Upcoming Events, SAAA Activities and Points of Interest
=========================================
Sources:
In-The-Sky.org
www.TimeAndDate.com
www.SeaSky.org
2024
=======================================================
Sep 18 -- Super Harvest Moon
In many Native American cultures, September’s Full Moon is called the Full Corn Moon. This year, it is also the Full Moon closest to the September equinox, making it 2024’s Harvest Moon as well. It is also a Supermoon.
Sep 22 -- September Equinox
Also known as the autumnal (fall) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, the September Equinox is considered by many as the first day of fall.
Oct 8/9 -- Draconid Meteor Shower
The best time to see the shooting stars of the peaking Draconids is just after nightfall.
Oct 17 -- Super Hunter’s Moon
The October Full Moon is traditionally called the Hunter’s Moon. In 2024, this is the second—and final—Super Full Moon of the year.
Oct 20/21 -- Orionid Meteor Shower
The Orionids are the second meteor shower in October. The shower peaks around October 20-21 but usually remains active between October 2 and November 7.
Oct 21 -- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter (08:05 UTC)
The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 5°48' to the north of Jupiter. The Moon will be 19 days old.
Nov 1: New Moon
Nov 4 (Mon) -- (POSTPONED to Next Mon) Quarterly Meeting of San Angelo Astronomy Assc, 7pm, ASU Planetarium
November 4, 5 -- Taurids Meteor Shower
The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of November 4. The first quarter moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. If you are patient, you may still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Nov 11 (Mon) -- Quarterly Meeting of San Angelo Astronomy Assc, 7pm, ASU Planetarium
Nov 15 -- Full Moon / Beaver Moon
November’s Full Moon is traditionally called a Beaver Moon, after beavers that build their dams during this time of the year.
Nov 16 -- Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
Nov 17,18 -- Leonid Meteor Shower
The Leonids shooting stars are visible between November 6 and 30, and peak on the night of November 17 and early morning of November 18, with up to 15 meteors per hour.
Nov 28 -- Thanksgiving Day
Dec 1 -- New Moon
There are two New Moons in December 2024. The first one falls on the first day of the month, at 06:21 UTC.
Dec 7 -- Jupiter at Opposition
The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, lies opposite the Sun in the sky, and is visible all night.
Dec 14/15 -- Geminid Meteors
Normally one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids peak around the night of December 14 and early morning hours of December 15. This year, alas, a bright Full Moon will reduce the number of meteors that can be spotted.
Dec 15 -- Cold Moon
One of the traditional names for the Full Moon in December is the Cold Moon.
Dec 21 -- December Solstice
The December solstice will take place at 09:20 UTC. Also known as the winter solstice, it is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year and is called the summer solstice.
Dec 22,23 -- Ursid Meteors
Catch the shooting stars of the last major meteor shower of the year, the Ursids, when it peaks in the night between December 22 and 23.
Dec 25 -- Christmas Day
Dec 25 -- Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
For the 7th and final time this year, Mercury reaches its farthest distance from the Sun in the sky. The only other planet that has greatest elongations (as viewed from Earth) is Venus—but in 2024 it doesn’t have any.
Dec 30: Black New Moon
The second New Moon of the month, making this a Black Moon.
There is no single accepted definition of a Black Moon. The term has been commonly used to refer to any of the following phenomena associated with the New Moon:
Second New Moon in the same month: These Black Moons are the most common ones, and they occur about once every 29 months. Because of time zone differences, the month they happen in can vary.
Third New Moon in a season of four New Moons: These Black Moons are a little rarer, and occur about once every 33 months. We divide a year into four seasons—spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter. Usually, each season has three months and three New Moons. When a season has four New Moons, the third New Moon is called a Black Moon. This is the exact counterpart to the original definition of a Blue Moon, except that Blue Moons are Full Moons.
No New Moon in February: About once every 19 years, there is no New Moon in February. This can only happen in February, as this is the only month which is shorter than a lunar month (lunation). When this occurs, both January and March have two New Moons, instead of just one.
The next Black Moon by this definition will occur in 2033, while the last one was in 2014. Because of time zone differences, these Black Moons may not happen all over the world.
No Full Moon in February: About once every 19 years, February does not have a Full Moon. Instead, there are two Full Moons in January and March, also known as a double Blue Moon.
The next Black Moon by this definition will occur in 2037, while the last one was in 2018. Because of time zone differences, these Black Moons may not happen all over the world.
==========================
2025
==========================
Jan 3, 4 -- Quadrantids Meteor Shower.
The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Jan 10 -- Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation.
The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 47.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
Jan 13 -- Full Moon.
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 22:28 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps. This moon has also been know as the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.
Jan 16 -- Mars at Opposition.
The red planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars. A medium-sized telescope will allow you to see some of the dark details on the planet's orange surface.
Jan 29 -- New Moon.
The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 12:37 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
Feb 3 (Mon) -- Quarterly Meeting of San Angelo Astronomy Assc, 7pm, ASU Planetarium
February 12 -- Full Moon.
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 13:55 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult, this moon has also been known by some tribes as the Hunger Moon, since the harsh weather made hunting difficult.
February 28 -- New Moon.
The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 00:46 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
March 8 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation.
The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 18.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.
March 14 - Full Moon.
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 06:56 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Crow Moon, the Crust Moon, the Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.
May 5 (Mon) -- Quarterly Meeting of San Angelo Astronomy Assc, 7pm, ASU Planetarium
2023 Ring of Fire, Annular Solar eclipse, san angelo texas concho valley, partial solar eclipse, annual, rare event, solar viewing glasses, solar filters available, telescope, solar scope, 2023, annular ring of fire path of eclipse, angelo astronomy,
2023 Ring of Fire, partial solar viewing, eclipse, Annular Solar eclipse, san angelo texas concho valley, partial solar eclipse, annual, filtered view, public telescope, safe viewing, rare event, solar viewing glasses, solar filters available, telescope, solar scope, 2023, annular ring of fire path of eclipse, angelo astronomy, Annular Solar eclipse, san angelo texas concho valley