- A total eclipse of the moon takes place on 21 January – and it will be the best such event visible from the UK until 2029. The entire eclipse will be visible and the moon will be reasonably high in the sky. The gotcha is that it starts about 3am and goes on until after 6am with maximum totality starting at about 4.45am. But it’s well worth getting up for. Expect to see the moon turn a blood red colour (see picture).
- Late winter and spring offers slim pickings for meteor showers with only the Lyrids peaking on 23 April offering decent rates before Autumn. The year’s major showers will be the Perseids (13 August), Orionids (21 October), Leonids (18 November) and Geminids (14 December). Remember shooting stars can be seen in the days before and after and the dates given are for maximum activity.
- On 22 January Venus and Jupiter will be very close together in the pre-dawn sky – these are the brightest planets visible from earth.
- Jupiter will be at its best and visible low in the south on 10 June. On this night the giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and much brighter than any star. A pair of binoculars will reveal its four largest moons, appearing as bright dots either side of the planet. This fine object is very low at the moment for UK observers and the view will improve over the next decade.
- The magnificent ringed planet – Saturn – is at its best on 9 July. Looking like a bright yellow star, a small telescope will reveal its lovely rings. The planet remains quite low down, which is not ideal for observing. But don’t let that put you off – seeing this marvellous object should be on everyone’s bucket list.
- Watch out for ghostly noctilucent clouds on the northern horizon from late May until early August. Electric blue and stunningly beautiful they are the highest clouds that can form in the earth’s atmosphere and really do glow in the dark. Last year was a vintage one thanks to the long hot summer.
- A rare transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun is visible from the UK on 11 November. The planet will be seen as a black disc moving across the sun. The event starts soon after noon and to observe it you will need a telescope fitted with a special solar filter. Looking at the sun without such a protective filter will cause permanent eye damage! This video shows you some of the ways you can stay safe and enjoy the spectacle – https://vimeo.com/161001352
- There are two fabulous Dark Sky Festivals this year. The Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Northumberland and the South Downs stage their joint event from 15 February to 3 March, marking the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. The North Pennines AONB takes the stage with its celebration in late October. Both feature scores of amazing events.
- Want to buy a telescope? Click on blog thoughts on the tab line.
Follow us on Twitter
My TweetsUpcoming Events
- Total Lunar Eclipse 21/01/2019 at 03:00 – 06:00 United Kingdom A total eclipse of the moon takes place on 21 January – and it will be the best such event visible from the UK until 2029. The entire eclipse will be visible and the moon will be reasonably high in the sky. The gotcha is that it starts about 3am and goes on until after…
- 4th Dark Sky Festival 15/02/2019 – 03/03/2019 The Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Northumberland and the South Downs stage their 4th Dark Sky Festival from 15 February to 3 March, marking the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/
- Kielder Spring Star Camp 06/03/2019 – 11/03/2019 Kielder Campsite, Kielder, Hexham NE48 1EJ, UK The legendary Kielder Forest Star Camp returns with a five night camp under England's dark sky! kielderforeststarcamp.org
- Jupiter at its brightest 10/06/2019 Jupiter will be at its best and visible low in the south on 10 June. On this night the giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and much brighter than any star. A pair of binoculars will reveal its four largest moons, appearing as bright dots either side of the planet. This…
- Earth at its most distant! 04/07/2019 It may be high summer in the UK, but our planet is actually the farthest it will get from the sun during its elliptical orbit. That is more than made up for by the fact the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards our nearest star, meaning the sun is high in the sky, providing lots of…
- Saturn at its best 09/07/2019 The magnificent ringed planet – Saturn – is at its best on 9 July. Looking like a bright yellow star, a small telescope will reveal its lovely rings. The planet remains quite low down, which is not ideal for observing. But don’t let that put you off – seeing this marvellous object should be on…
- 50th anniversary of first moon landing 20/07/2019
- Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks 12/08/2019 This is the first of the really good meteor showers of the observing season. You will see shooting stars before and after this date, but the peak over be in the wee small ours of the 13 August. Relax, sit back and enjoy the view with your naked eye. Expect to see two or three…
- Dalby Forest Starfest 29/08/2019 – 02/09/2019 Dalby Forest, Scarborough YO13, UK Four nights under the lovely skies of the North York Moors. Camping on Adderstone Field in one of Yorkshire's biggest forests. The view of the Milky Way is sublime. http://www.scarborough-ryedale-as.org.uk/saras/starfest/starfest-2019/ Open to beginners (pre booking essential) but red lights rules apply.
- Orionid Meteor Shower 21/10/2019 The lovely Orionid meteor shower peaks overnight, with the best time to view actually in the wee small hours of 22 Oct. The show is produced by bits of debris left behind by Comet Halley entering the earth's atmosphere and burning up. Don't bother with telescopes and binos - your naked eye is the best…
