The beginning of astronomical spring. When will the equinox moment fall?

This year, astronomical spring will start on Thursday, March 20 at 10.01 Central European time. Its beginning is movable and depends on the moment when the sun passes through the so -called A ram point – one of the intersection of the ecliptic and the blue equator. From the observer's perspective in the northern hemisphere, the day is razed at night and from that moment the nights are shorter than the days.

A day later, on March 21, as every year we will welcome a calendar spring, which will last until June 21. On March 1, a meteorological spring began. The beginning of spring has already felt many animals, including frogs Whether capercaillie.

Although in spring the nights become shorter, an increasingly more pleasant aura favors adamocaries of astronomical observations. The first attraction of the spring sky will be a partial solar eclipse, which will take place on March 29. The maximum eclipse will take place just before 12.30, when about 15 percent of Słoneczna will be covered.

“Better conditions for observation will be around Bristlesso in the northwestern corner of our country. A little worse with observations will be around, e.g. Bialystok. Although it will be a partial eclipse, or actually the surface of the sun will be slightly listed, it is worth observing an unusual phenomenon, “encouraged Jerzy Rafalski from the Planetarium Planetarium Popularization Center in Toruń.

When observing, however, it is necessary to remember about the proper protection of the equipment, especially the eyes with the help of strong filters, intended for observing the sun.

“The beginning of spring is also a time when we can try to find the so -called zodiacal light. In the solar system we have a lot of dust and right now you can try to observe such a light pole after sunset. It is dust illuminated by the sun. This is a fairly difficult phenomenon to observe. It is best to look for it just after sunset, where it hid under the horizon in a dark sky. Away from city lights and tall buildings, “said Rafalski.

One of the most interesting astronomical phenomena will take place on April 1, when the moon in the form of a narrow sickle will cover the Pleiades. This is a group of stars focused in one place in the sky, which can be seen with the naked eye.

“You can observe them in winter, but it is on April 1 around 22.50, the moon in the form of a narrow sickle will enter the Pleiades and start covering these stars. This is a very interesting phenomenon, especially when we observe them through binoculars, because the sliding moon covers these individual stars that give the impression as if they appeared and disappeared before our eyes” – he described.

In spring, there will also be a chance to see meteors. Around April 21-22, the maximum activity will reach lirida swarm. However – as Rafalski emphasized – these are observations for the persistent, because you will see about one meteor for a few minutes.

Several astronomical attractions will also be waiting in a picnic. On May 1, there will be a great opportunity to observe planetoids West, it is even possible that with the naked eye.

“Between Mars and Jupiter there is a Planetoid belt, which is often visible by binoculars or by telescopes. Meanwhile, West will shine against the background of the constellation of the weight and will be so close and so light that in a dark place, except for city lights, maybe she will be able to see it even without the use of equipment,” said Jerzy Rafalski.

On May 3, the Moon will come closer to Mars again, and this one in the following days will enter a cluster of crib stars. “It is again a beautiful group of many stars that can be seen through the binoculars, and we will also have a reddish Mars among them,” added astronomer.

It is also worth paying attention to spring constellations. High, almost in the zenith, will shine a large car. When we look at his “broken drawbar”, he will show us two spring stars. The first of them will be Arktur. Located over the southern horizon, it is the brightest star from one of the oldest constellations – Wolarz. Even lower above the southern horizon, Spica will be visible, the brightest star from the constellation of the Virgin, clearly visible even from the city.

“It is worth looking at how they differ in colors. Above the southern horizon, we see a slightly higher arktura, which is golden, and the white -blue spice shines below. The naked eye can be clearly visible by the difference of their colors” – encouraged the promoter of astronomy.