Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).
Brief Calendar of Events
| 1 |
Tue |
New Moon |
| 4 |
Fri |
Moon at apogee |
| 9 |
Wed |
First Quarter Moon |
| 16 |
Wed |
Mercury at greatest elongation east |
| Full Moon |
| 17 |
Thu |
Moon at perigee |
| 18 |
Fri |
Mars at western quadrature |
| 22 |
Tue |
Lyrids meteor shower |
| 23 |
Wed |
Last Quarter Moon |
| 24 |
Thu |
Pi Puppids meteor shower |
| 29 |
Tue |
Jupiter at eastern quadrature |
The Sun and Moon
There are no eclipses this month.
As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Pisces to the constellation Aries.
Only hours separate Full Moon with perigee, resulting in very high tides on 17 April.
The Planets
The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
- Mercury
- This evening apparition favours northern hemisphere observers with Mercury rising high in the sunset sky during the first half of the month and then descending again. However, in the southern hemisphere, it appears quite close to the horizon throughout the month. This closest planet to the Sun moves from the constellation Pisces to the constellation Aries.
- Venus
- In contrast, the "morning star" is best seen from the southern hemisphere where it is high but descending in the sunrise sky. It is low for those in the north. Our sister planet can be found in the constellations Aquarius and Pisces.
- Mars
- Mars reaches west quadrature on 18 April. The red planet moves from the constellation Sagittarius into Capricornus, rising in the early morning hours.
- Jupiter
- The largest planet in the solar system is found in the constellation Cancer and appears in the middle of M44, the Beehive Cluster early in the month. With east quadrature occuring on 29 April, this is the best time to view the interplay of shadows between the planet and its four Galilean satellites. Jupiter sets after midnight.
- Saturn
- Early April reveals the rings at their most open this year, making this the perfect time to look at Saturn through a telescope. This gas giant is lingering between the "horns" of the bull Taurus and sets before midnight.
- Uranus
- Rising in the early morning hours, Uranus can be found in the constellation Aquarius.
- Neptune
- Neptune just precedes its solar system neighbour Uranus in the sky. Look for it in the constellation Capricornus.
- Pluto
- Pluto is so small and faint that a large telescope is always needed to see it. The outermost planet in the solar system moves from the constellation Serpens (Cauda) to the constellation Ophiuchus, rising late in the evening.
Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors
- Minor Planets
- A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
- Comets
- There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
- Meteors
- A Last Quarter Moon provides some interference for the Lyrids and Pi Puppids meteor showers.
The Celestial Sphere
Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.
Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)
Northern Hemisphere : 45° N
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
Southern Hemisphere : 30° S
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
For More Information...
- Consult our online glossary for non-technical explanations of many of the astronomical terms used in these pages.
- Blue moons, eclipses, the dates of Easter and much more can be found at the Interactive Astronomy Pages.
- For more information about the objects and events described in SkyEye, visit these astronomy-related sites.
Credits
Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of your favourite amateur astronomy magazine available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.
The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.
Copyright © 1995-2003 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
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Last modified on 31 March 2003
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