BACKYARD STARGAZER: Eye-catching April moments
By Francis Parnell
How to measure degrees with your hands during celestial movements. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In April Venus, Mars, and Mercury, have a series of eye-catching conjunctions.
Distances in the sky are given in degrees. After two tries and technical glitches, angular measure in the sky can be quickly estimated using the diagram and the fingers of an outstretched arm.
Watch the Full Pink Moon rising on the 5th. Actually, the Moon is at full phase at 12:35 a.m. early morning of the 6th, but at 99.8% it’s closer to being full on the 5th.
Just at sunset on the 10th and 11th, spot Venus about 2.5 degrees left of the Pleiades star cluster. Binoculars will give a nice view of Venus, a member of the solar system, and the Pleiades at 446 light years away. Look 20 degrees lower right to spot elusive, yellow Mercury, at its greatest distance from the Sun.
At dawn on the 16th, look east-southeast to spot the waning crescent Moon less than 5 degrees below Saturn.
At dusk on the 22nd, look west-northwest to .see the waxing crescent Moon hanging pleasingly between Venus (less than 6 degrees upper left) and the Pleiades, (about 7 degrees lower right).
At dusk on the 23rd, the Moon has moved to 5 degrees upper left of Venus.
High in the west on the 25th, the waxing crescent Moon shines less than 3 degrees right of red Mars.
On the 27th after sunset, look high in the southwest to see the first-quarter Moon 4 degrees above the Beehive star cluster. Binoculars will give a nice view of both objects.
FAST FACT: Officially, there are 8 planets/5 dwarf planets in the solar system. But there are lots of moons. Earth 1, Mars 2, Jupiter 92, Saturn 83, Uranus 27, Neptune 14, and dwarf planets Pluto 5, Haumea 2, Makemake 1, and Eris 1. Total: 228 – for now!
“Keep looking up!”
