* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

April 2013

Blobrana · L

Highlights

From a very dark location at that time, look for the Zodiacal Light, a huge soft glowing column of light in the western horizon. It is the light of the Sun reflected off dust particles in the inner solar system. Its axis closely coincides with the ecliptic.

The Lyrids
On April 22 (16-25) the Lyrid meteor shower reaches maximum around 14:00 UT, although the peak is broad enough that the number of meteors should be consistent in the morning twilight. Although the Lyrids are considered a major shower, they produce a meteor only every 3 to 5 minutes, on average. The Lyrids are named after the constellation of Lyra from which they seem to radiate.

The Summer Triangle
The morning sky, before dawn, now provides a preview of summer evenings. The Summer Triangle -- Vega, Deneb, and Altair -- holds the central position, high in the south. The scorpion sits low to the south and slightly west. Directly to the arachnid's east is Sagittarius, the Archer, and between the two lies the direction toward the Milky Way galaxy's center. The ribbon of soft light that delineates our galaxy flows up from the south, through the Triangle, and then cascades toward the northern horizon.

Blobrana · L

Mercury: at magnitude 0.3, starts the month in the constellation of Aquarius. Mercury is at Aphelion (distance to sun: 0.4667 AU) on the 2nd April.
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Venus: is at magnitude -3.9. The planet is in constellation Pisces at the start of the month. Venus is close to the Moon on the 10th.
(On April 17th, RA= 2h01m14s Dec=+11°24.7' (J2000) Distance=1.718AU Phase k=99% Diameter=9.7")

Earth: - A Partial lunar eclipse begins at 19:51:46 UT, 25th April.

The Moon: Last Quarter Moon is on the 3rd. Lunar perigee is at 19:59.7 UT, on the 27th. The New Moon is on the 10th. The First Quarter Moon is on the 18th. Lunar Apogee is at 22:25.1 UT, 15th. The Full Moon is at 19:57.1 UT, 25th April 2013.

Mars: at magnitude 1.2 starts the month in the constellation Pisces. The planet is unobservable this month. Mars passes close to Venus on the 7th.
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Jupiter: is in the constellation Taurus. At magnitude -2.2, the planet is best seen from 19.1h - 0.8h.

Transit times of the Great Red Spot and Jupiters satellites are posted in seprate threads.
(On April 1st, RA= 4h40m47s Dec=+21°47.6' (J2000) Distance=5.512AU Diameter=35.7")

Saturn: at magnitude 0.3 sits in the constellation Libra. The planet is best seen from 21.4h - 5.4h. Saturn is at Opposition on the 28th. The planet's rings are tilted 19° towards the Earth this month.
(On April 1st, RA=14h33m39s Dec=-12°16.7' (J2000) Distance=8.928AU Elongation=151° Diameter=18.5")

Uranus: is in the constellation Pisces. Uranus at magnitude 5.9, has a bluish-green hue and appears 3.6 arcseconds wide. The planet is best seen from 19.1h -19.5h. Uranus is in Conjunction (2.0°) with Mercury on the 19th.
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Neptune: is at magnitude 7.9 in the constellation Aquarius. The planet is lost to the evening twilight this month.
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Pluto: is in the constellation Sagittarius (mag 14.1). Normally, a finder chart is necessary to help in identifying the 0.13" diameter dwarf planet. The dwarf planet is Stationary: Getting Retrograde on the 12th.
(On April 1st, RA=18h48m14s Dec=-19°41.0' (J2000) Distance=32.398AU Diameter=0.1")

The Sun enters the zodiac sign Taurus at 22:03 UT, 19th April, 2013.

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