2022 Promises us some breathtaking astronomical events, including planetary alignments and captivating lunar eclipses. Don’t miss these opportunities to witness some of the rarest astronomical events of 2022. Here’s what and when to point your camera at in the next 12 months –
- March 20 & September 23 – Northern Lights At Its Best
- March End – Trio of Planets Bunched Together
- April 30 – Partial Solar Eclipse
- May 1 – Venus And Jupiter Conjunction
- May 15 to May 16 – ‘Blood Flower Moon’ Eclipse
- June 14 – Biggest Full Moon
- August 13 – Perseids Meteor Shower
- October 25 – Partial Solar Eclipse
- November 8 – Total Lunar Eclipse
- December 14 – Geminids Meteor Shower
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March 20 & September 23 – Northern Lights At Its Best
During the equinoxes, there is a better line-up between the earth’s magnetosphere and the solar wind. It will produce the most beautiful patterns with bright colors. The northern lights will also shine with all their strength due to the increased solar activity.
March End -Trio of Planets Bunched Together
During the end of March, Mars, Saturn, and Venus will appear extremely close to each other. Those who wake up early will be able to witness the trio. The three planets will be gathered in the early morning sky. This will happen during the last two weeks of March.
April 30 – Partial Solar Eclipse
When the Moon covers only a part of the Sun’s disk in the sky, a partial solar eclipse occurs. The partial solar eclipse will appear on 30 April. It will be visible in parts of Antarctica and throughout southern South America. Use solar filters to look at the Sun and try to imitate the crescent moon.
May 1 – Venus And Jupiter Conjunction
Jupiter will appear to be next to Venus planet. It will appear just before sunrise. There is a vast distance between Venus and Jupiter. But sometimes, our field of view can do wonders. The celestial illusion will create sight in which both the planets will appear to be right next to each other. On 1st May, the two planets will be just 14 arcminutes apart.
May 15 to May 16 – ‘Blood Flower Moon’ Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is perfectly aligned between the Moon and the Sun. The shadow of Earth blocks all the reflected light reaching from the Moon. It will be a major astronomical event of 2022 as the moon will turn into copper-red color. It will be visible from Canada, South America, and the US. The eclipse will last for 84 minutes.
June 14 – Biggest Full Moon
A supermoon occurs when there is a Full Moon, that is closest to the Earth. It results in a full moon that is slightly brighter and bigger than others. The first supermoon of 2022 will occur on June 14.
August 13 – Perseids Meteor Shower
Perseids are the most popular meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere. It is associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. It is capable of producing up to 100 meteors per hour. This year, the full moon will block up the visibility of the fireballs. The bright ones would still be visible regardless of the moonlit sky.
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October 25 – Partial Solar Eclipse
This will be the last solar eclipse of the year. During the partial solar eclipse, the Moon partially covers the Sun’s disk. It will be visible from Europe, the Urals, Western Siberia, Central Asia, Western Asia, and the northeast of Africa. It will last for about 73 minutes.
November 8 – Total Lunar Eclipse
The final lunar eclipse of 2022 will take place before sunrise. The Moon will turn copper-red once again. That makes it a potentially majestic eclipse. This will be the final chance to witness the Blood Moon. It is not happening again until 2025. It will be visible from North America, Australia, and Southeast Asia. It will last for 84 minutes.
December 14 – Geminids Meteor Shower
Geminids meteor shower is one of the strongest meteor showers. It produces bright and intensely multi-colored meteors. It generates up to 120 meteors per hour every year. The radiant of the stream is located in the constellation Gemini. However, this year, the nearly full Moon will contest the shower. The best time to watch the meteor shower will be before the Moonrise.
These are the significant astronomical events of the year 2022. We need a pollution-free clear sky to witness the greatness of the universe. Let’s work together to keep our precious planet free from pollution.
Want to explore more night sky events? Don’t worry, here is a list of all monthly astronomical events of 2022 (This list will be updated every month of 2022) –
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