(Click 'Upcoming Sky Events' label at bottom of post for 2008 lunar and solar events)
2011
December 10th and 11th
Total eclipse of the Moon. Visible in Australia from 11.45pm Sydney time. During the eclipse the Moon is likely to be coppery-red in colour.
2012
June 6th
Transit of Venus
Venus crosses in front of the Sun, appearing as a small black disc. A rare event. Visible on the eastern coast of Australia from 8.16am Sydney time.
November 14th
Total eclipse of the Sun. Visible in Australia from North Queensland, with Cairns on the path of totality. The full eclipse will be 2 minutes from 6.40am Sydney time.
2018
July 31st
Favourable opposition of Mars. Mars will be close to the Earth, though not its closest.
2028
July 22nd
Total eclipse of the Sun. Fully visible in Australia, path of totality from northern WA across the centre to Sydney and the southern part of New Zealand. The eclipse will begin at 12.44pm Sydney time with totality for nearly 4 minutes from shortly after 2pm.
2029
April 14th
Close pass by the asteroid 99942 Apophis, at about 40,000 kilometres. This height is similar to that of communications satellites. In the hours before dawn it will be visible from Australia.
2040
September 8th
Five planets will be closely grouped in the night sky and visible to the naked eye in the west after sunset.
2061
July 29th
Return of Halley’s Comet. Its last visit was in 1986.
