The Night Sky in April

Abstract

FULL moon occurs on April 13d. 04h. 08m., U.T., and new moon on April 28d. 08h. 02m. The following conjunctions with the moon take place : April 9d 13h., Saturn 3°S.; April 20d. 03h., Jupiter 5° N.; April ji9a. 21h Mercury 0·7° S. Mercury is in superior conjuction on April 13 and is not favour-ably placed for observation until later in the month ; the planet sets Ih. 45m. after the sun on April 30, and can be seen in the western sky. Venus, in superior conjunction on April 16, is too close to the sun for favourable observation throughout the month. Mars rises about the same time as the sun during April, and cannot be observed. Jupiter is a morning star, rising at 3h. 20m., 2h. 30m. and Ih. 35m., at the beginning, middle and end of the month, respectively, and can be seen low down for a few hours before sunrise. Saturn sets in the early morning hours and is visible throughout the greater part of the night. Occultations of stars brighter than magnitude 6 are as follows : April Id. 19h. 46 3m., 45 Arie. (D); April 7d. OOh. 31·4m., c Gemi. (D) ; April lid. 20h. 56·3m., η Virg. (D). D refers to disappearance, and the latitude of Greenwich is assumed. The Lyrid meteor shower is active about April 18-24. A total eclipse of the moon, visible at Greenwich, takes place on April 13, the circumstances of which are given as follows: moon enters penumbra, Olh. 31·6m. ; enters umbra, 02h. 27·7m. ; total eclipse begins, 03h. 28·Om. ; middle of eclipse, 04h. 10·9m. ; total eclipse ends, 04h. 53·8m. ; moon leaves umbra, 05h. 54·3m. ; leaves penumbra, O6h. 50·3m. A partial eclipse of the sun, visible at Greenwich, occurs on April 28, its magnitude being 0·41 at Greenwich, where it begins at 6h. 21m., reaches its greatest phase at 7h. 15m., and ends at 8h. 14m.