Astronomical Calendar of 2021 (major astronomical events until June 2021)
Another year is coming to an end. Another year spent on this beautiful
planet that we, humans, call Earth and home. Another orbit around the Sun, and another bunch
of kilometres gallivanting around the Galaxy. 2020: what a year!
How have you been feeling during these 366 days? Do you think yourself as the same person that
walked into the twenties, or are you a different person?
While our lives and daily routine changed completely this year
and we don't know when exactly life will get back to normal, there was no rest for science,
and discoveries were not lacking. We found phosphine on Venus, water
on the Moon in more places than NASA thought, a mysterious signal from Proxima Centauri and so on.
Also, we saw Crew Dragon's astronauts leaving Earth and reaching the ISS,
and last but not least, some days ago we were on Youtube, waiting for the Starship's belly flop.
But what will 2021 be like?
Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts because we are going to dive into a new year!
Follow me on this journey to get to know more about the major astronomical events that are
going to take part next year: take this video as the Astronomical Calendar of the year 2021. Enjoy!
JANUARY 2: Earth at perihelion, Isaac Asimov Birthday.
On 2nd January 2021, the Earth will be at the perihelion.
What does it mean? Perihelion is the
point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid or comet at which it is closest to the sun.
At Perihelion, not only is a body travelling at it’s highest velocity,
but it is also the most effective and efficient moment to alter the object’s orbital trajectory.
By applying small, calculated changes at Perihelion you can completely alter your course.
On the same day, we will celebrate Isaac Asimov's birthday:
he was a famous writer and professor. We suggest you take a look at his books!
JANUARY 4: Quadrantids meteor shower, Isaac Newton's Birthday
One of the best annual meteor showers, peaking at up to 120 meteors per hour.
The Quadrantids are usually active between the end of December and the second week of January,
and peak around January 3-4. Unlike other meteor showers that tend to stay at their
peak for about two days, the peak period of the Quadrantids only lasts a few hours.
Keep an eye to the sky and remember to eat a piece of cake
in honour of one of the greatest scientists of all time: sir Isaac Newton!
JANUARY 10: Triple Conjunction, Frank Sinatra's birthday
Some days ago we had the opportunity to see the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction in the sky.
Prepare yourself, because, on January 10th, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury will appear close
to each other in the evening sky: we will have what's called a “Triple Conjunction”!
And if you like Frank Sinatra, you can watch this fantastic triple conjunction
with his music in the background, because on January 10th it will be his birthday!
JANUARY 24: Saturn at solar conjunction
A “Solar conjunction” occurs when a planet or other solar system object
is on the opposite side of the Sun from the Earth. From an Earth reference, the Sun will pass between
the Earth and the object. Communication with any spacecraft in solar conjunction will be
severely limited due to the Sun's interference on radio transmissions from the spacecraft.
On January 24th, Saturn will pass close to the Sun and will be unobservable for weeks to come.
January 29: Jupiter at solar conjunction
After Saturn, also Jupiter will pass close to the Sun and will be unobservable for weeks to come.
February: NOTHING RELEVANT, maybe we could just
mention the alpha-Centaurid meteor shower on February, 8th, 2021.
MARCH 11: Neptune at Solar Conjunction
The blue planet will pass close to the Sun and will no longer be observable for weeks to come.
Did you know that you would sink if you stood on Neptune?
The gravitational force on Neptune is just 0.17 times
stronger than the earth’s gravity. Standing on the surface of the planet without sinking
is, however, not possible as it is a ball of gas and ice.
MARCH 20: Spring Equinox, Buzz Aldrin's Birthday
The World “EQUINOX”, comes from Medieval Latin equinoxium, for
Latin aequinoctium “the time of equal days and nights”.
At the equinox, the Sun shines directly over the Equator.
March 20 is the first day of spring in the North and autumn in the South.
Also, on March 20 2021 Buzz Aldrin will blow out the candles,
as he'll turn 91 years old! Happy birthday, Buzz! Wait...you don't know who he is? Oh boy!
Aldrin, together with Armstrong, and Collins was an Apollo 11 mission's astronaut!
It was launched to the Moon on July 16, 1969. Four days later Armstrong and Aldrin landed
near the edge of Mare Tranquillitatis. After spending about two hours gathering rock samples,
taking photographs, and setting up scientific equipment for tests,
they concluded their lunar surface excursion. Armstrong and Aldrin later piloted the lunar
module Eagle to a successful rendezvous with Collins and the command module in
lunar orbit. The mission ended on July 24 with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
MARCH 28: First SuperMoon
The first supermoon of 2021. The moon will appear slightly
bigger and brighter than average. The term “supermoon” was coined in 1979 and
is often used today to describe what astronomers would call a perigean full moon: a full moon
occurring near or at the time when the Moon is at the closest point in its orbit around Earth.
MARCH 29: Venus at its brightest
This will be a great chance to see the planet in the evening sky: Venus at its brightest
has an average magnitude of -4.7. Of course, a planet doesn't shine.
Planets have no light source of their own, unlike the numerous stars throughout
the universe. However, it is sometimes possible for the surface of a planetoid
to reflect light from a nearby star, giving it the illusion that it 'shines' much like the Moon.
APRIL 17: Lunar occultation of Mars
An occultation occurs when one celestial body passes in front of another.
Bodies in the Solar System occult stars and occasionally occult one another.
Lunar occultations of stars are more frequent than any other kind, due to the large apparent
size of the Moon and its rapid motion through the sky. Many years ago, lunar occultations provided
a ready means of comparing the position of the Moon and stars at specific instants in time,
and therefore could be used to validate and update theories of the lunar orbit. Nowadays, although
they have little scientific value, they remain an interesting spectacle for the amateur observer.
The red planet will disappear behind the Moon for the first time in 2021 on April 17.
"Ehi! How are you going to celebrate the ending of the old year? Let us
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MAY 6: eta-Acquarid Meteor Shower, George Clooney's Birthday
If you want to do something special with the person you love, you should probably take a car
and drive to a place where the sky is clear, in order to enjoy the amazing Acquarid shower show.
These are fireballs from Halley's comet: up to 40 meteors per hour!
Post scriptum: on April 17th you may wish George Clooney a happy birthday: he will turn 60!
MAY 26: Total Lunar Eclipse
If you are From Oceania, Americas and Eastern and Southeast Asia, I'm sure you won't miss this
spectacular Toal Lunar Eclipse on May 26 2021! Lunar eclipses occur on a Full Moon night
when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned in a straight line or almost straight line in space.
Anyone on the night-side of the Earth at the time of the eclipse can see it.
Viewing most lunar eclipses requires little effort—partial and total eclipses of the
Moon are very easy to see as long as you have a clear view of the Moon and the Sky.
MAY 29: Venus and Mercury, John F. Kennedy's birthday
On May 29, you'll get to see an astronomy rarity that is sure to please. A close pairing of Venus
and Mercury will grace the dusk sky, creating the closest planet conjunction
that we are likely to see in 2021, and one of the easiest times to see Mercury, as well.
Venus and Mercury will pass within 0°24' of each other on May 29.
They will be so close! Prepare your telescopes and send us some photos!
This will be a special day because it will be president John F. Kennedy's birthday!
Let's celebrate!
JUNE 10: Annular solar eclipse
Visible from Canada, Greenland, the U.S, Europe and Russia, a beautiful annular solar eclipse!
But what's an Annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers the Sun's centre,
leaving the Sun's visible outer edges to form a “ring of fire” or annulus around the Moon.
The name “annular” comes from the Latin word for ring,
“annulus.” These eclipses are named for their darkest, or maximum, point
even if it only lasts less than a second. If the characteristic ring of fire is visible from even
just one location, the whole eclipse is called an annular solar eclipse.
JUNE 21: Summer solstice, Prince Philip's birthday
The Sun will shine directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
While the calendar may say June 1 was the first day of summer, the season actually starts when the
summer solstice happens, according to astronomers. That’s because meteorologists divide the year into
four seasons based on weather patterns, so the summer solstice always occurs later than
the first day of summer on the calendar. The summer solstice begins when the tilt
of the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun directly above the Tropic of Cancer.
Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts because on the same day
Prince Philip will be...wait for it...100 years old!
Happy birthday!
However, those mentioned up here were just some of the Major astronomical events that will happen
during the first half of 2021: stay tuned for the second part of the video!
Insane curiosity wishes you a Happy New Year!
"This video ends here! Thanks for watching everyone! Do you think 2021 will be better than in
2020? What astronomical event would you like to see the most? When is your birthday? Did you enjoy
this video? Let us know in the comment below! See you next time on the channel!