10 tips for watching the Geminids

We anticipate 2020 will be a great year for watching the Geminid meteor shower! Here are 10 tips. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/10-tips-for-watching-the-geminids…

South American total solar eclipse December 14

The new moon moves smack-dab in front of the sun on December 14, 2020, to present this year’s one and only total eclipse of the sun. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/south-american-total-solar-eclipse-december-14…

What’s the birthstone for December?

If you were born December, you’ve got 2 birthstones, turquoise and zircon. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/december-birthstone-zircon-turquoise…

Moon lights up Gemini December 2 and 3

These next few nights – December 2 and 3 – the bright waning gibbous moon shines in front of the constellation Gemini the Twins. Find this constellation, and you’ve found the radiant point for the Geminid meteor shower, due to peak on December 13-14. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-lights-up-gemini-december-2-and-3…

Full moon, faint eclipse, November 29-30

Full moon falls on the night of May 29-30 for North America, at 3:43 a.m. CST on November 30. That means that – for North America – we have the chance to witness a faint penumbral eclipse of the moon. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/full-moon-faint-eclipse-november-29-30…

What is the moon’s terminator line?

The moon’s terminator is the dividing line between day and night on the moon. As we see it from Earth, it marks the line of lunar sunsets or sunrises. Earth and other worlds in our solar system have terminator lines, too. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-moon-planet-terminator-line-twilight-zone…

Diwali 2020 shines in this ashram, despite Covid-19

Images of Diwali 2020 from an ashram in India. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/diwali-moon-nov-2020-photos-swami-krishnananda…

Young moon at dusk; meteors after midnight

On November 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2020, enjoy the beautiful presence of a waxing crescent moon covered over in earthshine in the west after sunset. Then, after midnight, watch for meteors in the annual Leonid meteor shower. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/young-moon-at-dusk-meteors-at-night…

Why not an eclipse at every full and new moon?

In 2020, there are 12 new moons and 13 full moons, but only 6 eclipses – 2 solar and 4 lunar. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/why-isnt-there-an-eclipse-every-full-moon…

Leonid meteor shower is building to a peak

The peak of the Leonids is likely to be before sunup on November 17, 2020. But people already catching some Leonids. Keep an eye out this weekend. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/leonid-meteors-before-dawn-november-17…