Beckington Astronomical Society starts its regular Nub News journey

through April's night sky with the planets.

Venus comes back into the evening sky from the middle of the month. To start with it will be low in the northwest and on April 12th it will be just northwest of a 1% lit moon. The moon itself may be difficult to spot, being a very thin crescent appearing approximately 12 minutes after sunset (approx 20.06 BST). As always we stress the need for great caution when observing around sunset, please make sure to avoid looking at the sun itself as it sets.

Later in the month, on the 25th, Venus will appear close to Mercury, again in the northwest and this time 20 minutes after sunset. The planets will be separated by 1.2º and will be visible for about 45 minutes after the sun has set at around 20.30 BST.

Venus will be much the brighter at mag -3.8 with Mercury at mag -1.5. If you observe these two planets over the following nights, Mercury will appear to race away from Venus as it gets higher in the sky. Binoculars will be really useful to follow the two planets that are closest to the sun.

Mars is best seen right at the start of the month. On April 1st, at 21.00 BST, the red planet will be at an altitude of 42º in the west, in the constellation of Taurus and will appear to be bright gold in colour. This phenomenon is known to astronomers as "Fools Gold". Mars is getting lower in the sky as darkness falls and its apparent size is rapidly decreasing. Also look for Mars on the 17th when it will be 3.5º west of the waxing crescent moon.

Both Jupiter and Saturn are now morning planets. Both are best observed at the end of the month. On the 30th look for Saturn at 04.00 BST (in Capricornus, low in the southeast) and for Jupiter at 04.30 BST (very low in the east-southeast in the constellation of Aquarius).

The Moon has some interesting sights to observe this month. It starts the month in the morning sky, is a new Moon on the 12th and then becomes visible again in the evening sky. On the 13th it will be a 2% lit waxing crescent, increasing to 6% lit the next evening. By the 15th it will be 12% lit and sitting between the Hyades and Pleiades open clusters which should make a great opportunity for astro photographers.

On the 18th, the Moon will occult an open cluster in Gemini known as M35. In astronomy an occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer. This occultation will take place around 01.15 BST.

In previous articles we have talked about clair-obscur effects on the Moon's surface. April provides a number of these as the sun casts shadows across a number of craters, creating shadows that resemble a variety of objects.

On April 19th look for "Nessie" as the sun rises over the crater Ptolemaeus. The next evening the "Eyes of Clavius" appear in the crater of the same name.

The morning of the 22nd shows us the "Jewelled Handle" as the peaks of the Jura mountains cast a shadow.

The Moon will be full on April 27th. You will see references to this being a "supermoon" as it will be almost at it's closest point to Earth (called "perigee") and will appear both brighter and larger than an average full moon.

We can recommend www.Visit-the-Moon.com for searchable maps of the Moon's surface to help you identify the items mentioned in this article.

Another solar system object to view this month is Asteroid 9 Metis. This will pass through the constellation of Virgo throughout the month. This is a main belt asteroid, orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. On the 1st it will be 4º southeast of the star Delta Virginis. It will only be mag +9.5 and will require a small telescope to track its movement westward during April.

Let us all hope that April brings us clear skies , warmer weather and gets us closer to a resumption of our Society's meetings. As always please check www.beckingtonas.org for information.

Enjoy your observations and, if you are looking for "Fools Gold" - please do check the date!