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…
Tag: new moons
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…
Last quarter moon on November 8
Get up early, around the break of day tomorrow – November 8, 2020 – to see the moon at or near its last quarter phase, and assuming the position of the August noonday sun. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/last-quarter-moon-on-november-8…
Year’s closest new moon October 16
October 16 brings us the closest new moon of 2020. Some will call it a supermoon. You won’t see this extra-close new moon because it’ll travel across the daytime sky with the sun. But you might see its gravitational effect on the tides along ocean shorelines in the days following new moon. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/years-closest-new-moon-october-16…
Wow! Jupiter might have 600 moons
Astronomers in Canada say they have found evidence for 45 new tiny moons orbiting Jupiter, and that the planet may have a staggering 600 such moons in total. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/jupiter-might-have-600-moons…
Annular solar eclipse on June 21, 2020
On the heels of the June solstice, the new moon will sweep directly in front of the sun on Sunday, June 21, 2020, to stage an annular – ring of fire – solar eclipse for the world’s Eastern Hemisphere. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/annular-solar-eclipse-on-june-21-2020…
Middle of eclipse season June 20
When the lunar nodes point directly at the sun on June 20, 2020, the event will mark the middle of the eclipse season. Shortly thereafter, an annular eclipse of the sun will take place on June 21, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/middle-of-eclipse-season-june-20…
Are giant magnetic bubbles depleting Uranus’ atmosphere?
Researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, looking at old data from Voyager 2, have found evidence that plasmoids are slowly causing Uranus’ atmosphere to leak into space. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/uranus-atmosphere-plasmoids-voyager-2…