1989 Almanac of Celestial Events

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The phases of a lunar eclipse.
The phases of a lunar eclipse.
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Sunlight, reaching the moon from the upper left in this illustration, illuminates our satellite and creates its phases: 1) new moon, 2) crescent, 3) first quarter, 4) gibbous and 5) full. The moon then wanes through the sequence in reverse. Far right: a calendar of moon phases.
Sunlight, reaching the moon from the upper left in this illustration, illuminates our satellite and creates its phases: 1) new moon, 2) crescent, 3) first quarter, 4) gibbous and 5) full. The moon then wanes through the sequence in reverse. Far right: a calendar of moon phases.
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The year 1989 may bring strong activity with flares and sunspots. If so, vivid celestial events such as the Northern Lights are virtually assured.
The year 1989 may bring strong activity with flares and sunspots. If so, vivid celestial events such as the Northern Lights are virtually assured.
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The lunar eclipse expected on August 16, 1989 will be the longest since 1982.
The lunar eclipse expected on August 16, 1989 will be the longest since 1982.
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1989 should also be a good year to view meteor showers.
1989 should also be a good year to view meteor showers.

Some extraordinary sights are in store this year for those who turn their eyes to the cosmos. A lengthy total lunar eclipse, dazzling meteor showers and displays of northern lights, and several spectacular conjunctions — or close pairings — of planets and other celestial objects are just a few of the celestial events ahead. And for a bonus, even though we won’t be able to actually see it, Voyager 2’s final and closest flyby of a planet — Neptune — promises exciting photographic revelations.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses

On the afternoon of March 7, the first of two partial solar eclipses (the only solar eclipses this year) will be visible from most of the western half of the U.S., but only viewers in Alaska and Hawaii will get to see the whole show, during which 83% of the sun’s diameter will be hidden. The second partial eclipse of the sun, on August 31, will be even less accessible—it’ll be observable only from southern Africa, Madagascar and the Antarctic. It will also be the last truly partial eclipse of the sun for more than three years.

The two total lunar eclipses of 1989 hold more promise, although the first, on February 20, will be visible in the Western Hemisphere only from northwest North America, and only as it begins, just before dawn. The year’s potentially spectacular second total lunar eclipse, however, should more than make up for its daylight-obscured predecessor. It’ll be visible everywhere in the Western Hemisphere except northwest North America, and will reach totality during full darkness—on the night of August 16. Weather permitting, it’ll be the first really proper view that people in the eastern U.S. have had of this kind of event since 1982. The August eclipse will also be, by far, the longest total lunar eclipse visible anywhere in the world since 1982: It’ll last 96 minutes, only about 11 minutes short of the maximum possible.

The drama will open with the moon entering Earth’s not-very-dark peripheral shadow, the penumbra, at 8:23 P.M. EDT. The penumbral shading probably won’t be noticeable until close to 9 P.M. Then, at 9:21 P.M., the real excitement will begin when Earth’s dark central shadow, the umbra, first touches the left edge of the moon. The umbra will creep slowly across the lunar surface until, at 10:20 P.M., the moon will be completely covered, initiating the “total” stage.

  • Published on Jan 1, 1989
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