{"id":42630,"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=42630"},"modified":"2023-03-23T10:14:16","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:14:16","slug":"april-highlights-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2023\/03\/23\/april-highlights-2\/","title":{"rendered":"April highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your guide to the night sky this month <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

8 Saturday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

As the Moon moves out of the way, this is a good time to try for our Deep-Sky Tour targets<\/a>, which this month are located in Cancer. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

9 Sunday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

As the sky darkens this evening, mag. \u20133.9 Venus is south of the Pleiades open cluster. Closest approach is tomorrow evening when they appear 2.7\u00b0 apart. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

10 Monday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The 83%-lit waning gibbous Moon occults mag. +2.9 Alniyat (Sigma (\u03c3) Scorpii) around 03:35\u201304:30 BST (02:35\u201303:30 UT). The Moon will be less than <\/span>2\u00b0 from mag. +1.0 Antares (Alpha (\u03b1) Scorpii) at this time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

11 Tuesday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation, when it\u2019s visible 19.5\u00b0 from the Sun in the evening sky after sunset. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

12 Wednesday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Lunar libration currently favours the Moon\u2019s <\/span>northern limb, with favourable phase lighting revealing many of the jumbled craters located in this region.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

13 Thursday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Venus is positioned between the Pleiades and Hyades open clusters today. <\/p>\n\n

14 Friday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Mag. +1.2 Mars sits 9.5 arcminutes from mag. +3.0 Mebsuta (Epsilon (\u03b5) Gemininorum) this evening.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

15 Saturday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

A good day to align sundials, as the difference between the apparent and mean Sun align today (equation of time = zero). The Sun is due south at midday UT. See the Sky Guide Challenge<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

18 Tuesday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Venus is north of the Hyades. With the Moon out of the way, this is a great opportunity to grab a photo of Venus, the Hyades and Pleiades together. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

20 Thursday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

As the Moon moves out of the glare of the Sun over the next few evenings, libration will favour the eastern limb.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

21 Friday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

A tricky trio is visible low above the west-northwest horizon after sunset: Mercury, Uranus and a slender 3%-lit waxing crescent Moon. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

22 Saturday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The waxing crescent Moon is near the Pleiades tonight. <\/p>\n\n

It sets around 23:50 BST (22:50 UT), making this year\u2019s Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks tonight, favourable. <\/p>\n\n

23 Sunday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The Moon and Venus appear close at sunset, separated by less than 3\u00b0. Earlier, at 12:30 BST (11:30 UT), the pair are 0.7\u00b0 apart.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

25 Tuesday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

This evening and into tomorrow morning, just before they set, the 32%-lit waxing crescent Moon sits close to mag. +1.3 Mars. <\/p>\n\n

27 Thursday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

This evening\u2019s first quarter Moon sits 3\u00b0 north of the Beehive Cluster, M44.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

28 Friday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Although not ideally placed, a telescope view of the Moon this morning will show a good presentation of this month\u2019s Moonwatch target, Montes Spitzbergen. <\/p>\n\n

30 Sunday<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Minor planet 7 Iris reaches opposition, when it will be shining at mag. +9.6 against the stars of Libra. <\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
Family stargazing <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Venus will appear near the beautiful Pleiades open cluster this month. This is conveniently placed and timed in the evening sky. Closest approach is on 10 April, but the approach and separation can be seen on the days before and after this. If it\u2019s clear, head outside and suggest making a drawing of the encounter based on what can be seen with the naked eye. The Pleiades are also known as the Seven Sisters, so use this opportunity to ask how many of the cluster stars you can see. bbc.co.uk\/cbeebies\/shows\/stargazing<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

NEED TO<\/strong> KNOW<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

The terms and symbols used in The Sky Guide<\/p>\n\n

Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST)<\/strong>
Universal Time (UT) is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. British Summer Time (BST) is one hour ahead of UT<\/p>\n\n

RA (Right ascension) and dec. (declination)<\/strong>
These coordinates are the night sky\u2019s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial \u2018globe\u2019<\/p>\n\n

Naked eye<\/strong>
Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted<\/p>\n\n

Photo opp<\/strong>
Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR<\/p>\n\n

Binoculars<\/strong>
10×50 recommended<\/p>\n\n

Small\/medium scope<\/strong>
Reflector\/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches<\/p>\n\n

Large scope<\/strong>
Reflector\/SCT over 6 inches, refractor over 4 inches<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
GETTING STARTED<\/strong> IN ASTRONOMY<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re new to astronomy, you\u2019ll find two essential reads on our website. Visit bit.ly\/10_easylessons<\/a> <\/strong>for our 10-step guide to getting started and bit.ly\/buy_scope<\/a> <\/strong>for advice on choosing a scope<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

MORE ONLINE<\/strong>
For Paul Abel and Pete Lawrence’s night-sky highlights for the month, see our Virtual Planetarium at
www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/bonus-content\/9BN84GZ<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

PHOTOS: PETE LAWRENCE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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