In 2022, don't miss these astronomical phenomena!
January
Quadrant meteor shower
The Quadrantids meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers of the year and is a good start to 2022. The astronomical scene is optimal for two reasons: First, the Quadrantids meteor shower is different from other meteor showers. According to NASA research, meteors in the constellation Quadrantids are derived from asteroids, while most meteors in meteor showers are derived from comets. Second, the famous fire meteors of the Quadrant Meteor Shower are larger and brighter when entering the atmosphere, and are easy to observe.
Unlike other meteor showers that peak for two days, according to NASA research, the Quadrantids meteor shower is only active for a few hours. During peak periods, 60 to 200 meteors can be seen per hour. According to NASA projections, the time of the Quadrantids meteor shower is the afternoon of January 3, 2022 on the East Coast. Although the time is slightly earlier, the new moon on January 3 means that the sky will be darker and more observable, so we can see some meteors falling in the early mornings of January 3 and 4.
April
Lyra meteor shower
One of the oldest known meteor showers, the Lyra meteor shower, will be active from mid-April and continue until the end of April. NASA predicts it will peak on the East Coast earlier in the afternoon of April 22.
According to EarthSky's advice, the best time to observe the Lyra meteor shower in 2022 is from after sunset on April 21 to the time the moon rises in the early morning of the following day.
According to NASA, humans have been observing the Lyra meteor shower for more than 2,700 years. It is one of the oldest known meteor showers, and the first recorded observation of the Lyra meteor shower was in China in 687 BC.
NASA scientists say the luminous object debris that falls like rain is actually fragmentation from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. Every year in mid-April, earth orbits into these space debris zones, where tiny specks of dust that initially crash into the atmosphere at 109,600 miles per hour turn into particles burning in the atmosphere that form meteor showers.
May
Aquarius η meteor shower
The 2022 Aquarius η meteor shower peaks in the hours leading up to dawn in May.
Due to their location, Aquarius η meteor showers, although they can also be seen in the northern hemisphere, are more suitable for people in the southern hemisphere. According to NASA, about 30 meteors will pass by every hour during the peak of this meteor shower, compared with about 10 per hour in the northern hemisphere.
The radiation point of this meteor shower, the location where the meteors that the stargazers should be watching, is near the water sign in the southeast of the sky. However, these meteors do not really come from the sign of Aqua, they are actually fragments of Halley's Comet, which orbits the sun every 76 years.
May total lunar eclipse
There are two total lunar eclipses in 2022, the earliest occurring on May 15-16. During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow completely obscures the moon, and the moon appears bright red, so this phenomenon is also known as the "blood moon".
The peak of the total lunar eclipse is at 12:11 a.m. Eastern Time on May 16 (0:11 a.m. Beijing time on the 17th).
June, July and August
The return of the supermoon
June 14, July 13 and August 12 will be Super moon days in 2022. According to NASA, a supermoon is when the moon is closest to Earth in orbit and is also a full moon, so the full moon of the day will be brighter and larger than the normal full moon.
August
Perseid meteor shower
The Perseid Meteor Shower is recognized as the "Best Meteor Shower of the Year". It occurs in the warm summer months, when dozens of meteors can be seen every hour across the sky.
But 2022 may not be the best time to watch the Perseid meteor shower. Because the peak of the Perseid meteor shower (August 12-August 13) coincided with the full moon. But EarthSky points out that the perseid meteor shower will last from July 14 to September 1, so astronomy enthusiasts can also choose other time periods to observe.
October
Orion meteor shower
According to NASA, the Orion meteor shower typically has 10 to 20 meteors per hour, and it is considered one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year. These meteors radiate from the constellation Orion. In 2022, Earth Sky said the best footage for this celestial show would be before dawn on October 21.
November
Total eclipse
On November 8, the second and final total lunar eclipse of the year will occur. During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow will completely envelop the Moon, and the Moon will therefore appear bright red. This phenomenon is also known as the Blood Moon.
The lunar eclipse is expected to reach its maximum on November 8 at 5:59 ET.
Leo meteor shower
Every year in mid-November, the Leo meteor shower peaks, but sometimes there are only about 15 meteors per hour. According to NASA, about every 33 years, the Leo meteor shower will have a peak of hundreds of meteors per hour. This phenomenon last occurred in 2002.
This year, the peak of the Leo meteor shower is observed in the early hours of November 17 to November 18.
December
Gemini meteor shower
The Gemini meteor shower returns every December and is also known as the "best and most reliable meteor shower".
Bill Cooke, head of the Meteoroid Environment office, said on NASA's website in 2021: "The Gemini meteor shower formed by numerous green fireballs is the only meteor shower I can see on a cold December night." ”
While the Gemini meteor shower appears mysterious, it is still one of the most popular astronomical events and has been around for a long time. NASA says the earliest Gemini meteor showers appeared in 1800, but they weren't very brilliant at the time, with only 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
This is a far cry from today's Gemini meteor shower. NASA says that under perfect conditions, 120 meteors can be seen per hour during the peak of the Gemini meteor shower.
In 2022, the Gemini meteor shower will be more abundant between December 4 and 17, and peak at 8:00 ET on the 14th. So the best time to observe this meteor shower will be before dawn on December 14.
Ursa Major meteor shower
The Ursa Major meteor shower will peak on December 22 and end the 2022 meteor shower.
As AMS explains, the Ursa Major meteor shower is often overlooked because the Ursa Major meteor shower peaks before Christmas and is at a much lower rate than the Gemini meteor shower it was a week ago.
BY:Andrew Weil
FY：Astronomical volunteer team
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