Over the next few months there will be several spectacular galactic events which astronomers tell us we’ll be able to see from our own back yards. The first, on May 4th is a total lunar eclipse, which happens when the moon, sun and earth are in line.
When the moon travels into the earth’s shadow it becomes tinged with sunlight reflected through the earth’s atmosphere. The result gives the moon an eerie coppery orange glow.
The second event, on May 6th, is when two comets, called NEAT and LINEAR come within approximately 39,790,000 kilometres of the earth, which, with a little luck will make them visible to the naked eye. The last comet to be visible from earth was the Hale-Boop comet in 1997.
The third galactic event doesn’t occur until June 8…..
