List of Astronomical Events for 2015
Phases of the Moon
Half Moon – 1st Quarter
(Visible: 6pm-12am)
New Moon
(Not Visible)
Full Moon
(Visible: 8pm-6am)
Half Moon – Last Quarter
(Visible: 1am-8am)
Moon phases on Fridays
Jan
Feb
nd
Mar
th
Apr
th
2
Waxing
Gibbous
th
9
Waning
Gibbous*
6
Waning
Gibbous
th
13
Waning
Crescent
6
Full Moon
16th
Waning
Crescent*
20th
Waxing
Crescent
20
Waning
Crescent
(Not visible)
th
27
First Quarter
rd
23
Waxing
Crescent
th
30
Waxing
Gibbous
th
27
Waxing
Gibbous
May
rd
3
Full Moon
th
10
Waning
Gibbous*
th
17
Waning
Crescent*
13
Waning
Gibbous
th
Jun
st
1
Waxing
Gibbous
th
8
Waning
Gibbous*
th
15
Waning
Crescent*
th
22
Waxing
Crescent
th
29
Waxing
Gibbous
24
Waxing
Crescent
Jul
th
5
Waning
Gibbous
th
12
Waning
Crescent
th
19
Waxing
Crescent*
nd
26
Waxing
Gibbous
*Not visible during Observatory opening hours 7.45pm – 10.00pm.
th
th
Aug
rd
3
Waning
Gibbous
th
10
Waning
Crescent*
th
17
Waxing
Crescent
(Not visible)
th
24
First Quarter
st
31
Full Moon
Sep
th
7
Third
Quarter*
th
14
Waning
Crescent
(Not visible)
st
21
Waxing
Crescent
th
28
Full Moon
Oct
th
4
Waning
Gibbous*
th
11
Waning
Crescent
(Not visible)
th
18
Waxing
Crescent
th
25
Waxing
Gibbous
Nov
nd
2
Waning
Gibbous*
th
9
Waning
Crescent*
Dec
th
6
Waning
Gibbous*
th
13
New Moon
(Not visible)
th
20
Waxing
Gibbous
rd
27
Full Moon
16
Waxing
Crescent
23
Waxing
Gibbous
th
30
Waning
Gibbous*
th
4
Waning
Crescent*
th
11
New Moon
(Not visible)
th
18
First Quarter
th
th
25
Full Moon
th
Planets
The table below indicates the months in which you can view the planets in the evening sky.
Evening Sky (8.00pm-10.30pm)
Planet
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus*
Neptune*
Uranus and Neptune require telescopes to be seen. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be
seen with the unaided eye or with binoculars. Pluto and other dwarf planets are not visible.
Planetary events
Oppositions (outer planets only) – Opposition of a planet happens the planet and the Sun are on opposite sides of the sky. During this time the planet is
near its closest position to Earth and is seen at its brightest and fullest. The planets will mainly be visible after 9pm.
Conjunctions – Occurs when two or more objects appear extremely close together in the sky. They have the same right ascension or ecliptical longitude
when observed from Earth.
Date
6th Feb
Significant Planetary Events
Jupiter – Opposition
Remarks
Alignment of Jupiter, Earth & Sun.
Jupiter at its fullest and brightest.
22nd Feb
Conjunction of Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars appear in close proximity low on
the western horizon in the evening.
23rd May
Saturn – Opposition
Alignment of Saturn, Earth & Sun.
Saturn at its fullest and brightest.
26th Oct
Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus
28th Oct
Conjunction of Mars, Saturn and Venus
Jupiter and Venus appear close together in the
early morning before sunrise in the East. This will
be visible before sunrise.
Mars, Saturn & Venus appear in close proximity
in the early morning forming a tight 1° triangle at
the Eastern horizon. This would be visible before
sunrise.
Meteor Showers
Every year, on specific dates the Earth travels through several areas of debris left over from a comet or passing asteroid. This debris consists of rock or ice
particles similar to grains of sands. As Earth collides with these particles, they streak through the atmosphere, resulting in bright flashes as they burn up.
Timings & Rates: Meteor showers are best viewed between midnight and sunrise on the peak dates.
The highest rate of meteors usually occurs between 2am-5am. The rates given below are estimates for the best viewing conditions requiring clear, dark
skies. Brightly lit, urban environments like Singapore will see significantly less meteors.
Origins: This indicates the comet or asteroid from which the debris originates. The comet/asteroid is not visible at the time of the meteor shower.
Radiants: This indicates the point/constellation in the sky where the meteors appear to start from. The peak rate usually occurs after the radiant has risen
above the horizon. However, there is no need to look directly at the radiant as meteor travel out in all directions and can bee seen at a variety of distances
from the radiant, therefore a clear open view of most of the sky is important for observing meteor showers.
Peak Date
Jan 3rd & 4th
Meteor Shower Name
Quandrantids
April 22nd & 23rd
Lyrids
May 5th & 6th
Eta Aquarids
July 28th & 29th
Southern Delta Aquarids
August 12nd & 13rd
Perseids
Oct 8th & 9th
Draconids
Oct 21st & 22nd
Orionids
Nov 5th & 6th
Taurids
Nov 17th & 18th
Leonids
Dec 13rd & 14th
Geminids
Details
Estimated Rate: 40/hr
Origin: Comets C/1490 Y1 & C/1385 U1
Radiant: Bootes
Estimated Rate: 20/hr
Origin: Comet Thatcher C/1861 G1
Radiant: Lyra
Estimated Rate: 10/hr
Origin: Comet 1P/Halley (Halley’s Comet)
Radiant: Aquarius
Estimated Rate: 20/hr
Origin: Comet 96P/Machholz
Radiant: Aquarius
Estimated Rate: 60/hr
Origin: Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
Radiant: Perseus
Estimated Rate: 10/hr
Origin: Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Radiant: Draco
Estimated Rate: 20/hr
Origin: Comet 1P/Halley (Halley’s Comet)
Radiant: Orion
Estimated Rate: 5-10/hr
Origin: Asteroid 2004 TG10, Comet 2P/Encke
Radiant: Taurus
Estimated Rate: 40/hr
Origin: Comet 55P/ Tempel-Tuttle
Radiant: Leo
Estimated Rate: 40/hr
Origin: Asteroid 3200 Phaethon
Radiant: Gemini
Peak Date
Dec 22nd & 23rd
Meteor Shower Name
Ursids
Details
Estimated Rate: 5-10/hr
Origin: Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
Radiant: Ursa Minor
Eclipses of 2015
Eclipses occur during an alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon, resulting in the Sun’s light being blocked and a shadow being cast on either the Earth or the
Moon.
Each is eclipse is only visible in a small number of locations.
The location of an eclipse depends on the Earth’s position and tilt, the time, duration and precision of the alignment.
There are two main types of eclipses:
Solar Eclipse: The New Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth, blocking out the Sun in certain locations on Earth. Always occurs in the daytime.
Lunar Eclipse: The Full Moon moves directly behind the Earth. The Moon becomes covered by Earth’s shadow. Always occurs in the evening.
Date
20th March
Eclipse type
Total Solar Eclipse
Location & Visibility
Not visible in Singapore
4th April
Total Lunar Eclipse
Visible in Singapore, from 7pm to 9pm.
13th September
Partial Solar Eclipse
Not visible in Singapore
28th September
Total Lunar Eclipse
Not visible in Singapore