Photo: Yuting Gao (Pexels)
Space continues to show us the great mysteries that it hides and during this year that is beginning, it will only be enough to turn to see the sky to admire the astronomical shows that it has prepared for us.
By: Laura Puentes
So this day we share with you when and where you can see them so you don’t miss any, and enjoy the astral wonders of the sky.
It will be at the end of March and until the first days of April that our neighboring planets, Venus, Mars and Saturn, will be seen brighter, as if it were a celestial ballet, since they will be grouped in a triangle.
To see this spectacle, it is best to look at the sky about an hour before sunrise. In addition, on March 27 and 28, the growing Moon will pass along with the planetary party.
At the beginning of April, Saturn will also be able to be seen approaching Mars until both appear next to each other, between April 3 and 5. The two planets will appear closest on April 4, when they will be separated by only half a degree of arc, equal to the width of the full Moon.
This eclipse can be seen in South America, in some parts of Antarctica and over areas of the southern Pacific Ocean.
The moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun on April 30. The maximum eclipse will occur at 20:41 UTC (universal time), when up to 64 percent of the solar disk will be covered by the moon.
To better see the partial solar eclipse, the ideal place will be the Southern Ocean, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. However, in the southernmost parts of Chile and Argentina, observers will only be able to see about 60 percent of the sun eclipsed by the moon.
As the year progresses, the sky shows more wonderful phenomena. For the month of April, it is expected that the admirers of the sky will be able to see an event in which the planet Jupiter will shine impressively and at the same time will approach Venus, giving way to a show that would seem like a merger of both stars.
The best area to see them is a line towards the southeast horizon and the ideal time to enjoy this would be before the light of dawn is present. About 30 minutes earlier would be the exact time.
Perhaps the best gift for viewers of the universe will come in the first days of May, when the peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower can be seen, where the pre-dawn hours are perfect for enjoying the best view.
The inhabitants of the Southern Hemisphere will have the best view of this show, although also in the Northern Hemisphere you can see from 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour.
The month of May continues to advance and before it ends, it will have another gift for lovers of astronomy, since on May 15 and 16 a total lunar eclipse will take place.
This particular lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
Since flowers begin to grow at this time of year in the northern hemisphere, this eclipse has been called the Lunar Eclipse of Flowers.
In the middle of the year, one of the most curious and surprising astronomical events of 2022 will take place, as you will be able to see a rare alignment of all the main planets visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and, possibly, Uranus.
In addition, our natural satellite, the Moon, will pass close to each of these stars between June 18 and 27.
So in order not to lose any detail of each of these shows, prepare the telescope for the morning twilight.
During the month of October, some areas of Europe and the Middle East will be adorned by the stupendous event of a partial solar eclipse. This would be the second of the year.
The maximum eclipse will occur at 11:00 local time. Unfortunately, people in North and South America will not be able to enjoy this celestial event, as the partial solar eclipse will occur overnight on this continent.
A little before the end of 2022, the enigmatic red color of the moon can be seen with a total eclipse. It will be the night of November 7 to 8. People living in North and South America, Australia, Asia, and parts of Europe will have the opportunity to look at a reddened moon.
But those in the western United States and Canada, eastern Russia, New Zealand, and parts of eastern Australia will have the privilege of seeing the full eclipse. This will start around 3:03 am Pacific Time, and will end around 3:41 am.
Without a doubt, this year will be perfect to not lose sight of the sky and enjoy all the surprises that the universe hides.
ICONS: CAROLINA ROBLES
