Moon Phases
Wed., April 3, 12:37 a.m. EDT
Last Quarter Moon
The last or third quarter moon rises around 2:40 a.m. and
sets around 12:50 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the
southern sky.
Wed., April 10, 5:35 a.m. EDT
New Moon
The moon is not visible on the date of new moon because it
is too close to the sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a
morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an
evening or two after new moon.
Thu., April 18, 8:31 a.m. EDT
First Quarter Moon
The first quarter moon rises around 12:30 p.m. and sets
around 3 a.m. It dominates the evening sky.
Thu., April 25, 3:57 p.m. EDT
Full Moon
The full moon of April is called the Seed Moon. Its Cree
name is Kiskipizun, meaning “Gray Goose Moon.” Other names are Sprouting Grass
Moon, Fish Moon, Growing Moon, Waking Moon, and Pink Moon. In Hindi it is known
as Hanuman Jayanti. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Bak. The full moon rises around
sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the moon is in
the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the moon spends at least some
time in the daytime sky.
Observing Highlights
Sun., April 14, 2 p.m. EDT
Jupiter north of the moon
Jupiter will be 2 degrees north of the moon, giving an
excellent opportunity to view the giant planet is the daylight sky. Quite a few
people have seen Venus with their unaided eyes in daylight, but very few have
seen Jupiter. Locate it first with binoculars, then try to spot it with the
naked eye.
Wed., April 24, 8 p.m. local time
Spica near the moon
Look closely at the rising moon tonight. Notice a tiny star
just above it? That’s Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. As
seen from Central America, the Caribbean, and southern Africa, the moon will
actually pass in front of Spica.
Thu., April 25
Partial Lunar Eclipse
The moon will pass through the outer parts of the moon’s
shadow tonight for observers over much of the Eastern Hemisphere. Unfortunately
this eclipse will not be visible anywhere in North America.
Sun., April 28, 4 a.m. EDT
Saturn at opposition
Saturn is directly opposite the sun in the sky. It sits on
the boundary between the constellations Virgo and Libra, just to the east of
the bright star Spica. It is visible all night, rising in the east as the sun
sets in the west, and setting in the west as the sun rises in the east.
Planets
Mercury will be in
the eastern sky at sunrise all
month, but will be very low for observers in the Northern Hemisphere.
Southerners will fare better: this will be their best morning apparition of the
year.
Venus is on the far
side of the sun, and too close to it to be observed all month.
Mars is on the far
side of the sun, being in conjunction with it on April 18.
Jupiter continues
its stay in Taurus. It is high in the western sky in the early evening and sets
in the northwest around midnight.
Saturn is in
opposition in Libra on April 28. It is visible all night.
Uranus is in Pisces but
still too close to the sun to be observed.
Neptune is in
Aquarius all month, now visible in the morning sky.
Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Software Support
All graphics © 2013 Starry Night Software
