astronomical calendar for February 2017: two eclipses that we will not see
The main astronomical events of February 2017 will be two eclipses - penumbral lunar and annular solar. True, one of the eclipses will pass by the Amur residents, and from the second we will only be able to observe the very beginning. But it will be possible to observe a comet that will fly just 12 million kilometers from Earth. ASN24 has compiled an astronomical forecast for the month.
Moon eclipse
There will be a penumbral lunar eclipse on February 11th. It happens when the Moon passes the so-called penumbral region of the Earth. To us, this looks like a darkening of the satellite.
Amur residents will see the edge of this phenomenon. The beginning of the eclipse can be observed at 07:34 local time. True, the Moon will almost immediately disappear behind the horizon, and we will no longer see the maximum phase of the eclipse.
Solar eclipse
An annular solar eclipse will occur on February 26th. It will pass by the Amur residents. The phenomenon can only be observed in South America, South and West Africa and Antarctica. If you're one of the lucky travelers, look up at 17:58 Moscow time.
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon, passing across the disk of the Sun, is not able to cover it completely - to an observer, the diameter of the Moon appears smaller than the diameter of the Sun.
Return of Comet 45P
On February 11, Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkosa-Paidushakova will fly just 12 million kilometers from Earth. Its brilliance can be +6 magnitude units.
Comet 45P was discovered in 1948 and has since completed 13 orbits. It spends most of its time near the orbit of Jupiter; its last approach to the Sun was in 2011. In the winter of 2016–2017, this comet returned to the inner Solar System. The comet can be seen near Venus in January–February.
Lunar calendar and magnetic storms
The forecast does not yet foretell strong magnetic storms - noticeable fluctuations are expected only at the beginning of the month; on February 3, disturbances in the magnetosphere will reach the level of a weak storm.
Featured Events
October 3 – occultation of Neptune by the Moon, visible in Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica, not visible in Russia
October 4-10 – World Space Week. It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on December 6, 1999, to celebrate the contribution that space science and technology makes to improving human well-being.
October 4 - 60 years ago, October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit, opening the space age in human history. The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch.
October 4 is the 101st anniversary of the birth of the Russian physicist and astrophysicist Vitaly Lazarevich Ginzburg
October 7 - 58 years ago, October 7, 1959, the Soviet automatic interplanetary station Luna-3, launched on October 4, 1959, was the first in the world to photograph most of the lunar hemisphere invisible from Earth and transmit the images to Earth
On October 10 and 14 - 34 years ago, on these days in 1983, the Soviet automatic interplanetary stations "Venera-15" and "Venera-16", respectively, were launched into the orbits of the artificial satellites of Venus. In the following days, radar images of the northern subpolar region of Venus were obtained for the first time, revealing relief details several kilometers in size.
October 17 - Comet C/2017 O1 (ASASSN) may reach magnitude +8 (8m). October 17 – The Moon passes 2° north of Mars in the daytime sky (14:00)
October 18 - 50 years ago, on October 18, 1967, the Venera 4 space station, having covered a distance of about 350 million kilometers, for the first time carried out a smooth descent in the atmosphere of another planet and transmitted to Earth direct data on the pressure, density, temperature and chemical composition of the atmosphere Venus. For the first time, direct measurements were made in the atmosphere of another planet during the parachute descent of a spacecraft to Venus. Scientific studies of the station showed the absence of a magnetic field and radiation belts on Venus. It was then that the composition of the atmosphere of Venus was determined
October 22 – 42 years ago, on October 22, 1975, the Soviet automatic station “Venera-9” was launched into orbit around Venus and became the world’s first artificial satellite of this planet. On October 25, 1975, the Soviet station Venera-10 became the second artificial satellite of Venus. The descent units of both stations gently sank to the surface of the planet and transmitted to Earth the landscapes of their landing areas.
October 23 - 106 years ago, on October 23, 1911, B.K. Ioannisiani, laureate of the Lenin Prize (1957), a famous designer of many astronomical instruments, was born. The largest of them are: ZTSh - a mirror telescope with a diameter of 2.6 m (installed at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences) and the world's most powerful reflecting telescope with a diameter of 6 m (installed at the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the North Caucasus)
Moscow time is given. Tmsk = UT + 3h. (where UT is Universal Time).
Starry sky
October does not always please amateur astronomers with good weather. Often the sky is densely covered with clouds, hiding the cover of stars, and only the bright light of the Moon is reflected in the leaden sky as a blurry white spot. But if it is a clear night, you can spend several long hours at the telescope. What can you observe in the October night sky?
Near the zenith is the constellation Cassiopeia, resembling the letter “W”. Below, to the northwest of it is the constellation Cepheus. To the south of Cassiopeia, high above the horizon, the constellation Andromeda is visible, below which is the constellation Cetus, and to the right (west) is Pegasus.
Ursa Major rises above the northern horizon to the east, and Ursa Minor is located above it. The “summer-autumn triangle” leans to the west, but is still clearly visible. To the right of Lyra comes Hercules, and above him is the Head of the Dragon.
Among the main meteor showers, on October 8 at 12:00 Moscow time, the Draconids will reach their maximum intensity (ZHR= 20-100), and on October 21, the Orionids will reach their maximum intensity (ZHR= 15). The moon during the maximum period of the first Draconid stream will be in the full moon phase, and the second in the new moon phase. Therefore, the conditions for observing meteors of the first stream will be unfavorable, and the second will be favorable.
Sun
The sun moves through the constellation Virgo until the end of the month, and its surface can be observed in any telescope protected by a solar filter at the lens. It is especially interesting to watch the Sun at sunrise or sunset. The relatively warm weather in October creates comfortable conditions for spending the entire night at the telescope, lasting more than half a day. The length of the day decreases over the course of a month from 11 hours 34 minutes to 09 hours 17 minutes. These data are valid for the latitude of Moscow, where the midday altitude of the Sun will decrease over the month from 30 to 19 degrees. October is one of the favorable months for observing the daylight. But we must remember that visual study of the Sun through a telescope or other optical instruments must be carried out(!) using a filter.
Visibility of the Moon in October 2017
Moon visibility
1 – 11 – at night
12 – 13 – after midnight
14 – 18 – in the morning
22 – 31 – in the evening
Visibility of planets
- Saturn in the constellation Ophiuchus;
- Neptune in the constellation Aquarius;
- Uranus in the constellation Pisces. October 19 – Uranus in opposition to the Sun (21:00)
In the morning (at the end of the month):
- Venus (!) until October 9 in the constellation Leo, then in the constellation Virgo;
- Mars until October 12 in the constellation Leo, then in the constellation Virgo;
Mercury is not visible. October 8 – Mercury in superior conjunction with the Sun (23.9 hours Moscow time)
Jupiter is not visible. October 26 – Jupiter in conjunction with the Sun (21:00)
Observations of the Moon and planets
October 3 – occultation of Neptune by the Moon with visibility in Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica, not visible in Russia
October 5 – Venus passes 0.2° north of Mars October 5 and 6 – Venus and Mars approach within 5 arc minutes! (visibility in the morning from 4:20-6:20)
What can you see in October through a telescope?
Owners of the telescope will be able to observe in the sky:
- double stars: Ɵ Tauri, γ Andromeda, η Cassiopeia, β Cygni, δ and ε Lyrae;
- variable stars: β Perseus, λ Tauri, β Lyrae, η Aquila, δ Cephei;
- open star clusters: M35 (Gemini), Pleiades (Taurus), Ϧ and χ Persei M24, M39 (Cygnus);
- globular star clusters: M15 (Pegasus);
- nebulae: M57 (Lyra), M27 (Vexinelle);
- galaxies: M81 and M82 (Ursa Major), M33 (Triangulum), M31 (Andromeda).
When are eclipses and starfalls expected and where can they be observed? Sputnik Georgia has compiled a detailed calendar of astronomical events for 2017 so that you don’t accidentally miss these breathtaking phenomena and can admire them to your heart’s content.
Eclipses
Among the many bright astronomical events of 2017, the main one will be a total solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is observed when the Moon falls into the field between observers from the Earth and the Sun, as if blocking it.
At the moment of a solar eclipse, the Moon itself is not visible - it seems that some dark object is blocking the Sun from us. During a total eclipse, the solar corona, stars and planets located near the Sun are visible.
Flickr/Greta Ferrari
According to scientists' calculations, a total solar eclipse will take place on August 21 at 18:26 UTC or 22:26 TBS. According to astronomers, the total phase of the eclipse will last from 1.4 to 2.4 minutes. This is the 22nd eclipse of the 145th Saros (the period after which solar and lunar eclipses recur in the same sequence).
The area of its best visibility falls in the middle and subtropical latitudes of the northern hemisphere. The peak of the eclipse will be at the coordinates: 37 degrees north latitude and 87.7 degrees west longitude. The width of the lunar shadow on the earth's surface will be 115 kilometers.
Residents of Canada, the USA, South and Central America, as well as Western Europe and West Africa will be able to see the celestial phenomenon. The phenomenon, which residents of the United States will be able to fully observe for the first time in the last 40 years, has already been called the Great American Eclipse.
Unfortunately, residents of Eurasia, including Georgia, will not be able to see this astronomical phenomenon. Particular phases will be able to be recorded only by residents of the Chukotka Peninsula, where the Moon will only slightly touch the Sun.
In August, scientists and amateur astronomers will be able to observe another cosmic event of the year - a pair of lunar eclipses. The maximum phase of the eclipse will occur on August 7 at 18:21 UTC or 22.21 TBS.
© photo: Sputnik / Maxim Bogodvid
The Moon will partially be in the cone of the Earth's shadow region, which means we can talk about a partial lunar eclipse. Observers will be able to see only that part of the Earth's satellite that will be in the penumbra region at this moment. Scientists explain that a partial and total solar eclipse is observed from the Moon at this time.
This astronomical phenomenon can be observed in Eurasia, Africa, Madagascar, Australia and Antarctica, on almost all continents except America.
Starfalls
Starfall is an unusually beautiful phenomenon that everyone dreams of seeing and making a wish accordingly.
The constellation Lyra has been giving us a stunning spectacle for several centuries - the spring Lyrid meteor shower, which is expected from April 16 to 25. In 2017, the peak of the meteor shower will be on April 21, and the total intensity will be approximately 20 meteors per hour.
Earthlings will be able to observe the Aquarids starfall as usual in early May. Its radiant is located in the constellation Aquarius. They reach the peak of their activity on May 4-6, although they begin much earlier - almost immediately after the passage of the Lyrids. The Aquarids are best visible in the southern hemisphere - at the peak of activity, the meteor shower reaches 60 meteors in one hour.
The Capricornids meteor shower can be observed from the end of July until September 15th. Starfall, named after the constellation Capricorn, reaches its peak around July 29th. The Capricornids are not very intense - at maximum their activity reaches 5 meteors per hour. However, the Capricornid meteors are among the brightest, so observers can be in for a real treat.
The Perseids are one of the most popular meteor showers, which will delight us from August 10 to 20. Usually its peak occurs on August 12-14. The Perseids are particles from the tail of comet Swift-Tuttle, which approaches our planet approximately once every 135 years. The last time this happened was in December 1992. At the peak of its intensity, the Perseids show up to 100 meteors per hour.
© photo: Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich
In October, the Earth passes through another meteor shower - the Orionids, which is expected on the 16th-27th. The radian of this stream is located in the constellation Orion. This is a relatively weak meteor shower - the average intensity of the Orionids reaches 20-25 meteors per hour, which peaks on October 21-22.
From September 7 to November 19, earthlings will be able to watch the Taurids starfall. This is the common name for the two meteor showers that produce meteor showers - the northern and southern ones. Both of these meteor showers have low intensity, no more than 5 meteors per hour, but these meteors are very large and bright, and therefore are clearly visible in the autumn night sky.
The Leonids, a meteor shower known for its bright and abundant bursts, passes through the Earth annually on November 15-22. The radian of this meteor shower is located in the constellation Leo and its maximum usually occurs on November 17-18. During the peak period, no more than 10 bright meteors per hour can be observed in the sky.
Earthlings will be able to watch the intense and beautiful Geminids meteor shower on December 7-18. Radian Geminid is located in the constellation Virgo. This shower reaches its maximum intensity on December 13 - on this night it will be possible to observe up to 100 bright and beautiful meteors per hour.The last chance to make a wish in 2017 is given by the Ursid starfall, which takes effect on December 17 and lasts about 7 days. Radian Ursids is located in the constellation Ursa Minor. The final meteor shower of the year peaks on December 20-22. The intensity of the Ursids is low, with up to 10 “shooting stars” or less visible per hour.
The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.
Please note that Here (and further in the review) Universal Time (UT) is given. T Moscow = UT + 3 hours. :
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01 - Moon in first quarter phase - 12:42 |
Planets
Mercury. Conditions for observing the planet in our latitudes will be extremely unfavorable: the planet will rise above the horizon after the beginning of morning twilight, when the sky becomes too light.
Venus. Visible in the pre-dawn sky very low above the eastern horizon. Gloss -4.2 stars Vel., visible diameter 21 arc. sec.
Mars. Not visible.
Jupiter. It rises in the afternoon and is visible in the evening low above the southwestern horizon. Moves through the constellation Virgo. Gloss -2.1 stars Vel., visible diameter 39.1 arc. sec. It is not difficult to see the main details of the Jupiterian disk even in 70 mm telescopes at magnifications of more than 30 times.
If you look at Jupiter through binoculars, you can see its four brightest satellites (moons): Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto. By sketching their positions every hour or two, you will notice changes in the position of each satellite in relation to each other, as well as to the bright disk of the planet. At the same time, owners of even small telescopes will be able to observe the setting of Jupiter’s satellites behind the planet’s shadow and their appearance from behind its disk. And the most experienced observers, at high magnification, can observe the shadows of satellites cast on the planet’s disk as they pass against its background.
Even with small telescopes, one or two thin dark stripes in the cloud layer of the planet, parallel to its equator, are visible on the disk of Jupiter. In larger telescopes, other features of the planet's atmosphere are also visible - fainter cloud bands, the Great Red Spot.
Bands and zones of Jupiter for observations in amateur telescopes.
Saturn. It rises in the evening and is visible low above the southern horizon throughout the night. Moves through the constellation Ophiuchus. Gloss +0.01 mag. Vel., visible diameter 18.4 arc. sec. (with 42.8 arcsec rings).
Uranus. Visible in the early morning sky low over the eastern horizon. Moves through the constellation Pisces. Gloss +5.9 stars Vel., visible diameter 3.4 arc. sec.
Neptune. It rises after midnight and is visible low above the southeastern horizon until the morning. Moves through the constellation Aquarius. Gloss +7.8 stars Vel., visible diameter 2.3 arc. sec.
There is nothing left until the new year 2017, which means that everyone who is not indifferent to the starry sky and who has a thirst for knowledge will be interested in getting acquainted with calendar of astronomical events the coming year.
This article will be useful not only to avid lovers of astronomy, but also to those who also want to join the practical observation and study of future events on a cosmic scale. Also, 2017 is rich in round dates, related to people and events related to domestic astronautics.
We placed special emphasis on such a phenomenon as full moon. Since ancient times, people have associated various magical rituals with the full Moon; Many cultures gave the full moon (or periods associated with it) separate names.
For example, in this article our readers will be able to find out what the full moon was called in one of the indigenous Indian tribes of North America. This is all the more interesting because this tradition was adopted by some European settlers.
Astronomy lovers eager to watch the brilliance of asteroids roaming the outer space of our solar system in 2017 will not be able to do so naked eye.
Read also:
Despite the fact that the brilliance of many objects will reach 9m(particularly asteroids Hebe, Irene, Metis and Eunomia), this not enough for such an observation. The so-called apparent magnitude (that is, the measure of illumination created by a celestial body) Ceres, the smallest dwarf planet in our solar system, will be at the end of 2017 the value 7.4m.
The brightness of comets can also be observed using home telescopes. We're talking primarily about comets. C/2015 V2 (Johnson), circumsolar non-periodic comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS), small comet Honda-Mrkosa-Paidushakova, a short-period comet Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresaka and the comet with the shortest orbital period (3.3 years) 2P/Encke. However, if you are lucky with the weather, the brilliance of Comet Encke can be observed against the background of the February night sky naked eye.
Of great interest from the point of view of observation in 2017 is Venus: due to the fact that it will be much north of our star, the planet can be observed twice: evening and morning.
In 2017 (especially during the first months), observers have a wonderful opportunity to see Jupiter(including some features on the planet itself, especially the dark equatorial stripes). The giant's visibility will decrease October 26, at the moment of Jupiter’s conjunction with the Sun, but after just a few days in the clear morning sky this object can again be observed.
Mercury will be good to view throughout the year, except for the period from February 7 to March 7 when the planet enters into conjunction with the Sun. And here Mars for an earthly observer, due to the proximity of the planet to the Sun in 2017, will not be the best object to observe. The Red Planet will enter into conjunction with our star July 27, 2017.
In the coming 2017 it will be possible to record 4 eclipses:
- 11 February will happen penumbral lunar eclipse, when the Moon passes the so-called Earth's penumbral region (the area in which the Earth cannot completely obscure the Moon from the Sun). It is very difficult to record this phenomenon from the surface of the Earth without appropriate instruments, since the human eye can hardly detect a slight darkening of the Moon;
- February 26 It will be marked annular solar eclipse, when the Moon, passing across the disk of our luminary, is not able to cover it completely due to the fact that for the observer the diameter of the Moon turns out to be less than the diameter of the Sun;
- August 7 The Moon will partially be in the cone of the Earth's shadow region, which means it will be possible to talk about partial lunar eclipse. Observers from Earth will be able to see only that region of our planet’s satellite that will be in the penumbra at that moment;
- August 21 Residents of some localities in several US states will be lucky enough to observe total solar eclipse. For most of our country, this eclipse will go unnoticed. However, only residents of the Chukotka Peninsula and the extreme northeast of the country will be able to record private phases.
All astronomical events that are presented in this article are recorded according to Moscow time.
Astronomical calendar 2017
JANUARY
4 January – peak meteor shower activity Quadrantids, whose activity time falls on the period from December 28 to January 12. The number of observed meteors per hour will be 120. The radiant of the star shower is located in the constellation Bootes. As for Russia, this stellar stream will be able to be observed by residents of the Far East and eastern regions of our country.
January 10 – The Moon is at perigee: at 09:01 it will be at its closest distance from the Earth in January 2017 – 363242.3 km.
January 12 – 110 years since the birth of the founder of Russian practical cosmonautics, Sergei Pavlovich Korolev.
January 12 – Full moon (peak at 14:34). The Full Wolf Moon, the hungry howl of numerous packs of wolves darting around American Indian villages, gives the January full moon its name.
January 18 – one of the largest asteroids in the main asteroid belt of our Solar System will noticeably increase in brightness – asteroid Vesta. The apparent magnitude will be 6.2m. However, this will not be enough to observe the object with the naked eye.
January 22 – Moon at apogee: at 03:12 the Moon will be at the point farthest from the Earth for January 2017 – 404911.4 km.
FEBRUARY
11 February – Full moon (peak at 03:33). On this day, at 03:43 Moscow time, there will be penumbral lunar eclipse. If the weather is appropriate, it will be possible to record it from almost the entire territory of our country, except for the Russian Far East. Heavy snowfall during this period led the American Indians to call the February full moon the Full Snow Moon. By the way, if snowfalls pass us by during this period, then the eclipse can be observed with the naked eye.
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February 26 – New Moon (peak at 17:59). The annular solar eclipse, which will occur on this day at 17:58 Moscow time, will be visible to South Americans and residents of South and West Africa. Also, this eclipse will be able to be recorded by a few scientists and researchers who are carrying out their difficult mission in Antarctica. In Russia, observers will not be able to record this phenomenon.
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The last start is planned for the end of February Soviet carrier "Soyuz-U"(to launch a cargo ship "Progress MS-05"). In the future, Roscosmos will abandon the use of these launch vehicles in favor of more modern ones with a greater carrying capacity.
MARCH
March, 6 – The world’s first female cosmonaut, Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, turns 80.
March 12 – Full moon (peak at 17:53). Full Worm Moon (according to some American Indian tribes). It is during this period that earthworms appear in large numbers on the surface of the earth, which is caused by the liberation of the earth from snow as a result of warming.
Astronomical observations 2017
APRIL
11 April – Full moon (peak at 09:08). Full Pink Moon - this is what the American Indians called the April full moon. The basis for this was flowers called Phlox (from Greek - “flame”), which bloom in April in North America.
April 16-25 – Star shower of Lyrids. The meteor shower peaks on April 22. This phenomenon of starfall in the Lyra constellation will be most clearly visible from that part of our planet that is located north of the equator. Expected activity of the Lyrid star stream in 2017 – no more 16 meteors per hour. Interestingly, in 1982, the zenith hour number, which characterizes the number of Lyrid meteors observed with the naked eye, reached 90.
MAY
May 11 – Full moon (peak at 00:43). The Full Flower Moon, an intense period of spring flowering, may well have been the reason why the American Indians named the May full moon that way.
JUNE
the 9th of June – Full moon (peak at 16:10). Full Strawberry Moon - obviously, during this period, American Indian tribes collected strawberries (however, given the fact that ordinary garden strawberries were first bred in Europe by the middle of the 18th century, we are most likely talking about some kind of strawberry - perhaps Virginia strawberries).
21st of June – Summer Solstice Day For residents of the planet's northern hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year. Time – 07:24.
JULY
July 9 – Full moon (peak at 07:07). The Full Thunder Moon is a period of intense thunderstorms that gave rise to the American Indians calling the July full moon that name. Another popular name is due to the fact that this period is related to the intensive ossification of the antlers of North American deer (unossified bone tissue of future antlers) and, accordingly, to the maturation of males. That's what the Indians said - Full Moon of Males.
Astronomical objects 2017
AUGUST
August 7 – Full moon (peak at 21:11). The American Indians during this period enjoyed rich fisheries associated with the exodus of sturgeon from the Great Lakes. Hence the name of the August full moon - Full Sturgeon Moon. On this day, almost all residents of Russia, except for the Far Eastern region, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, will be able to observe partial lunar eclipse.
August 21 – New Moon (peak at 21:30). The day on which there will be a total solar eclipse. Partial phases of this phenomenon on the territory of Russia can only be recorded from some territories of Chukotka and Kamchatka. Notably, residents of the small town of Carbondale, Illinois will have a unique chance to witness the total eclipse event twice within a short period of time - August 21, 2017 and April 8, 2024. The longest duration of the total phase of the eclipse in the coming year will be 2 minutes 40 seconds for an earthly observer.
SEPTEMBER
6 September – Full moon (peak at 10:04). The Full Corn Moon is the period when the American Indians harvested not only corn, but also many other crops. Therefore, the September full moon was also often called the Full Harvest Moon.
September 17 – 160th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Russian theoretical cosmonautics, Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky.
September 22nd – The day of the autumnal equinox, when the same length of day and night during this period marks the onset of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet and the end of winter in the Southern. Time – 21:02.
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