Vietnamese astronomical phenomena can be observed in 2017

Meteor shower or eclipse are astronomical events in 2017 that Vietnamese people can observe.

Quadrantids meteor shower

From the beginning of the year, Vietnamese people will admire the meteor shower with about 40 tracks / hour at the peak. The time for this phenomenon is from December 28 to January 12. The time of good observation is usually after midnight on the 3rd to the morning of January 4, when the viewer is directed towards the winter - northeast.

The sky contains the constellation of the center of Quadrantids.(Photo: NASA / Stardex / HAAC.)

The Quadrantids meteor shower took place when the Earth in its orbit passed through the material dust deposits left by asteroid 2003 EH1 (first observed in 1825, according to NASA).

Moon really half dark

The half-moon eclipse takes place when the moon passes through the dark half created by the Earth. This process, the moon will darken but not completely dark. Vietnam may observe part of the first phase of the phenomenon in the early morning of February 11. Meanwhile, countries on the east coast of the Americas, all of Europe, Africa, and West Asia can fully admire.

Illustrate the shadow area (Umbra) and the dark half (Penumbra) created by the shadow of the earth and the time when the half-moon eclipse occurs (orbit).(Photo: crab0.astr.nthu.edu.tw).

Unlike the full or partial lunar eclipse - the surface of the moon will darken all or part, the half-moon eclipse is harder to recognize because the moon is only slightly darker than the usual full moon. Instead of being clear, the moon will have a lighter color like being covered by a thin layer of cloud.

Lyrids meteor shower

With about 20 one-hour meteor tracks at the extreme, Lyrids are rated as medium-density meteor shower. They usually appear every year from April 16-25. In Vietnam, the best time to observe is the night of April 22, April 23.

Viewers can observe by looking up at the eastern sky, where the constellation Lyra - the center of the meteor shower grows quite high.

Constellation Lyra, central meteor shower.(Photo: Greg Smye-Rumsby / astronomynow.)

Eta Aquarid meteor shower

Like Lyrids, Eta Aquarid is a meteor shower with average density, about 60 tracks / hour. It takes place every year from April 19 to May 28, and in 2017 it will reach its peak on the night of the 6th and the 7th of May 7th. The good observation area is the Southern hemisphere. Vietnam is in the Northern Hemisphere so it is only possible to see at most 30 tracks per hour. When observing the viewer, turn your eyes to the constellation Aquarius (Aquarius) up high from the eastern horizon.

Eta Aquariids is derived from the famous comet 1P / Halley.

The Aquarius contains the focal point of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.(Graphics: Earthsky.org)

Delta Aquarid meteor shower

Delta Aquarids takes place annually from July 12 to August 23. In Vietnam, the peak of the meteor shower is the night of the 28th and the morning of July 29th. Viewers can head south with the constellation Aquarius - the focal point of the meteor shower, near one of the star's brightest stars, Delta.

Viewers should head to the center of the meteor shower, the constellation Aquarius.(Photo: Universetoday).

This is an average meteor shower with a peak density of 15 to 20 meteors per hour under optimal observation conditions. The Delta Aquariids meteorite originated from dust rock debris left by comet 96P Machholz on its orbit around the sun, discovered by astronomer Donald Machholz in 1986.

Moonlight part

When this happens, viewers will see that the full moon is obscured by a small area at the edge and part of the moon's surface darker than normal by entering the dark half created by the earth's shadow in space.

Moonlight part.(Artwork: Gianluca Masi / Sapce.)

According to experts, this is the most attractive astronomical phenomenon in 2017, because Vietnam can fully observe it on August 7. Astronomical experts recommend that observers only need to use the naked eye without any aids to see the eclipse.

Meteor shower Perseids

Although 2017 is not expected to explode like 2016, according to experts, this is still one of the two largest meteor showers of the year. Its climax takes place on the night of 12th and 13th August, in ideal conditions it can be up to 150 streaks / hour.

Perseid meteor shower image in 2016. (Photo: Sapce.)

Viewers in Vietnam should head to the east of the sky, find the constellation Perseus containing the center of the meteor shower. Just by naked eyes, observers will see a meteor without binoculars, telescopes or any other device.

The Perseids meteorite was a phenomenon that took place in August every year, it was a remnant debris when comet 109P / Swift-Tuttle approached the sun.

Meteor shower Orionids

Astronomical lovers can observe the Orionids meteor shower from October 2 to November 7, the peak of 2017 will take place on the 21st night on October 22. In Vietnam, astronomers say that if the conditions are favorable, it is possible to admire about 15 - 20 meteors per hour.

Orionid meteor shower in 2011. (Photo: Earthsky).

The best observation time is after midnight in the dark and airy areas. The meteor appears from the constellation Orion (Hunter). Orionids originated from dust remnants left by Halley comet, discovered since ancient times.

Venus and Jupiter meet

On 11/13, the two planets will be close to each other and almost touch if viewed from Earth. They are only 0.3 degrees apart in the early morning sky. This is said to be a rare ant in the sky. Viewers only need to look to the west before the sun rises.

Simulation images show that Venus and Jupiter are close together.(Photo: NASA).

Leonids meteor shower

One of the remarkable astronomical phenomena next year is Leonids meteor shower with a capacity of 15 streaks / hour. The special thing about Leonids is that usually after 33 years it will become "meteor storm" with hundreds of streaks every hour. But this possibility will not happen in 2017.

In 2017, the peak of the Leonids meteor shower is the night of 17 and dawn on November 18. Experts identify moonlight will not obstruct meteor shower this time, viewers should turn to the Leo star cluster (Lion). Leonids originated from the dust remnant left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle, discovered in 1865.

Super moon

On December 3, the Moon will be near Earth and it will look bigger and brighter than usual. This full moon is called the long night moon and the moon before Christmas. This is the only super moon in 2017.

The moon looked bigger and brighter than usual.(Artwork: Wordpress).

In 2016, Vietnam has the opportunity to observe the largest super moon in the last 100 years and only return after 18 years. It appeared in the sky on November 14 when the Moon was closest to Earth since January 1948. This time, it is 14% larger and 30% brighter than the regular full moon.

Meteor shower Geminids

This is the largest meteor shower of the year. The peak of the year 2017 is on the night of 13 and dawn on December 14 with the frequency of 120 streaks / h. Viewers only need to turn their eyes to the center of the meteor shower is Gemini. This constellation is in the east at midnight, then on the top at 1am and gradually goes to the western sky.

A Geminids meteor shower was observed from Wight Island, the west coast of the English Channel in 2014. (Photo: BNPS).

Geminids always topped the meteor shower of the year because of the brilliantness and frequency. It originates from the 3,200 Phaethon object.