* Astronomy

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RE: April 2014

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Eyes on the Sky: April 21 thru April 27

Spoiler

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Occultation of Saturn by the Moon for South America at ~7:19 UT, 17th April 2014

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Eyes on the Sky: April 14 thru April 20

Spoiler

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Eyes on the Sky: Apr 7 thru Apr 14

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Maximum Eastern lunar libration at 10:15.2 UT, 2nd April 2014: Look towards Mare Crisium

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Eyes on the Sky: Mar 31 thru Apr 6

Spoiler

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Asteroids at Opposition

Asteroid (451) Patientia is at Opposition in the constellation Bootes on the 7th April
Magnitude: 11.4
Distance to Earth: 2.245 AU
Distance to Sun: 3.200 AU

Asteroid (60) Echo is at Opposition in the constellation Virgo on the 12th April
Magnitude: 10.9
Distance to Earth: 1.385 AU
Distance to Sun: 2.387 AU

Asteroid (4) Vesta is at Opposition in the constellation Virgo on the 13th April
Magnitude: 5.8
Distance to Earth: 1.232 AU
Distance to Sun: 2.221 AU

Asteroid (113) Amalthea is at Opposition in the constellation Virgo on the 13th April
Magnitude: 11.1
Distance to Earth: 1.175 AU
Distance to Sun: 2.171 AU

Asteroid (1) Ceres is at Opposition in the constellation Virgo on the 15th April
Magnitude: 7.0
Distance to Earth: 1.644 AU
Distance to Sun: 2.628 AU

Asteroid (68) Leto is at Opposition in the constellation Virgo on the 15th April
Magnitude: 11.1
Distance to Earth: 2.157 AU
Distance to Sun: 3.159 AU

Asteroid (43) Ariadne is at Opposition in the constellation Virgo on the 19th April
Magnitude: 9.9
Distance to Earth: 1.036 AU
Distance to Sun: 2.038 AU

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Meteor Showers

This month sees the arrival of the Lyrids and the Virginids. Neither shower is very intense, but they do provide you with examples of shooting stars with different speeds: the fast Lyrids compared to the slower Virginids.
The peak of the April Lyrids (from the constellation of Lyra, the Harp) is on the 22nd, when you could see a maximum of about 15 meteors an hour.
The Virginids are active until the 18th, peaking on the 11th with 10 meteors an hour.
Watch out for sporadic meteors. Their rates for the Northern Hemisphere are now reaching a plateau. Expect around 12 random meteors per hour during the morning hours

Shower	Activity Period	Maximum	Radiant		Velocity	ZHR
		Date	R.A.	Dec.	km/s
Kappa-Serpentids	April 1 -7	Apr. 5	231°	17.8°	46.3	4
Zeta Cygnids	Mar 27 to April 13	Apr. 6	295°	37	44	2
Gamma Virginids	Jan 25 to April 18	Apr 11	195°	-04°	33	4.6
Alpha-Virginids	Mar 22 - Apr 26	Apr 18	185°	9.6°	20.1	5
Lyrids	April 19 - 25	Apr 22	271°	+34°	49	15
Pi Puppids	April 18-25	Apr23	110°	-45°		18

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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 21:00 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.