Looking west, from April 15th-17th at 9 o’clock
March 31, 2022| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy
I always look forward to April’s view of the departing Orion and his companions, the Big Dog and Taurus, the Bull, as they gradually settle to, then below the western horizon. The spring stars may not dazzle in comparison, yet the Big Dipper is placed high in the northeast, Leo, the Lion champions the southern skies, and Gemini’s Twins stand high in the west. The evening skies reward us with this year’s best views of Mercury, bright but low in the west-northwest after the 20th. Early risers enjoy the other four visible planets, starting with Venus, Saturn, and Mars bunched together, then spreading out in a line, and joined by Jupiter mid-month. Jupiter and Venus then get cozy during the last week.
Moon
April’s Full Moon, the Full Pink Moon, heralds the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon. (Old Farmers Almanac)
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New Moon April 1 |
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First Quarter April 9 |
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Full “Pink” Moon April 16 |
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Last Quarter April 23 |
April 1 Sunrise 6:31AM EDT | Sunset 7:18 PM EDT | Length of Day 12h 47m
April 30 Sunrise 5:42 AM EDT | Sunset 7:54 PM EDT | Length of Day 14h 12m