Jupiter and Saturn are about to appear closer to each other in almost the same direction, making a great planetary pair on the day of the solstice December 21, 2020. This can be seen as a single bright star just after the sunset in the southwest sky, which can be observed once in a lifetime. …
A few days before the ‘Great Conjunction’, which will be able to see once in your lifetime, the crescent Moon will pass close to Jupiter and Saturn in the night sky on December 17. You will surely catch the Moon and the two largest planets in our solar system very close to each other in …
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. A total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the Sun, is happening for the first time this year on the 14th of December. This event is not this year’s first solar eclipse as the annular Solar eclipse which occurred in June …
One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, the Geminids, will peak on the night of December 13-14. The radiant point of the shower, the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini, will be highest in the sky around 2 a.m. This year, with the waning crescent moon and a favoring dark sky, …
Geminid meteor shower 2020 | ජෙමිනිඩ්ස් උල්කාපාත වර්ෂාව 2020 | ஜெமினிட் விண்கல் மழை 2020 Read More »
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s penumbra. During this type of eclipses, the Moon will be slightly darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible to Asia early on the morning of November 30, 2020. This will also be visible to North America, the Pacific Ocean, and northeastern Asia …
This week’s annual Leonid Meteor Shower is going to hit Earth, which peaks on the night between 17-18 November in the sky above Colombo. Leonids emerge from the Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which requires 33 years to revolve once around the sun. The Leonids originate from the constellation Leo, the lion, and hence, it has got its …
The second and the third most luminous celestial bodies: the moon and the Venus will appear closer early morning on 13th November (Friday) in the Eastern sky. The reaching of Mercury about an hour before the sunrise will grace the scenery. A picturesque view of the setting crescent moon and the dawning Venus could be …
Uranus is about to make its closest approach to earth on 31st October, making it appear at its brightest and largest. This happens when Uranus is almost directly opposite the Sun in the sky. It will be visible between 19:16 and 04:36 when it rises to an altitude of 20° above the eastern horizon. It …
Uranus at Opposition | යුරේනස්ගේ ප්රතිපක්ෂ වීම | யுரேனஸ்ஸின் எதிர்நிலை Read More »
The Red Planet or Mars as referred to by many is about to make not just the closest, but the brightest approach to Earth after 2003. It is expected to be at 62.07 million kilometers away from Earth and will not be this close until the year 2035. How does this happen? Well, once in …
Mars’ Opposition | අඟහරු ප්රතිපක්ෂ වීම | செவ்வாய் கிரகத்தின் எதிர்நிலை Read More »
The Orionids meteor shower, which began on 2nd October reaches its peak on the 21st of October just after midnight. This happens when the Earth passes through the debris from Halley’s Comet. Meteors of Orionids shower are visible in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, at a Zenithal Hourly Rate(ZHR) of 15. They travel at a …
