Among the Solar System’s eight planets, only two show up well in April —- but they are an impressive pair. Jupiter greets the dark of night appearing brighter than any star in the western sky, while Saturn reaches opposition (opposite the Sun in the sky from our point of view), and therefore, its peak visibility for 2013, on April 27/28th.
Jupiter, still appearing among the stars of Taurus the Bull, is going from west to east across the sky in its orbit. By the end of April it will form a neat triangle with the Bull’s two horn stars, with Jupiter being the brightest of the three objects by far, at magnitude –2.0. On April 13th watch the crescent Moon between the Pleiades and the Hyades star clusters up in Taurus, with Jupiter some 10 degrees above it. Jupiter in April will set in the west between 11 pm and midnight, so look for it earlier in the evening.
Saturn is opposite the Sun in our sky on the night of April 27/28 and remains visible all night, setting at dawn in the west, while the Sun rises in the east. It will be at its best for viewing this year then, all through the month of May and into the summer. Saturn appears in the sky between Libra and Virgo, with Virgo’s brightest star, Spica, over to the right of Saturn. Saturn will appear noticeably brighter than Spica however. The Full Moon will be seen just below Saturn on the 25th of April.
Comet PANSTARRS is still around though it is moving rapidly out of the Solar System. It can however, be spotted with binoculars, in an interesting part of the sky. Through binoculars, the Comet may be seen in the first week of April within two degrees of the famous galaxy, M31, in Andromeda. This galaxy has fame because it is a “sister” galaxy to the Milky Way, being of the same Spiral type galaxy.
They can be spotted in the northwest sky as darkness descends in early evening, or before dawn in the northeast. April 4th or 5th will probably be the best nights to look.
Now that we have shifted to Daylight Savings Time, night comes later according to the clock. But spring nights also bring a bit of warmth for us when out skywatching, and the sound of the spring peepers to serenade us.
Moon Phases for April: New: 10th; 1st Quarter: 18th; Full: 25th: Last Quarter: 3rd.
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