Astronomical events are celestial events that occur outside Earth’s atmosphere and can be seen with the naked eye or telescope. They include lunar, solar, planetary, and other celestial body events such as comets and meteor showers. The phases of the moon, solar and lunar eclipses, and conjunctions are examples of astronomical events.
Synonymous with celestial events, astronomical events are events that occur in the night sky. When astronomers talk about astronomical events, they are usually referring to everything that happens in the universe outside the Earth’s atmosphere. However, astronomical events most commonly refer to events that can be seen with the naked eye or telescope from the Earth’s surface. There are different types of celestial events, which can be lunar, solar or planetary in nature.
The phases of the moon are the most easily observable astronomical events with the naked eye. As the moon orbits the Earth each month, it creates different lighting patterns for observers to enjoy. The occasional blue moon, which is an extra full moon that occurs once every two to three years, and lunar eclipses are also considered astronomical events.
Another type of lunar celestial event is an occultation. An occultation occurs when the moon passes in front of a bright planet or star in the night sky. As with all astronomical events, the occultation of a planet or star is only visible from a very small area of the Earth. Individuals who fall outside the observation area will most likely see a near miss between the moon and the celestial object it is passing.
The sun plays a role in many celestial events that occur regularly and infrequently. The summer solstice, which occurs each June when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, and the winter solstice, which occurs each December when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, are examples of regular solar events. Similarly, the spring and autumn equinoxes that occur in March and September are annual solar events. A solar eclipse is an example of a less frequently occurring solar astronomical event.
Planetary events occur whenever a planet is visible in the night sky. Different planets have different sized orbits around the sun that vary in completion times from hours to years, so planetary events are generally considered the rarest of all astronomical events. Another type of event is a conjunction. A conjunction occurs when two planets appear to collide or come within one degree of each other in the night sky.
In addition to lunar, solar and planetary events, there are events involving other celestial bodies in the night sky. A celestial event occurs when comets orbiting the inner solar system pass close to the Earth and become visible in the night sky. Similarly, meteor showers are also considered astronomical events.
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