Total Solar Eclipse 9 MARCH 2016

 

The last solar eclipse was a total eclipse on March 20, 2015. The long period of totality of this eclipse on 9th march 2016,  will be just over 4 minutes. The eclipse will begin over the Indian Ocean, and the moon’s shadow first makes landfall on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It then passes over Borneo, Sulawesi and Halmahera, before heading out into the Pacific Ocean, ending north of Hawaii. The partial eclipse will be visible over southern and eastern Asia, northern and western Australia, and much of the Pacific, including Hawaii.

Name constellations and big stars

FEBRUARY

Orion - the Hunter

Taurus - the Bull (note the "vee" of his head and horns)

Aldebaran - the eye of the bull - brightest star in Taurus and a red giant

Sirius - the brightest star in Canis major - the great dog

Procyon - the brightest star in Canis Minor

Gemini - the Twins.

The Pleiades - a star cluster

Betelgeuse - brightest star in Orion and a red supergiant

MAY

Leo - the Lion (Note the sickle shape of his head and shoulders)

Cancer - the Crab (This is a very dim constellation - the upside-down "y" is a good reminder)

Regulus - the brightest star in Leo

Spica - the brightest star in Virgo

Castor and Pollux - the two brightest stars in Gemini - the Twins

Corvus - the Crow (Note its kite-like shape)

JULY

Sagittarius - the Archer (look for its teapot shape)

Scorpius - the Scorpion

Antares - brightest star in Scorpius and a red giant

Hercules - Hercules

Altair - the brightest star in Aquilla - the Eagle

Corona Borealis - the Northern Crown.

Lyra -the Harp

Vega - brightest star in Lyra

AUGUST

Cygnus - the Swan (look for its cross shape ....it's also called the "Northern Cross")

Bootes - the Herdsman

Arcturus - brightest star in Bootes and a red giant

Hercules - Hercules

Corona Borealis - the Northern Crown.

Lyra -the Harp

Vega - brightest star in Lyra

OCTOBER

Capricorn - the Water Goat - (a not very obvious constellation)

Sagittarius - the Archer (now setting in the western sky)

Delphinus - the Dolphin

Altair - the brightest star in Aquilla - the Eagle

Pegasus - the Winged Horse (only the four stars that make up the great square are particularly obvious)

REFERENCE: http://www.astro.umass.edu/~arny/constel/night_sky_learn.html

 

How does the sky look this week

What is up there in the sky and the celestial / astronomical events update from www.astronomy.com

http://www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2016/03/the-sky-this-week-march-4---13

Solar and Lunar Eclipse #HowToRemember

SOLAR eclipse if when the SUN is eclipse / hidden
CLUE:    SME
Position: SUN     MOON    EARTH
Reason:   From EARTH you can't see the SUN because it is eclipsed by the MOON



LUNAR eclipse is when the MOON is eclipsed / hidden
CLUE:    SEM
Position:  SUN     EARTH     MOON
Reason:   SUN light is blocked by the EARTH from viewing the MOON
Solar Eclipse Stages - Image Courtesy: www.univcrsetoday.com

 

Anatomy of a solar eclipse - Image courtesy www.timeanddate.com