Start the New Year with a meteor shower on the night of the 3rd/4th January thanks to the debris tail from asteroid 2003 EH1. The rocks that have crumbled off the asteroid as it passes earth will burn up in our atmosphere and appear as shooting stars.
This show will originate in the constellation of the Big Dipper, meaning that it will be best enjoyed by Northern Hemisphere observers.
The moon will only be partially illuminated which means that it will not outshine the 100 or more shooting stars that are expected every hour.
2. Juno Explores Jupiter
Exploring one of the most dangerous places in the solar system is ambitious enough, but to do it 37 times seems a bit insane, yet that is exactly what NASA's Juno mission is planning to do next year.
It entered the orbit around Jupiter in early July this year and it has already started to reveal what it is like beneath the clouds that make up the Gas Giant. As it skims underneath extremely toxic radiation belts around Jupiter, we will get unrivaled and brilliant close-up images of the structure and chemical composition of the planet.
This will take place on the 21st August, and totality (the complete eclipsing of the Sun by the Moon) will be visible along a narrow band that stretches across the US.
In anticipation for this spectacular event, NASA has created an accurate model for the eclipse path - which you can see here.
You can find out the best observing times for your location from here.
4. Tess to Launch
The Kepler Spacecraft has revealed to us thousands of alien worlds and, in 2017, NASA will launch their successor mission TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite).
Targeting over 200,000 stars across the sky, TESS hopes to locate 500 Earth-sized worlds. Crucially, these alien worlds will be much closer to Earth than the planets which were found by Kepler, meaning that Earth-based telescopes should be able to measure the contents of their atmosphere and see if there is a possibility for life as we know it.
5. China's Mission to the Moon
China will carry out a sample return mission to the Moon next year. Their aim is to collect and bring back to earth 2 kilograms of lunar regolith.
If they are successful, this will be the first time that material has been returned from the moon since Apollo 17 over 45 years ago.
Next year, on the 15th September, the Cassini spacecraft which has been encircling Saturn for the past 20 years will burn up into the planet's atmosphere. This will mark the end of a highly valuable scientific mission and one that will reach new heights by the time its Grand Finale tour (which started on the 30th November 2016) has come to an end.
This final tour will explore a region which has never been explored before, and with over 20 dives between Saturn's ring and cloud tops, it will unveil some of the planet's most hidden contents.
7. Geminids Meteor Shower
We will start the year with a meteor shower, so we might as well end the year with one too. Asteroid 3200 Phaeton will pass through earth's atmosphere in the early hours of December 14th (visible anytime after midnight of the 13th December).
This will be visible for most of the world and, since the new moon will be just a matter of days away, it will be dark enough to see almost all of the 120 shooting stars that are expected each hour.
Source: sciencealert
Photos: depositphotos
You Would Be Amazed On Seeing What Lies Inside the Planets
Watch to find out what lies inside the solar system's various celestial objects in this fascinating video.
Here's What Would Happen If We Tried To Land on Jupiter
What would happen if we actually tried to land a spacecraft on Jupiter? Watch this video and find out.
Follow These Simple Tips to Maximize Freezer Storage Space
Are you making the most out of your freezer? These useful tips will help you fit more food in it and teach you to keep your freezer organized.
2021 Might Be an Exciting Year For All of Us!
2020 is finally over and we enter the new year with new hope. Here are some things to look forward to in 2021.
By 2050, These Key Events Are Foreseen to Take Place...
The world is going through big changes, and will continue to do so. From reaching Mars to merging with machines, these events will change the world forever.
All the Fascinating Space Discoveries Made in 2019
2019 has seen quite a few eye-opening discoveries about space and astronomy. Learn about 26 of them in this video.
25 Pics Showing How People in the Past Imagined the Future
Let’s see how the people of the past imagined the future and find out if their fun predictions came true with these 25 vintage pictures
I Bet You Didn't Have a Clue About These Human Body Facts!
The human body is the most complex machine known to mankind, but I bet you don't know these 10 amazing facts about it...
Are There Universal Expressions of Emotion? Find Out Here!
Do facial expressions look the same and communicate the same meaning wherever you are in the world? Find out here!
20 Incredible Inventions That We Have Completely Lost
Here are some of the most amazing ideas and inventions we have ever seen. But, sadly, all of them have been lost to science in the mysterious mists of history.
Future Technology: Inventions That Will Change Our World
Check out a few amazing futuristic inventions that are about to become mainstream.
How Can You Recognize a Fake Gadget Before Buying It?
More often than not, you're almost unable to recognize them. So, before purchasing the product you want to have, bear in mind the following tips:
20 Useful Facts About the Science of Cooking
The science behind cooking is not often thought of, but it plays a crucial role in a dish turning out right. Here are 20 facts on the science of cooking.
26 Incredible Facts About the Human Mind
The human brain is an interesting and powerful organ, which is why we've gathered 26 interesting facts about exactly how human psychology works.
50 Crazy But True Facts About Dreams You Need to Know
Here are some strange and unusual facts about dreams that will surprise you.
INTERACTIVE: How Personal Items Have Changed Over Time
Some of you will be old enough to remember what many of today's objects used to look like. Here are 20 such objects. Click to see them as they used to be.
NASA's Plan to Colonize the Moon by 2026
NASA has a Moon colonization plan that involves utilizing 3D printers to construct an entire space station by 2026. Here's what it will look like.
Erecting a Behemoth: Installation of an Offshore Oilrig
How do they install an offshore oilrig? This video will show you, step by step, how it is done.
Sleep Inventions: 16 Gadgets to Help You Doze Off
If you frequently struggle with sleep, then trying these amazing new sleep innovations could help change your life.
Incredible Science Breakthroughs That Made News in 2022
Let’s check out some of the most interesting scientific discoveries of 2022.
This Humanoid Robot May Join the Workforce Very Soon...
Meet Digit – a bipedal robot that's ready to join human workers at warehouses around the world as early as 2024.
Are Smartphones Making Us Stupid? This Will Surprise You!
If you use a smartphone you need to see this!
Is There Any Way To Destroy or Deflect Asteroids?
Watch an interview with Cathy Plesko, a leading scientist working on preparing for the dangers of an asteroid attack
16 Surprising Things I Never Knew About Sleeping!
Who knew there was so much we don't know about our most popular activity! Here are 16 facts you may not have known about your sleep.
Thought Nature is Wild? See It Under a Microscope
You won't believe the things you could discover by looking at everyday items under a microscope.
Introducing the Astronauts That Were Just Launched Into Space
The two astronauts — veteran NASA fliers Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are honored to have been on this flight. Let's get to know them!
A Tunnel Built by a Swarm of Robots - Jaw-Dropping!
Imagine a swarm of robots attacking a mountain and smashing it to pieces...
This Incredible Documentary Takes You Into the Human Body
A beautiful and graphically advanced animation sheds light on the mysteries of the human body.
6 Fascinating Stories of Accidental Medical Discoveries
From penicillin to pacemakers, here are the medical breakthroughs that were discovered by accident.
The Science Behind Why Laughter is the Best Medicine
They say laughter is the best medicine. But why exactly do we laugh?
The Surprisingly Convoluted History of Traffic Lights
What did the first-ever traffic light look like? Probably stranger than you imagine...
The Curious Science of Tricking Your Taste Buds
Did you know you could confuse your sense of taste? Find out how!
Incredible: This Man Got the First Double-Arm Transplant
Felix Gretarsson got burned in both arms and needed the new ones. For that purpose, he went through history's FIRST 2-arm transplant.
The First Robot Ever Made Was Created 250 Years Ago...
This automaton is pure genius, especially when you consider it was built 250 years ago...
8 Lies We've Been Told About Electricity
These incorrect facts about electricity have been perpetuated long enough. It's time to disprove them.
The COOLEST Flames in the World - Jaw-Dropping!
Have you ever seen a flame as epic as this? Find out how it's made...
The Disappearing Computer: Revolution on a Personal Scale
What happens when we lose the physical large computer all together? This lecture explains what ahead for computers.
These Shoes Can Boost Your Walking Speed by 250%!
Robotic engineers have created shoes that, they claim, will increase your speed by 250%.
14 of the Most Fascinating Specialized Tools You'll See
We bet you haven’t seen these unique tools before!
3 Surefire Ways to Always Identify Pseudoscience
Find out how you can identify pseudoscience, and learn how it differs from actual science.
The Channel Tunnel - The 7th Wonder of the Modern World!
The construction of the Channel Tunnel is said to be an impossible feat!
What Would You Do if You Had an Extra Thumb?
This revolutionary invention has the potential to revolutionize the field of prosthetics.
8 Inventions of 2023 That Will Change The Way We Live
This year was a prominent one for ground-breaking innovations that will change the way we live.
24 Confusing Optical Illusions Explained - Fascinating!
How do our eyes fool the brain? Let's find out as a neuroscientist explains the truth behind the most confusing optical illusions.
These Will Give You True Perspective About Our World
Just to give you an idea of how big the Earth really is in true perspective to all the other heavenly bodies up there in the cosmos.
The McGurk Effect - Don't Believe Your Eyes!
What we hear can be affected by what we see...
When Under a Microscope, Even Ordinary Things Seem Alien
Have you ever given any thought to what every day things look like under a microscope? Some of these images are truly beautiful - see for yourself in the images below.