New Delhi: Several celestial events, such as moon phases, meteor showers, eclipses, oppositions, and conjunctions are common every year. The year 2021 also witnessed some special astronomical events. From The longest lunar eclipse since the 15th century, the year was full of interesting astronmical wonders.
Here is a list:
1. Quadrantids Meteor Shower
The year 2021 began with these meteor showers occurring on January 2 and 3. The Quadrantids are considered to be one of the best annual meteor showers. The Quadrantids peak is much shorter, lasting only a few hours, NASA said on its website. The shower has a thin stream of particles, which causes the peak to be so short. Also, the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle. As many as 60 to 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen per hour during the peak of the showers.
These meteor showers are known for their bright fireball meteors, which are larger explosions of light and colour.
2. Mercury At Greatest Elongation
On March 6, Mercury’s greatest western elongation took place. Mercury, which is the solar system’s innermost planet, swung to 27.3 degrees west of the Sun at its greatest elongation. This was the maximum angular separation between the Sun and Mercury in the entire year, and the best time to see the planet for people living in the Southern Hemisphere.
Before sunrise, the line-up of three planets was witnessed on that day. Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn soared much higher up in the Southern Hemisphere morning sky than at comparable latitudes in the northern half of the world.
3. Lyrids Meteor Shower
This year, the Lyrids peaked on the night of April 21. These are one of the oldest known meteor showers, and have been observed for 2,700 years.
Lyrids were sighted for the first time in 678 BC by the Chinese, according to NASA. The Lyrids are fast and bright meteors, and travel at a velocity of 49 kilometres per second.
The peak activity meteor count is 20 meteors per hour. C/1861 Thatcher is its comet of origin.
4. Supermoon & Blood Moon
On May 26, the Moon was located on Earth’s opposite side from the Sun, and was fully illuminated. The Moon had the nearest approach to Earth on this day, making it appear as the largest Full Moon of the year. This is commonly referred to as a “supermoon”.
The Full Moon that occurs during spring is also referred to as the “Flower Moon” by Native Americans because the spring flowers appeared in abundance during this time of the year.
May’s supermoon was special because its colour was red!
Also, the year’s only total lunar eclipse occurred on May 26. The total eclipse phase was visible near the moonset in some regions of the world.
The last total lunar eclipse had occurred two and a half years before. Earth had not witnessed a total lunar eclipse occurring with a supermoon in almost six years.
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5. Annular Solar Eclipse
On June 10, certain parts of the world across the Northern Hemisphere had the chance to experience an annular or partial eclipse of the Sun.
During an annular eclipse, the Moon is far enough away from Earth, as a result of which the Moon appears smaller than the Sun in the sky. The Moon does not block the entire view of the Sun, and looks like a dark disk on top of a larger, bright disk.
Some people could see a ring of fire around the Moon on June 10, 2021. People who did not see the ring around the Moon experienced a partial solar eclipse.
6. Perseids Meteor Shower
On August 12 and 13, the Perseids meteor showers occurred. These are considered the best meteor showers of the year. The peak activity meteor count is up to 100 meteors per hour.
The comet of origin is 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Perseids leave long “wakes” of light and colour behind them as they pass through Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA.
These showers are known for their fireballs. The showers can peak any time between July 17 and August 13. The meteors radiate from the Constellation Perseus.
7. Blue Moon & Full Moon
A Full Moon, which was special for a number of reasons, occurred on August 22. Native American tribes referred to the Full Moon as the Sturgeon Moon, because the large sturgeon fish were more easily caught at this time of the year. Several places on Earth also witnessed a Blue Moon.
The second Full Moon in a calendar month with two Full Moons is called a monthly Blue Moon. The third Full Moon of an astronomical season that has four Full Moons is called a seasonal Blue Moon. An astronomical season is the period of time between a solstice and an equinox.
The third Full Moon, or the seasonal Blue Moon of the year occurred on August 22.
Blue-coloured Moons are rare. When a blue-coloured Moon occurs, it is the result of water droplets in the air, and certain clouds. A Blue Moon typically appears pale gray, white or has a yellowish color.
Blue Moons occur once every two or three years. Earth’s last Blue Moon occurred on October 31, which is the night of Halloween. This year’s Blue Moon appeared near Jupiter and Saturn. The next Blue Moon will be seen in August 2023.
8. Longest Lunar Eclipse In 580 Years
On November 19, the world saw the longest lunar eclipse in hundreds of years. It was the longest partial lunar eclipse since the 15th century.
An "almost total" lunar eclipse was visible late evening on November 18 in some parts of the world. The Moon passed into the shadow of the Earth, and created a partial lunar eclipse so deep, that it was called almost total.
An almost total lunar eclipse is one in which up to 99.1 per cent of the Moon's disk is within Earth's umbra, according to NASA.
The duration of the eclipse was 3 hours and 28 minutes, making it the longest lunar eclipse in the last 580 years.
February 18, 1440 was the last time such a lengthy lunar eclipse took place. The next longest lunar eclipse will occur on February 8, 2669, according to timeanddate.com.
9. Only Total Solar Eclipse Of 2021
A total solar eclipse occurred on December 4 across Antarctica. This was the only place where the total phase of the solar eclipse was seen.
The partial phase of the solar eclipse was visible in southern parts of Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America, and the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean, according to timeanddate.com.
This final eclipse of the year was the only total solar eclipse of 2021. The next total solar eclipse will occur on April 20, 2023.
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10. Ursids Meteor Showers
The Ursids meteor showers peaked on the night between December 22 and 23.
The Ursids get their name because they appear to originate in the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. People can see as many as 10 meteors per hour. The Ursids are associated with the 8P/Tuttle comet.