Astronomical Predictions For 2010

Astronomical Predictions For 2010

On January 15, an annular solar eclipse will be visible on a path beginning in Africa and passing eastwards across the Indian Ocean to south India, then passing on across Sri Lanka, Malymar and finally China. An annular eclipse is a type of eclipse in which the moon passes completely across the face of the sun, but is at a point in its cycle where it does not appear large enough to cover the entire sun. A band of light remains around its edges. People in Asia and most of the eastern part of Africa will be able to see this as a partial eclipse.
A close approach from the 2009 UN3 asteroid is expected on February 9th. It will be visible with a telescope, but will be easier to see from the southern hemisphere.
The vernal equinox will occur on March 20th. This is the day on which the length of the day is closest to that of the night, and this is considered the first day of spring.
The Lyrids meteor shower occurs in late April, and is at its most visible on April 21st and 22nd. Visibility should be good due to the early setting of the quarter moon, as long as the sky is clear. The shower will be at its brightest after midnight.
The summer solstice occurs on June 21st. This is the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its highest point.
A partial lunar eclipse will occur on June 26th. It should be visible from the west of the Americas, the Pacific, Australia and east Asia.
A total eclipse of the sun is expected on July 11th. It will be visible along a path from the south Pacific to Easter Island, and parts of south Chile and Argentina. People in most of the south of South America will be able to see it as a partial eclipse.
The Southern Delta meteor shower will occur towards the end of July and beginning of August, peaking on July 28th and 29th. The meteors will appear to radiate out from the constellation of Aquarius, and will be most visible after midnight.
The Perseids meteor shower will occur at the beginning of August, and could overlap with the end of the Southern Delta shower. The Perseids will be at their most visible on August 12th, with meteors appearing from the constellation of Perseus. The moon will be a small crescent that leaves the sky early, making visibility good for the shower if the night is clear.
The Autumnal equinox will occur on September 23rd. The lengths of day and night will be almost equal, and this is also considered the first day of autumn or fall.
The comet, Hartley 2, will approach Earth on October 20th, coming to within 11.2 million miles of the planet. On October 20th it should be visible with the naked eye if the weather is good and there are no bright lights nearby. It will appear in the sky in the early morning, to the east, just before the sun comes up. The comet will be inspected by the NASA Deep Impact craft, which will observe it from just 600 miles away.
The Orionids meteor shower will occur at the end of October. It should peak around October 21st to 22nd, but it can be unpredictable. Meteors will appear to come from the constellation Orion and can be seen at their best after midnight.
The Leonids meteor shower will take place in the middle of November, peaking on November 17th and 18th. It is one of the busiest meteor showers, with about 40 meteors per hour when it is at its peak. Meteors appear to radiate from the constellation of Leo and can best be viewed after midnight.
The Geminids meteor shower will occur in the middle of December, with its peak occurs on December 13th and 14th. The meteors will appear to originate in the constellation Gemini, and if visibility if good will create one of the most spectacular showers, with up to 120 meteors per hour visible from the best and darkest locations after midnight. The moon should set early, improving chances of a good show this year.
A total lunar eclipse will occur on December 21st, which is also the day of Winter solstice. The lunar eclipse will be visible from east Asia, Australia, the Pacific, the Americans and Europe.