This year promises to be a busy one for skygazers. The moon will stay mostly out of the way for the majority of this year's meteor showers, and Venus will transit the sun, a stunningly rare event, in June. Here's a rundown of some exciting astronomical events that will take place in 2012.
Jan. 4 brought the peak of the Quadrantids meteor shower, classified as above-average with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. The near first quarter moon set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies. Meteors radiated from the constellation Bootes.
Feb. 20 to March 12 provides the best chance to see Mercury this year. The planet will be far enough from the sun's glare to be visible shortly after sunset, reaching a relatively bright magnitude of about -1 around March 5.
Mars will be at opposition, or closest approach to Earth this year, on March 3. This is the best time to view Mars.
March 14 brings the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. The two brightest planets will be within 3 degrees of each other in the evening sky. Around March 25, a crescent moon will pass near the two planets, providing a pleasing evening sight.
On April 15, Saturn will be at opposition. This is the best time to view Saturn and its rings and moons. If you only view one celestial object this year, or in your lifetime, make it Saturn.
The Lyrids meteor shower will peak April 21 and 22. The Lyrids are average, usually producing about 20 meteors an hour at their peak. Lyrid meteors can produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The sky will be moonless for the shower this year. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Lyra after midnight.
On May 20, there will be a solar eclipse, partially visible throughout most of North America.
The following month, it's the moon's turn to hide. June 4 brings a partial lunar eclipse visible throughout most of North and South America.
The arguably biggest astronomy event of the year will take place June 5 and 6 when Venus transits the sun. This extremely rare and notable event will be entirely visible throughout most of eastern Asia, eastern Australia and Alaska. A partial transit can be caught in progress at sunset throughout most of North America. The next transit of Venus will not take place until the year 2117.
More meteors blast into the atmosphere at the end of July. The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks on July 28 and 29, producing about 20 meteors per hour at peak. The radiant point will be in the constellation Aquarius. The near first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight. Best viewing is usually to the east.
Sometime between Aug. 6 and 20, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory - a.k.a. the Curiosity rover - is scheduled to land on Mars. Similar t, but smaller than earlier Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity will have more instruments and experiments on board and its high-def color cameras will photograph the Martian surface while its instruments sample the soil and air in search of organic compounds.
The Perseid meteor shower, an annual favorite, peaks Aug. 12 and 13. The Perseids average around a meteor a minute but are known for bursts of activity. The radiant point sits in the constellation Perseus. The near last quarter moon will hang around but shouldn't hinder viewing for this stellar show. Look to the northeast after midnight.
The next shower, the Orionids, is highly irregular but usually peaks around Oct. 21 and 22. The Orionids is an average shower that produces about 20 meteors per hour at peak. The first quarter moon will set by midnight. Best viewing will be to the east after that.
The Leonids meteor shower arrives Nov. 17 and 18. The Leonids is one of the better meteor showers to observe, peaking with an average of 40 meteors per hour. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year every 33 years with a frenzy of hundreds of meteors an hour, last occurring in 2001.
The crescent moon will set early in the evening setting the stage with dark skies. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Leo after midnight.
Nov. 27 brings the conjunction of Venus and Saturn. These two bright planets will be within 1 degree (a finger-width) of each other in the morning sky. Look to the east around sunrise.
On Nov. 28, a lunar eclipse will be visible throughout North America.
Jupiter will be at opposition Dec. 3, making its closest approach to Earth this year. This is the best time to view Jupiter and its four moons visible from Earth.
The year 2012 ends with the Geminids meteor shower Dec. 13 and 14. Considered one of the most active meteor showers, the Geminids can produce up to 60 colorful meteors per hour at peak. The radiant point will be in the constellation Gemini. This year the new moon will guarantee a dark sky. Best views are to the east after midnight.
Jan. 4 brought the peak of the Quadrantids meteor shower, classified as above-average with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. The near first quarter moon set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies. Meteors radiated from the constellation Bootes.
Feb. 20 to March 12 provides the best chance to see Mercury this year. The planet will be far enough from the sun's glare to be visible shortly after sunset, reaching a relatively bright magnitude of about -1 around March 5.
Mars will be at opposition, or closest approach to Earth this year, on March 3. This is the best time to view Mars.
March 14 brings the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter. The two brightest planets will be within 3 degrees of each other in the evening sky. Around March 25, a crescent moon will pass near the two planets, providing a pleasing evening sight.
On April 15, Saturn will be at opposition. This is the best time to view Saturn and its rings and moons. If you only view one celestial object this year, or in your lifetime, make it Saturn.
The Lyrids meteor shower will peak April 21 and 22. The Lyrids are average, usually producing about 20 meteors an hour at their peak. Lyrid meteors can produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The sky will be moonless for the shower this year. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Lyra after midnight.
On May 20, there will be a solar eclipse, partially visible throughout most of North America.
The following month, it's the moon's turn to hide. June 4 brings a partial lunar eclipse visible throughout most of North and South America.
The arguably biggest astronomy event of the year will take place June 5 and 6 when Venus transits the sun. This extremely rare and notable event will be entirely visible throughout most of eastern Asia, eastern Australia and Alaska. A partial transit can be caught in progress at sunset throughout most of North America. The next transit of Venus will not take place until the year 2117.
More meteors blast into the atmosphere at the end of July. The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks on July 28 and 29, producing about 20 meteors per hour at peak. The radiant point will be in the constellation Aquarius. The near first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight. Best viewing is usually to the east.
Sometime between Aug. 6 and 20, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory - a.k.a. the Curiosity rover - is scheduled to land on Mars. Similar t, but smaller than earlier Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity will have more instruments and experiments on board and its high-def color cameras will photograph the Martian surface while its instruments sample the soil and air in search of organic compounds.
The Perseid meteor shower, an annual favorite, peaks Aug. 12 and 13. The Perseids average around a meteor a minute but are known for bursts of activity. The radiant point sits in the constellation Perseus. The near last quarter moon will hang around but shouldn't hinder viewing for this stellar show. Look to the northeast after midnight.
The next shower, the Orionids, is highly irregular but usually peaks around Oct. 21 and 22. The Orionids is an average shower that produces about 20 meteors per hour at peak. The first quarter moon will set by midnight. Best viewing will be to the east after that.
The Leonids meteor shower arrives Nov. 17 and 18. The Leonids is one of the better meteor showers to observe, peaking with an average of 40 meteors per hour. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year every 33 years with a frenzy of hundreds of meteors an hour, last occurring in 2001.
The crescent moon will set early in the evening setting the stage with dark skies. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Leo after midnight.
Nov. 27 brings the conjunction of Venus and Saturn. These two bright planets will be within 1 degree (a finger-width) of each other in the morning sky. Look to the east around sunrise.
On Nov. 28, a lunar eclipse will be visible throughout North America.
Jupiter will be at opposition Dec. 3, making its closest approach to Earth this year. This is the best time to view Jupiter and its four moons visible from Earth.
The year 2012 ends with the Geminids meteor shower Dec. 13 and 14. Considered one of the most active meteor showers, the Geminids can produce up to 60 colorful meteors per hour at peak. The radiant point will be in the constellation Gemini. This year the new moon will guarantee a dark sky. Best views are to the east after midnight.