From Saturn hiding its enormous rings to grand meteor showers to the longest total eclipse of the sun in the 21st century, you can bet on an exciting year in the night sky.
Leaf through Discovery Space's top 10 night sky events here, and don't forget to mark your calendar!
10. Saturn's Invisible Rings - January
Saturn's rings are now tipped at their minimum angle -- nearly edge-on -- this month.
Because you won't see them this razor thin for another 30 years, now is a great time to not see the rings of Saturn.
The gas giant can be seen with unaided eyes, but you'll need a telescope to view the rings, such as they are.
9. Comet Lulin at its Best - Feb. 23-24
A comet found in 2007 at the Lulin Observatory in China could be easily visible in late February, astronomers think.
Although Comet Lulin isn't expected to be a bright naked-eye object, it should be decent in binoculars. On Feb. 23 it passes just below Saturn (the two will be in the same binocular field). The following night, Lulin steers closest to Earth and will be at its brightest.
If you're looking for more comets in March and April, Comet Cardinal may also be bright enough to see with binoculars.
8. Moon Near Venus - Feb. 27
Here's a sight that is sure to please: the crescent moon sitting close to the brightest planet in the sky.
This is probably the best moon-planet conjunction of the year. On Friday, Feb. 27, the waxing moon sits just three moon diameters away from Venus for a beautiful pairing in the evening sky.
Enjoy it with unaided eyes, binoculars or a telescope at low power.
7. Venus Closes in on Earth - March 27
At the end of March, Venus passes from the evening sky into the morning sky -- ending several months as an "evening star" and beginning several months as a "morning star."
Along the way it passes between us and the sun, coming as close to Earth as any planet can (an "inferior conjunction" that happens every 580 days or so).
A cautiously-aimed telescope can pick out Venus in the daytime as an ultra-thin crescent sitting just above the sun, a rare and memorable sight.
6. Occultation of Venus - April 22
Just a month later, the waning crescent moon passes in front of Venus, now distant in the morning sky -- well away from the blinding sun.
This type of "occultation" of a planet by the moon is rare. Eastern North America misses it, but from most of central and western North America the moon will cover Venus after sunrise.
Living in California, Arizona or Mexico? Venus will disappear behind the edge of the moon before sunrise in a darkened sky -- a truly spectacular event. From the tip of Baja California and from Mazatlan, Venus just grazes along the southern edge of the moon, an even more amazing sight.
5. Mercury Joins the Moon - April 26
Here's an event most people would miss, but for avid stargazers, spring always brings the best time for finding Mercury in the evening sky.
On April 26, just as Mercury reaches its greatest angle away from the sun -- and its peak visibility -- the waxing crescent moon joins the scene.
Look for the thin moon just above Mercury, as the two worlds flank the Pleiades star cluster. The grouping should be visible to unaided eyes, but use binoculars for the best view.
4. Mars, Meet the Moon and Venus - June 19
Here's another great conjunction with the moon and Venus, as they were back in February. But now Mars joins in.
Look east in the pre-dawn sky for a trio of the waning crescent moon just above the close pairing of bright Venus and dimmer Mars. Not far away (but just out of sight in this diagram) below and to the left, sits Mercury, then visible as a morning star. You'll need to get up early to see this neat gathering of worlds, but the view should be worth it.
3. Total Eclipse of the Sun - July 22
Nothing compares to the sight of the moon covering the sun during a total eclipse. You'll have to travel halfway around the world to see this event, but the view will definitely be worth it!
This year's total solar eclipse traces only a narrow path across Asia and the South Pacific, but holds the distinction of having the longest totality (when the moon fully blocks the sun) of any total eclipse of the 21st century.
Adventurous eclipse chasers will be able to watch a whopping 6 minutes and 39 seconds of totality.
2. Mercury, Venus and Saturn Gather - Oct. 8 - 16
Turn your attention again to the pre-dawn sky in October -- Mercury, Venus and Saturn appear close together, dancing in the dawn sky.
Saturn passes extremely close to Mercury on Oct. 8, then passes Venus on Oct. 13.
By Oct. 16, the waning crescent moon sits just to the south of the trio of morning planets.
1. Leonid Meteor Shower - Nov. 17
Word is getting around that we might see an unusual outburst of the annual Leonid meteor shower this year. Normally a pretty mild and sparse shower, the Leonids are known for spectacular outbursts every 33 years or so.
From1998 to 2001, the world was treated to several superb Leonid displays as Earth passed through denser parts of the dust streams left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. These were the first times astronomers had been able to accurately predict such outbursts, and new predictions now suggest another good display on Nov. 17, 2009.
However, the timing is such that Asia is favored -- in North America only the west may see much meteor activity, though only in the pre-dawn hours.
credited to discovery.com
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