Moon Set for a Visual High
(Venus also to look spectacular)
The year 2007 holds unique and interesting nighttime celestial occurrences that are not just part of the daily, monthly or even annual routine.
The first full moon
of the year occurs on January 3. What
makes this event unusual is that this will be the highest Full Moon until the
year 2024! This means that the moon will
be 70.3 degrees above the southern horizon around 1:00 a.m. on the night of
January 2-3 as seen from
The moon moves into the Earth’s shadow twice to produce two total lunar eclipses in 2007. The first will occur on March 3, with the moon rising totally eclipsed as seen from our area. The second will be August 28 at which time the moon will set totally eclipsed as seen from here. The last time we had an opportunity to experience two total lunar eclipses in the same year from our area was in 2003 (May 15 and November 9).
The moon’s orbit around the Earth is oval shaped and is perturbed slightly by the sun and, to a lesser extent, the planets. The moon will be farthest from earth (apogee) on November 9 at a distance of 406,671 km (252,701 miles). This will be the farthest and smallest the moon will appear until the year 2020.
The planet Venus puts on a spectacular show this year as well. Those observers with good memories will remember how bright and conspicuous Venus was in 1999. Every 8 years the orbital geometry of Venus allows the planet to reach the eastern edge (elongation) of its orbit just as that orbit angles most vertically from our horizon. Orbital geometry aside, it is the results that matter, so here it is 8 years after the great 1999 Venus apparition. You will see Venus blazing brilliantly, high in the night sky, after sunset later this winter and especially in spring when it will not set until around midnight. Towards the end of January Venus will be easily visible low in the southwest after sunset. Its bright white glow is easily identified. A telescope shows Venus at a 94 percent lit phase.
Another unique event for 2007 is the last March 21 vernal equinox (first day of spring) until the 22nd century as determined by Universal Time. As a matter of fact all of the four equinoxes and solstices occur late this year.
Saturn rises around 9 p.m. in the northeast at the beginning of January. Residing in the constellation of Leo, the Ringed Planet is easily spotted as a yellow “star” just above (west) of Regulus the star marking the heart of Leo the Lion. Saturn comes to opposition on February 10th.
The moon is full on January 3 which will wash out the Quadrantid meteor shower. Saturn will have the waning gibbous moon above it on January 5.
Earth reaches perihelion (point in its elliptical orbit when it is nearest the sun) on January 3 at a distance of 147,093,602 km (91,402,224 miles). The Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun (short days) this time of year. It is this tilt rather than the Earth’s distance from the sun that makes the winter seasons cold.
Happy New Year
Ted Bronson