The Planets and More - April 2016

The Planets:

national geographic documentary 2015, Venus is presently sliding into the eastern morning sky and by months end will be lost in the glare of the Sun, where it will stay until July. Not before having a nearby experience with the moon on the morning of the sixth, only a couple finger widths (2 deg) away.

Mars starts the month ascending in the mid night sky around 9pm and by 7pm at month's end. It has a nearby experience with its old stellar opponent Antares (Heart of the scorpion) on the 25th where it is joined by the melting away moon with Saturn close by. Right now is an ideal opportunity to watch Mars at it approaches resistance one month from now... stay tuned!

national geographic documentary 2015, Jupiter, now past restriction keeps on being a fine sight in Leo through a telescope. With its short rotational time of only 9.9 hours and the consistent move of its moons you could watch it throughout the night and see the whole planet! It will be close (2 degree's) from the moon on the eighteenth, fine in a wide field scope.

Saturn keeps on lighting up and develop in size, and as dependably is the show horse of the close planetary system. Experiencing the moon on the night 26th.

Uranus is relentlessly being lost to the morning glare.

national geographic documentary 2015, Neptune in Aquarius is noticeable from 3am and has a clear close experience with the Main belt space rock 11 Parthenope on the 28th and 29th at only 0.5 Degree's partition however you will require a decent extension to see Neptune.

The Jovian Moons:

Jupiter's moons Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto have their most intriguing experiences with Jupiter on the third, twelfth, nineteenth, 21st and 29th of April.

The Deep Sky:

The Constellations Leo and Cancer are all around put high in the sky and the show-stopper heavenly bodies Carina and Crux in the southern sky in April mid night. You can discover such joys as the Beehive Cluster in Cancer, the Leo Galaxy triplet, The Jewel confine Crux and The Eta Carina Nebula in Carina.

Watching Equipment Advice:

Exposed Eye Viewing: This is the most ideal approach to see Meteor Showers, the board compass of the Milky Way and track satellites over the night sky. Pick as dim site and a happy with leaning back position. This is yours for the taking and just requires a touch of exertion and maybe a star plate.