The Night Sky in April

Abstract

NEW moon occurs on April 9d. 13h. 16m.,U.T., and full moon on April 23d. 13h. 28m. The following conjunctions with the moon take place : April 7d. 18h., Mercury 2° N. ; April 13d. 08h., Venus 1° N. ; April 18d. 02h., Saturn 4° S. ; April 18d. 10h., Mars 3° S.; April 27d. 18h., Jupiter 4° N. ; Mercury, in superior conjunction with the sun on April 29, is too close to the sun during the month for favourable observation. Venus is an evening star, setting at 22h. 56m. and 23h. 45m. on April 1 and 30 respectively, and shines with stellar magnitude –4 approximately during the month, about one half of the illuminated portion of the disk being visible. The planet attains its greatest easterly elongation on April 15. Mars, in the constellation of Leo, can be seen throughout the greater portion of the night, setting at 4h. 25m., 3h. 23m., and 2h. 41m., at the beginning, middle and end of the month, respectively. Jupiter, in the constellation of Sagittarius, is not visible until the early morning hours, the times of rising being lh. 25m. on April 1 and 23h. 30m. on April 30. The planet is stationary on April 15. Saturn, in the constellation of Cancer, is visible during most of the night, setting a little before Mars, and is stationary on April 17. Occultations of stars brighter than magnitude 6 are as follows : April 13d. 20h. 31m., k Taur. (D); April 26d. OOh. I6m., 19 Scor. (R); D and R refer to disappearance and reappearance, respectively, and the latitude of Greenwich is assumed. There will be a partial eclipse of the moon on April 23, invisible at Greenwich, but visible over a large portion of the southern hemisphere and also over the extreme western and northwestern portion of North America. The Lyrid meteors can be seen during April 18–24, but moonlight will partly interfere with the observations of this shower.