* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download The Night Sky 12-07
Definition of planet wikipedia , lookup
Aries (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Auriga (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Corona Australis wikipedia , lookup
Theoretical astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Astrobiology wikipedia , lookup
Extraterrestrial life wikipedia , lookup
Cassiopeia (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Archaeoastronomy wikipedia , lookup
Chinese astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems wikipedia , lookup
Canis Minor wikipedia , lookup
Planets in astrology wikipedia , lookup
Planetarium wikipedia , lookup
Canis Major wikipedia , lookup
Star of Bethlehem wikipedia , lookup
History of astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Star formation wikipedia , lookup
Perseus (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Observational astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Cygnus (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Constellation wikipedia , lookup
Aquarius (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Astronomical naming conventions wikipedia , lookup
Ancient Greek astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Hebrew astronomy wikipedia , lookup
The Night Sky April 2017 MOON & PLANETS Reddish Mars is visible above the western horizon as the sky darkens in the late evening twilight. During the first few days of April, before it disappears from view, Mercury can be glimpsed along the horizon well below Mars. Jupiter reaches opposition this month, which means that it will be up all night long and high in the south at local midnight. For us in the U.P. on Eastern Daylight Time, this occurs at almost 2 a.m. Also roughly around 2 a.m. is when Saturn rises. Saturn will be low in the south at first light. Venus rises about an hour before sunrise and is low in the east in the brightening dawn sky. The waxing Moon is very close to the bright star Regulus on the night of April 6. The full Moon is next to Jupiter on the night and morning of the 10th & 11th. As the Moon slowly wanes it passes near Saturn on the 16th & 17th. A very low thin crescent is to the lower right of Venus on the 23rd. STARS & CONSTELLATIONS The bright winter stars are visible setting in the west as total darkness falls about two hours after sunset. Sirius, the well-known brightest star, puts on a show by scintillating rapidly in the heavier air near the horizon. Up in the southwest above Sirius is Procyon, another bright white star. High in the south is Leo the Lion with its brightest member, Regulus. Located between Regulus and Procyon is a tight group of medium bright stars forming an uneven trapezoid. This is the head of Hydra the Water Serpent. Starting at its trapezoidal head, this constellation consists of a fairly faint but very long string of stars that meanders above the southern horizon toward the southeast. Regulus is a bright white star and is known as the Lion’s Heart. Located a little below Regulus is the brightest member of Hydra, a reddish second magnitude star called the Dragon’s Heart. For more astronomy information on line: http://www.space.com http://skytonight.com http://www.astronomy.com Download a free monthly star chart at www.skymaps.com