The moon is in a waning gibbous phase as the month begins, “gibbous” meaning humped, like a camel. Saturn is four degrees north of the moon April 6. The moon is new April 12. By April 17, Mars is 0.1 degrees away, which is an occultation in the Eastern Hemisphere. And, the moon is less than one degree north of M35, the cluster in Gemini. The moon is full April 26, with perigee occurring the following day (closest in its orbit to Earth), high tides can be expected in coastal areas.
Mercury can be seen early in the eastern morning dawn early in the month, then after superior conjunction mid-month, becomes an western evening object late in the month.
Venus is too close to the sun to be seen until very late in April.
Mars is moving eastward, in proper motion, among the stars of Taurus, the Bull. An occultation occurs when Mars is covered by the moon April 17. Unfortunately, it is only visible from the Eastern Hemisphere, but we westerners can see the Red Planet less than 0.1 degree from the waxing gibbous moon. April 27, Mars is less than a degree above the cluster M35.
Jupiter is a morning object in the south eastern sky at daybreak, so only visible for a short time. The crescent moon passes four degrees to its south April 7. Various double shadow transits occur in the first half of April, where two of Jupiter’s moons cast shadows April face of the gas giant at the same time. These occur on April 3; April 6; April 10 and April 14.
Saturn meets up with the moon on the morning of April 6. Both Jupiter and Saturn become visible briefly before sunrise.
Uranus presents a difficult challenge in the western evening sky, gradually closing in on a solar conjunction at the end of the month.
Neptune slowly emerges in the morning twilight for observers with telescopes.
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 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.
