Supermoon 2019: Top 5 astronomy events you can't miss this year - Eclipse to Meteor Shower
A SUPERMOON on the night of the Spring Equinox today is just one of the many exciting astronomical events this year. Here are the top five astronomy spectacles, from eclipses to meteors showers, this year.
NASA outline what makes a supermoon 'super'
The March Full Moon arrives today in the late night hours between Wednesday, March 20, and Thursday, March 21. The Full Moon also happens to be the third and final of three Supermoon events, which kick-started this year’s astronomical calendar. In the UK, the Full Moon will reach peak illumination around 1.42am GMT on Thursday. This Supermoon is of particular interest to astronomers, not only because it is the last of the year, but it also falls on the night of the Spring Equinox.
The Spring or Vernal Equinox marks the day when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, moving from south to north.
The event is the astronomical beginning of Spring and starting today, the days will get longer and nights shorter.
And the term Supermoon describes a Full Moon at its closest orbital distance from the Earth.
Soon after, at the start of May, is the next of this year’s most exciting astronomy spectacles – the Eta Aquarius meteor shower.
The annual meteor shower peaks in intensity this year on the nights of May 6 and May 7.
READ MORE: Why is the March Full Moon known as the Worm Moon?
The Eta Aquarids are the cosmic off-shoots and bits and pieces of space rock left behind by the famous Halley’s Comet.
The Aquarid meteor shower typically produces up to 30 bright shooting stars an hour.
US space agency NASA said: “The Eta Aquarids peak during early May each year.
“Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed. These meteors are fast – travelling at about 148,000mph (66km/s) into Earth’s atmosphere.
READ MORE: Watch the March Worm Supermoon coincide with the Spring Equinox
“Fast meteors can leave glowing ‘trains’ which last for several seconds to minutes.
The Eta Aquarids peak during early May each year
“In general, 30 Eta Aquarid meteors can be seen per hour during their peak.”
The next event to look out for is the brilliant total solar eclipse on July 2.
The eclipse will unfold over parts of South America when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, casting its dark shadow over portions of the planet.
READ MORE: When is the start of Spring?
After that, the roles will reverse with a partial eclipse of the Moon on July 16 and July 17.
The partial lunar eclipse will see the Earth’s shadow bite into the face of the Moon over large swathes of Africa, the Middle East and some parts of Europe.
The year will then nicely wrap up with the Geminid meteor shower, which is the biggest shower of the year.
The Geminids are meteors left behind by the hurtling asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
The meteor shower is expected to produce more than 80 shooting stars an hour on the night of December 14 to December 15.
Geminids shower: Meteors seen in the skies over Florida
NASA said: "The second week of December heralds the beginning of the strongest meteor shower of the year – the Geminids.
"It’s a good time to bundle up, go outside and watch one of Mother Nature’s best sky shows!
"The Geminids are active every December, when Earth passes through a massive trail of dusty debris shed by a weird, rocky object named 3200 Phaethon.
"The dust and grit burn up when they run into Earth’s atmosphere in a flurry of 'shooting stars'."
Top Five Astronomy Events to look out for:
1. The March Supermoon - March 20 - March 21
2. Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower - May 6 - May 7
3. Total Solar Eclipse - July 2
4. Partial Lunar Eclipse - July 16 - July 17
5. Geminid Meteor Shower - December 14