A View of 2015 and One-year Calendar
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As the remarkable astronomical events in 2015, the total lunar eclipse on April 4th is picked up at first. This lunar eclipse is able to be observed from beginning to the end in everywhere through Japan. Around 7:15 p.m., the lunar eclipse will start. And you can enjoy copper-colored moon for about 12 minutes from 8:54 p.m.
In three big meteor showers, the Perseids Meteor Shower (in August) and the Geminids Meteor Shower (in December) would be expected to appear a lot of shooting stars because the conditions of sky, such as peak time and the age of the moon, is good for observing. And the Quadrantids Meteor Shower (in January) that the active is short term, the peak time is day time, then the outburst in night time would not b e expected.
The planets that is suited for observing by telescope, Jupiter is at opposition on February 7th, and Saturn is at opposition on May 23rd. After that, it is the best chance to observe. Especially, Saturn, the large tilted Saturn’s ring would be enjoyable for year after next from this year
Year of 2015 will become a year that has fun astronomical events.
January
| 1 | New Year’s Day [Shogatsu] (National holiday) |
| 4 | Earth passes perihelion / the Quadrantids Meteor Shower is peak around 11 a.m. (the outburst would not be expected because the peak is in day time and there is effect of moonlight during whole night.) |
| 5 | Full Moon |
| 12 | Coming-of-Age Day [Seijin no hi] (National holiday) |
| 13 | Last Quarter |
| 15 | Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury |
| 20 | New Moon |
| 21 | Mercury at stationary point |
| 27 | First Quarter |
| 30 | Mercury at inferior conjunction |
Astronomical events information of January
February
| 4 | Full Moon |
| 7 | Jupiter at opposition |
| 11 | Mercury at stationary point / National Foundation Day [Kenkoku Kinen nohi] (national holiday) |
| 12 | Last Quarter |
| 19 | New Moon |
| 25 | Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury |
| 26 | First Quarter / Neptune at conjunction |
Astronomical events information of February
March
| 6 | Full Moon |
| 14 | Last Quarter |
| 15 | Saturn at stationary point |
| 20 | Total solar eclipse (not able to observe in Japan) / New Moon |
| 21 | Vernal Equinox Day [Shunbun no hi] (National holiday) / Vernal equinox (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 0°) |
| 27 | First Quarter |
Astronomical events information of March
April
| 4 | Total lunar eclipse (able to observe throughout Japan) / Full Moon |
| 6 | Uranus at conjunction |
| 9 | Jupiter at stationary point |
| 10 | Mercury at superior conjunction |
| 12 | Last Quarter |
| 19 | New Moon |
| 22 | Peak of April Lyrids Meteor Shower (There is almost no effect of moonlight) |
| 26 | First Quarter |
| 29 | Day of Showa [Showa no hi] (National holiday) |
Astronomical events information of April
May
| 3 | Constitution Memorial Day [Kenpou Kinen bi] (National holiday) |
| 4 | Full Moon / Greenery Day [Midori no hi] (National holiday) |
| 5 | Children’s Day [Kodomo no hi] (National holiday) |
| 6 | Holiday / Peak of Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower (There is effect of moonlight during whole night) |
| 7 | Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury |
| 11 | Last Quarter |
| 18 | New Moon |
| 19 | Mercury at stationary point |
| 23 | Saturn at opposition |
| 26 | First Quarter |
| 31 | Mercury at inferior conjunction |
Astronomical events information of May
June
| 3 | Full Moon |
| 7 | Greatest Eastern Elongation of Venus |
| 10 | Last Quarter |
| 12 | Mercury at stationary point |
| 13 | Neptune at stationary point |
| 15 | Mars at conjunction |
| 16 | New Moon |
| 22 | Summer solstice (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 90°) |
| 24 | First Quarter |
| 25 | Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury |
Astronomical events information of June
July
| 2 | Full Moon |
| 7 | Earth passes aphelion |
| 9 | Last Quarter |
| 10 | Venus is maximum magnitude of light (luminosity) |
| 16 | New Moon |
| 20 | Marine Day [Umi no hi] (national holiday) |
| 23 | Venus at stationary point |
| 24 | First Quarter / Mercury at superior conjunction |
| 27 | Uranus at stationary point |
| 30 | Peak of Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower (There is no effect of moonlight during whole night) |
| 31 | Full Moon |
Astronomical events information of July
August
| 3 | Saturn at stationary point |
| 7 | Last Quarter |
| 13 | 13(th) Peak of Perseids Meteor Shower around 3:30 p.m. (the peak time is day time, but the condition is good because there is no effect of moonlight in the night.) |
| 14 | New Moon |
| 16 | Venus at inferior conjunction |
| 20 | Traditional tanabata (traditional star festival) |
| 23 | First Quarter |
| 27 | Jupiter at conjunction |
| 30 | Full Moon |
Astronomical events information of August
September
| 1 | Neptune at opposition |
| 4 | Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury |
| 5 | Last Quarter / Venus at stationary point |
| 13 | Solar eclipse (not able to observe in Japan) / New Moon |
| 17 | Mercury at stationary point |
| 21 | First Quarter / Keiro-no-hi [Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Day] (National holiday) |
| 22 | Venus is maximum magnitude of light (luminosity) / Holiday |
| 23 | Autumnal Equinox Day / Autumn equinox (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 180°) |
| 27 | The harvest moon |
| 28 | Total lunar eclipse (not able to observe in Japan) / Full Moon |
| 30 | Mercury at inferior conjunction |
Astronomical events information of September
October
| 5 | Last Quarter |
| 9 | Mercury at stationary point / Peak of October Draconids Meteor Shower (There is no effect of moonlight.) |
| 10 | Peak of Southern Taurids Meteor Shower (There is no effect of moonlight) |
| 12 | Uranus at opposition / Health Sports Day (National holiday) |
| 13 | New Moon |
| 16 | Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury |
| 21 | First Quarter / Peak of Orionids Meteor Shower (The moon sets around mid of the night) |
| 26 | Greatest Western Elongation of Venus |
| 27 | Full Moon |
Astronomical events information of October
November
| 3 | Last Quarter / Culture Day (National holiday) |
| 12 | New Moon / Peak of Northern Taurids Meteor Shower (There is no effect of moonlight) |
| 17 | Mercury at superior conjunction |
| 18 | Peak of Leonids around 1 p.m. (The moon sets before mid of night) |
| 19 | First Quarter / Neptune at stationary point |
| 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day [Kinro-kansha no hi] (National holiday) |
| 26 | Full Moon |
| 30 | Saturn at conjunction |
Astronomical events information of November
December
| 3 | Last Quarter |
| 11 | New Moon |
| 15 | Peak of Geminids Meteor Shower around 3 a.m. (The condition is best because the time of peak is in the night, and there is no effect of moonlight) |
| 19 | First Quarter |
| 22 | Winter solstice [Toji] [22nd solar term] (Sun’s ecliptic longitude 270°) |
| 23 | Emperor’s Birthday [Tennou Tanjyobi] (National holiday) |
| 25 | Full Moon |
| 26 | Uranus at stationary point |
| 29 | Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury |
Astronomical events information of December
The posted peak day and time of meteor showers is based on the prediction of IMO(International Meteor Organization).