ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Drive devider Stargazing calendar for 2021

Stargazing calendar for 2021

Published Jan 11, 2021 07:28 pm

Readers’ Photo Corner

By Raffy Paredes

For readers who have been drawn into stargazing since the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction last December 21, here’s a calendar of spectacular night sky events for 2021:

February 11: Venus-Jupiter Conjunction

March 9 and 10: Quadruple formation (Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, crescent Moon)

April 22: Lyrids Meteor Shower

May 5: Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower

May 26: “Blood Moon” Total Lunar Eclipse

June 10: “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse

July 12: Venus-Mars Conjunction

Late July: Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower

August 12-13: Perseids Meteor Shower

August 18: Mars-Mercury Conjunction

October 8: Draconids Meteor Shower

October 21: Orionids Meteor Shower

November 4-5: South Taurids Meteor Shower

November 11-12: North Taurids Meteor Shower

November 17: Leonids Meteor Shower

November 19: Partial Lunar Eclipse

December 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower

For more detailed information on these events, visit https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide and https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/ten-spectacular-stargazing-events-to-watch-in-2021/ .

Here are today’s featured readers and their photos.

Untitled (Benj Manalo)

Benj Manalo shares a Christmas-themed photo showing “that even during our pandemic struggle we Filipinos celebrate Christmas in our hearts.” Benj Manalo is the founder of Social Groups Huawei Mobile Photography Philippines and a Huawei ambassador that inspires mobile photographers in the country. Photo was taken with a Huawei P40 Pro.

Walang Banta Sa Pananampalataya (Dan Alexander Abas)

The photo “Walang Banta Sa Pananampalataya” comes from Dan Alexander Abas. He writes: “Mga mananampalataya patuloy na sumisimba at dumadalo ng pagdiriwang ng Simbang Gabi sa gitna ng pandemya sa Parokya ni San Agustin, Bay, Laguna. Napuno at umabot hanggang sa patio ng simbahan ang dami ng mga maninimba.  Hindi hadlang sa mga maninimba ang problemang kinakaharap natin sa ngayon. Kahit na may nakaharang sa mga bibig at hiwa-hiwalay ang upuan at pwesto ay sama-sama paring nananalig at sumasampalataya.”

Dissatisfied with the Blue Balloon (Darlene Exconde)

Darlene Exconde, currently a first-year college student at the Laguna State Polytechnic University-San Pablo City Campus sent in “Dissatisfied with the Blue Balloon.” She says that this photo reminded her of her childhood experiences.

The Joy of Sunrise (Gerbs De Castro)

From Gerbs De Castro is the photo, “The Joy of Sunrise.” He took the photo at the Glades, Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal.

Untitled (Kent Ramirez Duque)

Kent Ramirez Duque from Tagum City shares what he declares is the “Tallest Christmas tree in the Philippines, located in Tagum City, Davao del Norte” with a height of 193 feet. “Even though we are in a hard situation because of the pandemic, this holiday tree gives joy and hope to every Filipino family,” writes Kent.

Untitled (Kevin Amante)

Kevin Amante contributed the untitled black-and-white photo of bancas in Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City, Laguna. Photo was taken on Christmas day.

Pangangamba (Rinalyn Aiza Loyola)

The picture of two cats titled “Pangamba” is from Rinalyn Aiza Loyola. A poem accompanies her photo:

"Sa aming mga mata / Makikita ang aming pag-alala

Aming taga pag-alaga / Kung ang kalagayan nila ay nasa ayos na."

Pause (Marc Jolas Aquino)

Marc Jolas Aquino’s photo contribution is titled “Pause,” a composite image of the moon at different phases in 2020.

Untitled (Lynne Gin)

Lynne Gin sent in an untitled photo of a vendor by a church in Bantayan Island, Cebu.

Last Catch (Lea Kim Sia)

And from Lea Kim Sia is the photo, “Last Catch.”

For comments, suggestions or just to share an image or idea, email [email protected] or [email protected].

Related Tags

photography pictureperfect mbpictureperfect
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.