April Observing Opportunities
April 2019 :
Note: This article may contain outdated information
This article was published in the April 2019 issue of The Skyscraper and likely contains some information that was pertinent only for that month. It is being provided here for historical reference only.
April is a fairly quiet month for most casual stargazers. Jupiter and Saturn are still early morning objects in a pre-dawn sky. Venus is still prominent but very low above the eastern horizon as the month begins. On the 11th you may spot Mercury about five degrees to the lower left of Venus. Mercury will only be about seven degrees above the horizon at 6:00 a.m. You’ll need an unobstructed view to the east to observe these two planets to best advantage. Venus’ brilliance will guide you to this sky location.
Just after sunset on April 13 you’ll find a waxing gibbous Moon within two degrees of M44, the Beehive Cluster of stars, in the constellation of Cancer. This conjunction of celestial bodies will look great with binoculars.
In addition, on the night of April 22-23, you should scan the skies for members of the April Lyrids meteor shower. The Lyrids are the oldest known shooting star display, having been observed by Chinese astronomers on March 16, 687 BCE. Being an old display, the number of meteors populating the stream of particles has greatly diminished. While some astronomers predict a rate of 15 meteors per hour under dark sky conditions, ten per hour is more likely.
However, a bright waning gibbous moon (full on the 19th) will reduce the peak number down to ten or less shooting stars per hour. The Lyrids are swift and bright meteors which disintegrate after hitting our atmosphere at a moderate speed of 29.8 miles per second. They often produce luminous trains of dust that can be observed for several seconds.
The Lyrids appear to radiate outward from an area of sky on the Lyra-Hercules border near the bright star Vega, which will be about 45 degrees (halfway between the horizon and zenith) above the eastern horizon at midnight and well placed for observing. I let my eyes roam the heavens while facing this general direction. Remember, even though you can trace back the dust train left by a Lyrid meteor back to its radiant point, members of this shower can appear anywhere in the sky.
And finally, on that same morning a beautiful sight will greet your eyes. Two and a half degrees to the lower left of the Moon will be bright Jupiter. Try using a camera with a telephoto lens, a pair of binoculars, or even a small telescope using low power to enhance your view of this beautiful sky scene.
Keep your eyes to the skies!
