-BY JAMES EDGAR
A couple of days later, it’s within 0.6 degrees of Uranus; an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. On the 6th, the Minor Planet Ceres is within 0.2 degrees; another occultation, again in the Southern Hemisphere. The Moon is at apogee on the 7th (404,438 km). As expected, a little over 14 days after new Moon, full Moon occurs on the 16th. On the 19th, the Moon is at perigee (365,143 km). On April 24 – 26, a rash of close encounters occurs, beginning with Saturn on the 24th, then Mars on the 25th, Venus on the 26th, and Jupiter on the 27th. What this means to the avid astrophotographer is close groupings of the bright planets – good reason for rising early to set up the camera gear. The 30th brings the Moon back around in front of the Sun – but this time with a twist – it really is in front of the Sun, resulting in a partial solar eclipse, visible only from South American countries or from shipboard in the Pacific or Atlantic oceans.
Mercury comes out from behind the Sun about mid-month to begin the best evening apparition for Northern Hemisphere viewers. On the 18th, Mercury and Uranus are 2 degrees apart. The 29th finds the speedy planet among the stars of the Seven Sisters (The Pleiades). This is also Mercury’s greatest elongation east.
Venus has been close by Mars and Saturn for much of the previous weeks, and now begins to draw away from them. Toward the end of April, Venus encounters the Moon on the 26th, Neptune on the 27th (only 0.1 degree away!), and Jupiter on the 30th (a mere 0.2 degrees away).
Mars is in conjunction with Saturn on the 4th, separated by only 0.3 degrees and showing similar brightnesses, but differing colours. All month long, Mars and Saturn share the same bit of sky. The crescent Moon passes by on the 25th
Jupiter is in a close conjunction with Neptune on the 12th, but observing the event will be a particular challenge, owing to the brightness difference between the two planets. Around mid-month, Jupiter trails a lineup of the other three bright planets: Venus, Mars, and Saturn. This might be a good photo-op for the early riser – four planets equally spaced in the morning predawn. On the 27, the Moon passes by 4 degrees to the giant planet’s south.
Saturn, as mentioned above, is in conjunction with Mars on the 4th, is one of the four-in-a-row as given above, and watches the Moon glide by on the 24th.
Uranus is almost occulted by the Moon on April 3rd. On the 18th, Mercury is 2 degrees to the north, then Uranus fades into the evening twilight as the month progresses.
Neptune, while mainly a telescopic target, presents two close conjunctions, one on the 12th with Jupiter, and the other on the 27th with Venus.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was National President for two terms, is now the Editor of the renowned Observer’s Handbook, and Production Manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he was recently awarded a Fellowship of the RASC.
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