June 21 - Annular Solar Eclipse. Look for the crescent moon and Venus on September 14. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. The morning of Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, will be when the planet Venus appears at its highest above the horizon for this apparition (29 degrees for the Washington, DC area) at the time morning twilight begins. October 1 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). The content of this website is copyright © Jeffrey L. Hunt, 2011-2020. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. 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. The second quarter moon will ensure dark skies in the early evening for what should be a good show. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere. November 15 - New Moon. Is it better to use a telescope or binoculars to observe space? Customs include granting and asking others for forgiveness as well as beginning or ending all letters with the wish that the recipient will have a good year. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings and a few of its brightest moons. For the Washington, DC area, Regulus will rise in the east-northeast at 4:56 a.m. EDT and morning twilight will begin at 5:52 a.m.. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, at 7 a.m. EDT, will be the new Moon, when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. However, it’s definitely a paradise for anyone with any pair of binoculars. The crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. A partial eclipse will be visible in most parts of southern South America, the southeastern Pacific Ocean and the southern Atlantic Ocean. Newly discovered comet Atlas will make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of 72 million miles (116 million kilometers). The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. You will probably not be able to see them until at least 30 minutes after sunset (after 7:34 p.m. EDT for the Washington, DC area), when Mercury will be only about 3 degrees above the horizon. The blue giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. December 14 - Total Solar Eclipse. October 7 - Draconids Meteor Shower. 2020. Site Manager: This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the cold winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. It also coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere. Learn More{{/message}}. This phase occurs at 04:44 UTC. For the Washington, DC area, Aldebaran will rise in the east-northeast at 11:32 p.m. EDT, appearing about 8 degrees from the Moon. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information). 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 is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. The constellation Orion will appear about 50 degrees above the horizon in the south, with the bright stars of the Orion-Cygnus Arm of our home galaxy spread from the south-southeast toward the northwest. Friday, September 25 The Moon passes 1.6° south of Jupiter at 3 A.M. EDT this morning; our satellite then passes 2° south of Saturn at 5 P.M. EDT. Look to the west just after sunset for this impressive and rare planetary pair. But if you are patient, you should still should be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. On Friday evening, Sept. 18, 2020, if you have a very clear view of the horizon in the west, you might be able to see the planet Mercury appearing to the lower left of the thin, waxing crescent Moon. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky. Events & Star Parties | Clubs & Organizations | Equipment Guide | Astronomy Software March 24 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. This phase occurs at 19:32 UTC. On Saturday night into Sunday morning, Sept. 5 to 6, 2020, the planet Mars will appear quite near the waning gibbous Moon. As the lunar cycle progresses, the background of stars and planets will appear to shift toward the west, while Mercury will remain near the horizon, gradually shifting from the west toward the west-southwest, and setting before evening twilight ends.