The year that leaves leaves us a good taste in astrophysical matters.
We were able to experience events like the great solar eclipse in July that could be seen in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
The scientists also left us pleasant news about space: the publication, for example, of the first image of a black hole, which was presented by a group of NASA scientists, thanks to the collaboration of computer experts such as Katie Bouman
But what will it bring us next year?
Thanks to advances, space observation has not only been facilitated, but astrophysical phenomena can can be predicted more accurately.
The astronomical calendar for 2020 shows a great lunar activity. But he also points out that we will have to wait until the end of the year to be able to witness a total solar eclipse.
In BBC Mundo we present four of the most striking phenomena that we will observe in the sky in 2020.
1. Total eclipse of Sol
We will have to wait until December 14 to be able to appreciate the only total solar eclipse of 2020, an event that occurs when the moon blocks the passage of sunlight.
The phenomenon can be appreciated especially in the southern hemisphere, especially in some areas of New Zealand, Chile and Argentina.
It can also be seen partially in large areas of Brazil.
In 2020 another solar eclipse will also be presented, but it will not be total but annular, which is when the Moon is not so close to the Earth as to completely block the solar disk that can be seen from the surface. The annular eclipse of 2020 will occur on June 21.
2. The Supermoon
On March 9, one of the most striking events of the year will be presented: the Superluna. This occurs when the natural satellite is closer to Earth and coincides with the phase of the full Moon.
According to the calendars issued by several countries, the phenomenon can be observed in the morning and during the sunset.
In those days the Moon will look 7% larger and 15% brighter, but many non-expert observers may not perceive the difference.
After the March Supermoon, the phenomenon will be repeated on April 7 and May 9.
2016 was the year in which the Lone was closer to Earth since 1948 and will not return to that position until 2034.
3. The Persandgone
Although during the year there are several star rains (January, April, May, June) and all are worth it, perhaps the most striking for stellar fans are those that occur in August and December.
Those that appear in the eighth month of the year have been called Persandgone or tears of San Lorenzo (August 10 is celebrated the day of San Lorenzo in several of the countries where you can see the phenomenon).
The truth is that it is not technically a shower of stars, but the traces of cosmic dust left by the comet Swift-tuttle, discovered in 1860, in its passage near the Sun and that can be observed on our planet.
Although they will be registered throughout the month of August, the days of greatest activity of this phenomenon will be 12 and 13.
4. The Geminids
They are, for many, the best rain of stars that can be expected this year, thanks to about 120 flashes in the sky.
“The rain of stars of Geminids is manifested with two different peaks, one with many meteors but not very bright and one with few meteors but leaving much more spectacular trails,” detailed in the blog portal Green.
It is the most recent meteorite rains, just towards the end of the 19th century, while other similar phenomena – such as the Perseids or Leonids – were described more than 1,000 years ago.
LThe dates to appreciate this phenomenon will be from December 13 to 15, 2020.
–
