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Home -> Astronomy News -> Events -> April 2015
Post Info TOPIC: April 2015
Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
Date:
April 2015
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Highlights

 april.jpg
  

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 23 (16-25) the Lyrid meteor shower reaches maximum around 02:00 UT, although the peak is broad enough that the number of meteors should be consistent in the morning twilight. The Lyrids are considered a major shower, but 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.



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Blobrana


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Posts: 131433
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Mercury: at magnitude -1.1, starts the month in the constellation of Pisces. Mercury is in conjunction (separation 28') with Uranus on the 8th. Mercury is in superior conjunction on the 10th. Mercury is at perihelion on the 19th. The Moon is close (Separation 5°) to Mercury on the 19th. Mercury is in conjunction (separation 1.3°) with Mars on the 22nd.
(On April 17th, RA= 2h13m15s  Dec=+13°54.2' (J2000) Distance=1.263AU  Phase k=93%  Diameter=5.3")

Venus: is at magnitude -4.0.  The planet is in constellation Aries at the start of the month. Venus is at perihelion on the 18th. The Moon is close (Separation 7°) to Venus on the 21st. 
(On April 1st, RA= 2h59m21s  Dec=+17°56.9' (J2000) Distance=1.206AU  Phase k=78%  Diameter=13.8")

 phase.gif

 

Earth: - A lunar eclipse is on the 4th. The eclipse is visible throughout most of North America, South America, eastern Asia, and Australia.

Spoiler

The Moon:  The First Quarter Moon is at 23:55.1 UT, 25th.  Lunar Apogee is at 12:49.8 UT, 1st, and at 03:49.4 UT, 29th.  The Full Moon is at 12:05.6 UT, 4th. Last Quarter Moon is at 03:44.4 UT, 12th. Lunar perigee is at 03:40.6 UT, on the 17th. The New Moon is at 18:56.9 UT, 18th.     

Mars: at magnitude 1.4 starts the month in the constellation Aries. The planet is best seen from 20:10 - 21:00.  The Moon is close (Separation 4°) to Mars on the 19th April. The Martian dust storm season ends on the 22nd.
(On April 1st, RA= 1h54m12s  Dec=+11°34.7' (J2000) Distance=2.365AU  Phase k=98%  Diameter=4.0")

Jupiter: is in the constellation Cancer. At magnitude -2.3, the planet is best seen from 19:40 - 03:10. Jupiter is stationary (resuming Prograde motion) on the 8th. The Moon is close (Separation 6°) to Jupiter on the 26th April. 

Transit times of the Great Red Spot and Jupiters satellites are posted in separate threads.
(On April 1st, RA= 9h00m47s  Dec=+17°59.5' (J2000) Distance=4.766AU  Diameter=41.3")

Saturn: at magnitude 0.3 sits in the constellation Scorpius. The planet is best seen from 23:50 - 05:25. The planet's rings are tilted 17° towards the Earth this month. The Moon is close (Separation 5°) to Saturn on the 8th April.
(On April 1st, RA=16h11m30s  Dec=-18°55.3' (J2000) Distance=9.333AU  Diameter=17.7")

Uranus: is in the constellation Pisces. Uranus at magnitude 5.9, has a bluish-green hue and appears 3.6 arcseconds wide. Uranus is in conjunction on the 6th April 2015.    
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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 14.2). Normally, a finder chart is necessary to help in identifying the 0.13" diameter dwarf planet. Pluto is stationary (starting retrograde motion) on the 17th.   
(On April 1st, RA=18h56m48s  Dec=-20°06.4' (J2000) Distance=32.636AU  Diameter=0.1")

The Sun enters the zodiac sign Taurus at 09:42 UT, 20th April, 2015.



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