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Celestial phenomena will be observed from Nicaragua

Faustino Salcedo | Jun 1, 2012

This way the transit of Venus will be observed. Image courtesy of ASTRONIC.

On Monday June 4 a partial lunar eclipse will occur and on Tuesday 5 we will be able to see the "transit of Venus".

The sky sometimes provides performances that can be amazing for the inhabitants of the Earth, like an eclipse or the parade of a planet around the Sun. During the dawning of Monday June 4 we will be able to see a partial lunar eclipse from Nicaragua. And on Tuesday June 5 the observed phenomenon will be "the transit of Venus" around the Sun, and it will be possible to be seen since 4:00 pm.

A lunar eclipse is a phenomenon whereby the Earth comes between the Sun and Moon. This may be total, partial or penumbral. According to Engineer David Pacheco, President of the “Asociación Científica de Astrónomos y Astrofísicos de Nicaragua -APRONIC-” (Scientific Association of Astronomers and Astrophysicists of Nicaragua), the phenomenon of next Monday will be a partial lunar eclipse and it will be observed throughout the American continent since 4:00 am until the aurora rises. He also said that it is possible to last until 7:00 am, but will not be appreciated because of the day light.

The phenomenon can be observed with the naked eye without any problem; however, the use of a telescope or binoculars helps to have a better appreciation; also it is necessary to take into consideration that if the sky is cloudy, the visibility will be null. According to Pacheco, this is the only lunar eclipse that can be observed from Nicaragua during this year and said that by 2013 there will be phenomena of this type, but with fewer connotations (penumbral eclipses).

As for the other phenomenon that will occur on Tuesday June 5, -from 4:00 pm- called "transit of Venus", Pacheco said that is rarely common. The first time that it was observed was in 1880, then in 2004, now in 2012, and the next one will be in the year 2117. The space event consist of the umbra of Venus reflected in the Sun as the planet rotates around the king star, facing the Earth. Pacheco said it will look like a black dot on the Sun.

To observe this celestial phenomenon it is necessary to use a telescope with solar filter, because at first glance it may be harmful to health because the sunlight can cause havoc on the sight. APRONIC members will organize a group observation on the court of the “Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, UNAN Managua” (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, UNAN Managua). It will be open to the public and the college telescope will be connected to a projector.

Translated by Aída Pichardo