The solar and lunar eclipses of 2001 are spectacular, but hidden from our view here in Northwest Indiana. January’s total lunar eclipse occurs over Europe, Asia, and Africa. June’s total solar eclipse can be viewed from the South Atlantic Ocean, southern Africa, Madagascar, and the Indian Ocean. July’s partial lunar eclipse can be seen from eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. While December’s annular eclipse is visible from southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica, we will see a partial eclipse from northwest Indiana. Only twenty percent of the sun will be blocked from our view. A deep penumbral lunar eclipse occurs at the end of December. A slight darkening of the southern edge of the moon may be visible from northwest Indiana.

Jupiter is great to view early this year in the eastern sky, while Venus is brilliant in the western sky through the spring. Mercury is best to view in the western sky after sunset in May. By June, Mars is brilliant as it reaches opposition and is visible all night. In December, Saturn reaches opposition and will be visible all night.

The brightest known comet of 2001, named Schaumasse, will be visible in the April sky using any modest telescope. Comet Schaumasse was last seen in 1993. Remember that there is always a chance for an unknown comet to make a spectacular appearance as we have seen with comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp a few years ago.

In April, the Lyrid meteor shower occurs with good viewing conditions. Look high in the east before dawn. In July, the Delta Aquarid meteor shower is visible before dawn. The Perseid meteor shower in August occurs soon after dark, so the conditions should be good for the most active summer meteor shower. October’s Orionid meteor shower should be good in the early morning hours. Expect fast-moving meteors. Many will leave a persistent trail behind them. Great viewing conditions are expected for November’s Leonid meteor shower. The Leonids are predicted to "storm", producing an intense meteor shower during part of its activity. Last year, the "storm" occurred over the Middle East, where thousands of meteors were seen in just a couple of hours. Where the "storm" will occur is unpredictable, so watch this meteor shower just in case. It may be the most spectacular event of the year. In December, the Geminid meteor shower has favorable viewing conditions and can be watched almost all night.

NASA has 14 planned launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Seven launches are Space Shuttle missions. Six of the Space Shuttle launches are missions to the International Space Station; the seventh launch is a research mission. There are five planned launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. There is one launch scheduled from Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska for August.

The Merrillville Community Planetarium has four public programs scheduled for 2001. The winter public show scheduled for January and Early February is "Satellites and Space Probes". The spring show in April is "Mercury: America’s First Men in Space". The summer public show in July is "The Summer Sky". Next school year’s fall public show has not yet been chosen, but it is scheduled for October.