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In 2016 spring will begin on Sunday 20th of March at 04:30am UTC, and it will end on 20th of June with the beginning of summer. The beginning of seasons is conventionally established by particular positions of the Earth during its orbit around the Sun. So the spring equinox occurs when the plane of Earth’s Equator passes the center of the Sun. At that instant, the tilt of Earth’s axis neither inclines away from nor towards the Sun. When that … Read More

(a SINC‘s article only available in Spanish) Antes, solo aquellos que poseían un telescopio o visitaban un observatorio podían observar en toda su plenitud la belleza del universo. Por suerte, desde hace unos años, disfrutar del patrimonio celeste es un plan accesible gracias a los esfuerzos de instituciones como la fundación Starlight. España, con varias zonas que destacan por la calidad de su cielo, es uno de los destinos idóneos para practicar el astroturismo, un sector emergente que aúna la … Read More

On these days, before dawn, we can enjoy an unusual astronomical show: a planetary alignment, i.e. five bright aligned planets in the same sky together for the first time since January, 2005. Seen from Earth, the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury will form an elliptical path. Enjoy this unique experience, join us for stargazing planned for Wednesday 3rd of February, from 7:00 am to 8:30 am, at the amphitheatre on Los Cancajos Promenade. A qualified Starlight Guide … Read More

The Quadrantids are a prolific meteor shower lasting from the 1st to the 6th of January each year. Their peak is typical around the 4th of January with a rate of 120 meteors per hour and an average velocity of 41 km/s. The radiant of Quadrantids is located close to the constellation Boötes (not far from the Big Dipper), even if the name Quadrantids comes from the now-defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis. The source of the meteor shower is particles of dust … Read More

The Geminids are a prolific meteor shower lasting from the 7th to the 17th of December each year. Their peak is typical around the 13th-14th of December with a rate of 120 meteors per hour and an average velocity of 35 km/s. The radiant of Geminids is located close to the constellation Gemini. The source of the meteor shower is particles of dust shed by the asteroid (3200) Phaethon, with an unusual orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than … Read More

The Leonids are a prolific meteor shower lasting from the 14th to the 21st of November each year. Their peak is typical around the 17th of November with a rate of 20 meteors per hour and an average velocity of 71 km/s. The radiant of Leonids is located close to the constellation Leo. Generally reddish, these meteors usually leave a fleeting green tail behind them. The source of the meteor shower is particles of dust shed by the Comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle, with a … Read More

In 2015 winter will begin on Tuesday 22nd of December at 4:48am UTC. This season will last 89 days and it will end on 20th of March with the beginning of spring. The beginning of seasons is conventionally established by particular positions of the Earth during its orbit around the Sun. So the winter solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its greatest height south, i.e. the declination is -23º 27′ for the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere summer begins. … Read More

A total lunar eclipse will occur on September 28, 2015. This lunar eclipse will be particularly rare, because it is a harvest moon lunar eclipse, taking place also on the day of the closest supermoon of 2015. The eclipse will be visible over Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Timing: P1 – Beginning of the penumbral eclipse: 00h 10.4m UT U1 – Beginning of the partial eclipse: 1h 6.9m UT U2 – Beginning of the total eclipse: 2h … Read More

In 2015 autumn will begin on Wednesday 23rd of September at 8:21am UTC. This season will last 89 days and 20 hours, and it will end on 22nd of December with the beginning of winter. The beginning of seasons is conventionally established by particular positions of the Earth during its orbit around the Sun. An equinox occurs when the plane of Earth’s Equator passes the center of the Sun. The two annual equinoxes are the only times when the subsolar … Read More

The Perseids, also known as the “tears of Saint Lawrence”, are a prolific meteor shower lasting from July 17 to August 24 each year. Their peak is typical around 11th-14th of August  with a rate of 100 meteors per hour and an average velocity of 59 km/s. The radiant of Perseids is located close to the constellation Perseus. The source of the meteor shower is particles of dust shed by the Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, with a period of 135 years. Enjoy this … Read More

[rev_slider astday]   What is Asteroid Day? Asteroid Day is a global awareness movement where people from around the world come together to learn about asteroids and what we can do to protect our planet, our families, communities, and future generations. Asteroid Day will be held on the anniversary of the 1908 Siberian Tunguska event, the largest asteroid impact on Earth in recent history. Ad Astra La Palma, in collaboration with Santa Cruz de La Palma Government, organises a free … Read More

In 2015 summer will begin on Sunday 21st of June at 5:38pm UTC. This season will last 93 days and 15 hours, and it will end on 23rd of September with the beginning of autumn. The beginning of seasons is conventionally established by particular positions of the Earth during its orbit around the Sun. So the summer solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its greatest height, i.e. the declination is +23º 27′ for the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere … Read More

The Eta Aquarids are a weak meteor shower lasting from April 21 to May 20 each year. Their peak is typical around May 5 with a rate of 30 meteors per hour and an average velocity of 66 km/s. The radiant is located close to Eta Aquarii, the brightest star of the constellation Aquarius. The source of the meteor shower is particles of dust shed by the short-period Comet Halley. The Eta Aquarids are best viewed above the horizon in the pre-dawn … Read More