astronomy

Don’t forget to look up this month to catch the rare sight of 5 planets aligning. This celestial event has not occurred since 2004, and we won’t see it again until 2041. 

Attention sky-watchers- our first total lunar eclipse of the year will occur on May 15th & 16th. With this eclipse, you’ll be able to see our silver moon turn a dark red as it aligns with the sun and the Earth for a total of 84 minutes. This eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. 

Spring is right around the corner, which means the Vernal Equinox will be happening this March 20th. On this special day, the amount of daylight and darkness is nearly the same length. 

On January 17th we can look forward to seeing the first full moon of 2022, also known as the “Wolf” Moon. Most moon names are currently documented in the Farmer’s Almanac, but the names themselves date back further than you’d think.

Keep an eye on the sky this month to witness the annual natural phenomenon, the Leonids Meteor Shower. For centuries, earthlings have had the privilege to watch this magnificent light show, and we’re so excited for another year of viewing!  

Talcott Mountain Science Center and Academy honors the life of Carolyn Shoemaker, a renowned astronomer we had the pleasure of hosting in 1989 at our SCISTAR program, “A Window on the World of Science.” At the time, Shoemaker had discovered more comets than any other astronomer and was blazing a trail for women in STEM. 

At the beginning of April, the Sun is in the constellation of Pisces, the Fish. By the end of the month, it appears in the constellation of Aries, the Ram. During the course of the month, the Sun appears 10 degrees higher in the sky, warming the northern hemisphere of our delicate world with its more direct rays, as tiny plants start poking their way out of the soil.

March heralds the RETURN OF SPRING--which many consider the MOST IMPORTANT event of the month! We celebrate the Vernal Equinox on March 20, 05:37 am EDT. That's when the Earth is at its point in orbit where both hemispheres (north and south) of our precious planet receive equal amounts of sunlight. What else is March known for?