Skywatchers alert: Geminid meteor shower to peak on December 13 and 14

Skywatchers alert: Geminid meteor shower to peak on December 13 and 14

The Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak on December 13 and 14, 2016. Despite the bright supermoon falling on the same dates, the numerous and bright Geminids are still expected to provide the skywatchers with a spectacular show. The Geminid meteor shower is…

Final supermoon of the year to shine bright on December 14

Final supermoon of the year to shine bright on December 14

The third and final supermoon of the year is approaching. The full moon will shine on December 14, 2016, near the Taurus constellation, and remain visible throughout most of the night. The Moon will reach its full phase on December 14, at 00:07 UTC. At the time, it…

Night sky guide for December 2016

Night sky guide for December 2016

The last of three supermoons for this year will occur on December 14. Over the nights following December 14, the Moon will rise around an hour later each day, becoming prominent later in the night. Within a few days, it will only be visible in the pre-dawn and…

Super full moon of November 14, the closest since 1948

Super full moon of November 14, the closest since 1948

A super full moon event will take place on November 14, 2016, at 13:53 UTC. The moon will be the largest and closest to our planet since January 26, 1948. This month's full moon is taking place unusually close to the time of the month when it also makes it…

Night sky guide for November 2016

Night sky guide for November 2016

This month’s Full Moon – the second of three supermoons in 2016 – will be the largest and closest to Earth since January 26, 1948. It won't come this close again until November 25, 2034. Out of three meteor shower peaks for the month, only Southern Taurids…

Night sky guide for October 2016

Night sky guide for October 2016

October will bring us the first of three supermoons for 2016. On October 16, the full moon will take place unusually close to the time of the month when the Moon also makes its closest approach to the Earth – called its perigee. This near coincidence between a…

Penumbral lunar eclipse of September 16, 2016

Penumbral lunar eclipse of September 16, 2016

The Sun, Earth and Moon will align in almost perfect line on September 16, 2016, treating observers in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia with a penumbral lunar eclipse. The eclipse will last 3 hours and 59 minutes and will be the last of three lunar eclipses in…

Night sky guide for September 2016

Night sky guide for September 2016

September 2016 started with an annular solar eclipse visible across central Africa southwards to Madagascar and into the Indian Ocean. The next annular eclipse will occur on February 26, 2017, and will be visible from south and west Africa, much of South America,…

Annular solar eclipse of September 1, 2016

Annular solar eclipse of September 1, 2016

A large annular eclipse will cover 97% of the Sun on Thursday, September 1, 2016. The whole event will last from 06:13 – 12:00 UTC and will be visible across central Africa southwards to Madagascar and into the Indian Ocean. The partial eclipse will be visible…