Future Events The night sky here at any time of the year is full of beautiful sights and some surprises. Events such as auroras or comets are unpredictable, but when visible will be highlighted on the Home Page and full details will be posted here. As they are observed further details will be posted on the Events Page. If you are planning a trip to the Galloway Astronomy Centre the following astronomical events may help in deciding when to book. 2020 Year’s Highlights: Venus - between Jan 24th to May 1st Venus will be very bright in the western sky after sunset. Venus - between July 1st to Oct 1st Venus will be very bright in the eastern sky before sunrise Mars - between Aug 15th to Dec 31st Mars will be very bright in the nights sky in Pisces. Jupiter & Saturn conjunction on Dec 12th not seen since 2000. 2 Comets - Blanpain and C/2017 T2 PANSTARRS 3 Jan Quadrantid meteor shower 10 Jan Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (18.00UT).There will be very little change in the Moon’s brightness. 28 Jan Moon close to Venus after sunset (18.00UT) 10 Feb Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation 24 Mar Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation 7 Apr Moon at its closest distance of the year 21 Apr Lyrid meteor shower 5 May Eta Aquarid meteor shower 4 Jun Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation 17 Jul Moon close to Venus (02.00UT) 13 Aug Venus at Greatest Western Elongation 13 Aug Perseid meteor shower 1 Oct Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation 13 Oct Mars at Opposition. The red planet will be at its closest to Earth 62.5 million Km 21 Oct Orionid meteor shower 10 Nov Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation 17 Nov Leonids meteor shower 13 Dec Geminids meteor shower 21 Dec Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (17.00UT) Not seen since 2000 the two planet will be only 6arcminutes apart. As a scale 30 arcmins is the size of the full Moon 22 Dec Ursids meteor shower For BST time add 1 hour to UT when applicable (31st March to 27th Oct) Further details on these comets and track maps can be found on the COMETS page Moon Phases 2020 New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Jan 3 Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 24 Feb 2 Feb 9 Feb 15 Feb 23 Mar 2 Mar 9 Mar 16 Mar 24 Apr 1 Apr 8 Apr 14 Apr 23 Apr 30 May 7 May 14 May 22 May 30 Jun 5 Jun 13 Jun 21 Jun 28 Jul 5 Jul 12 Jul 20 Jul 27 Aug 3 Aug 11 Aug 19 Aug 25 Sep 2 Sep 10 Sep 17 Sep 24 Oct 1 Oct 10 Oct 16 Oct 23 Oct 31 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 22 Nov 30 Dec 8 Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 30 - - 5 Days either side of the New Moon will always give the darkest skies. This is needed for seeing fainter nebulae and galaxies. Planets (when visible) and brighter star clusters can be viewed at any phase of the Moon.

Future Events The night sky here at any time of the year is full of beautiful sights and some surprises. Events such as auroras or comets are unpredictable, but when visible will be highlighted on the Home Page and full details will be posted here. As they are observed further details will be posted on the Events Page. If you are planning a trip to the Galloway Astronomy Centre the following astronomical events may help in deciding when to book. 2020 Year’s Highlights: Venus - between Jan 24th to May 1st Venus will be very bright in the western sky after sunset. Venus - between July 1st to Oct 1st Venus will be very bright in the eastern sky before sunrise Mars - between Aug 15th to Dec 31st Mars will be very bright in the nights sky in Pisces. Jupiter & Saturn conjunction on Dec 12th not seen since 2000. 3 Jan Quadrantid meteor shower 10 Jan Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (18.00UT).There will be very little change in the Moon’s brightness. 28 Jan Moon close to Venus after sunset (18.00UT) 10 Feb Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation just after sunset (17.00UT) 24 Mar Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation after sunset (18.30UT). 7 Apr Moon at its closest distance of the year 356,909 km 18:08UT) 21 Apr Lyrid meteor shower (usually 20 meteors per hour) 5 May Eta Aquarid meteor shower (usually 10 meteors per hour 4 Jun Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation just after sunset (21.00UT) 17 Jul Moon close to Venus before sunrise (02.00UT) 13 Aug Venus at Greatest Western Elongation before sunrise. 13 Aug Perseid meteor shower 1 Oct Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation just after sunset. 13 Oct Mars at Opposition. The red planet will be at its closest to Earth 62.5 million Km 21 Oct Orionid meteor shower 10 Nov Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation just before sunrise (06.30UT) 17 Nov Leonids meteor shower 13 Dec Geminids meteor shower 21 Dec Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (17.00UT) Not seen since 2000 the two planet will be only 6arcminutes apart. As a scale 30 arcmins is the size of the full Moon 22 Dec Ursids meteor shower For BST time add 1 hour to UT when applicable (31st March to 27th Oct) 2020 Comets Mostly comets do not show much of a tail and look like round fuzzy blobs. In dark skies with little light pollution a 7th magnitude (mag) comet should be visible in binoculars or small telescope. A 5th mag comet or brighter will be visible to the unaided eye. A comet is highly unpredictable and can brighten or fade rapidly so it is worth watching it on a regular basis There are two bright comets expected at end of 2019 but observable into 2020. Further details on these comets and track maps can be found on the COMETS page Moon Phases 2019 New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Jan 3 Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 24 Feb 2 Feb 9 Feb 15 Feb 23 Mar 2 Mar 9 Mar 16 Mar 24 Apr 1 Apr 8 Apr 14 Apr 23 Apr 30 May 7 May 14 May 22 May 30 Jun 5 Jun 13 Jun 21 Jun 28 Jul 5 Jul 12 Jul 20 Jul 27 Aug 3 Aug 11 Aug 19 Aug 25 Sep 2 Sep 10 Sep 17 Sep 24 Oct 1 Oct 10 Oct 16 Oct 23 Oct 31 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 22 Nov 30 Dec 8 Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 30 - - 5 Days either side of the New Moon will always give the darkest skies. This is needed for seeing fainter nebulae and galaxies. Planets (when visible) and brighter star clusters can be viewed at any phase of the Moon.