{"id":42444,"date":"2023-03-23T09:52:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T09:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=42444"},"modified":"2023-03-23T10:10:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:10:23","slug":"welcome-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2023\/03\/23\/welcome-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

JUICE \u2013 our best chance to find life beyond Earth? <\/p>\n\n

Decades in the planning, ESA\u2019s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE for short) is scheduled for launch this April. It\u2019s the first of Europe\u2019s three planned L-class missions, the largest and most costly class of campaign in Europe\u2019s long-term plan for space exploration. We\u2019re excited to be covering the mission in Will Gater’s feature exploring the spacecraft and its science goals<\/a>, which include investigating whether conditions could be favourable for life under the thick ice crusts of Callisto, Ganymede and Europa. <\/p>\n\n

Jupiter isn\u2019t visible in April (it\u2019s hidden in the Sun\u2019s glare), but for planetary observers it\u2019s all about Mercury this month. An elusive world that stays close to our central star in the sky, this month sees it reach its furthest distance from the Sun, setting two hours after sunset and visible in the evening. It\u2019s the best chance this year of seeing the innermost planet, so turn to Charlotte Daniel\u2019s observing guide<\/a> to make the most of it! Then turn to the Sky Guide<\/a> for the many other stargazing delights the night sky has in store for us in April \u2013 meteor showers, delightful conjunctions and star clusters included. <\/p>\n\n

Also this month, many will be pleased to hear that The Sky at Night <\/em>team returns to our screens on BBC Four on 10 April. Maggie, Chris and Pete will be looking at JUICE and other missions that are furthering our understanding of where alien life could exist. You can read Inside the Sky at Night<\/a> for more details. <\/p>\n\n

Enjoy the issue! <\/p>\n\n

Chris Bramley, Editor <\/p>\n\n

PS Our next issue goes on sale on Thursday 20 April. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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