| Lunar
& Planetary Events 2009
July 11 - Total Solar Eclipse. The path of totality will only be visible
in the southern Pacific Ocean, Easter Island, and parts of southern Chile
and Argentina. A partial eclipse will be visible in many parts of southern
South America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information | NASA Eclipse Animation)
July 28, 29 - Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids
can produce about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually
peaks on July 28 & 29, but some meteors can also be seen from July
18 - August 18. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation
Aquarius. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight.
August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best
meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at their
peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on August 13 & 14, but you
may be able to see some meteors any time from July 23 - August 22. The
radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. Look
to the northeast after midnight.
August 20 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue planet will be at its closest
approach to Earth. This is the best time to view Neptune, although it
will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.
September 21 - Jupiter at Opposition. The giant planet will be at its
closest approach to Earth. This is the best time to view and photograph
Jupiter and its moons.
September 22 - Uranus at Opposition. The blue-green planet will be at
its closest approach to Earth. This is the best time to view Uranus, although
it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful
telescopes.
October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower
producing about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. This shower usually
peaks on the 21st, but it is highly irregular. A good show could be experienced
on any morning from October 20 - 24, and some meteors may be seen any
time from October 17 - 25. Best viewing will be to the east after midnight.
November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is one of the better
meteor showers to observe, producing an average of 40 meteors per hour
at their peak. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year every 33 years
where hundreds of meteors can be seen each hour. The last of these occurred
in 2001. The shower usually peaks on November 17 & 18, but you may
see some meteors from November 13 - 20. Look for the shower radiating
from the constellation Leo after midnight.
December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. Considered by many to be the
best meteor shower in the heavens, the Geminids are known for producing
up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. The peak of the
shower usually occurs around December 13 & 14, although some meteors
should be visible from December 6 - 19. The radiant point for this shower
will be in the constellation Gemini. Best viewing is usually to the east
after midnight.
December 21 - Total Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will be visible throughout
most of eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, the Americas, and
Europe. (NASA Eclipse Information)
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