* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: April 2011

Blobrana · L

The waxing crescent moon is in the constellation Taurus, between the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, on the 7th April, 2011.

Blobrana · L

Saturn is visible all month throughout the night in the constellation Virgo. Dawn shows Mars and brilliant Venus on the eastern horizon. If you get a chance to look through a 6-inch or larger telescope, you will see the beautiful ring system, tilted about 9 degrees to Earth. The Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks late Friday, May April 22. Unfortunately, the light of the waning gibbous Moon will blot out all but the brightest of the usual 10 to 20 meteors an hour.
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Blobrana · L

Jupiter is at conjunction on the 4th April, 2011.
1.1° separated from center of Sun.
Distance to earth: 5.949 AU

Blobrana · L

Saturn is at Opposition on the 3rd April, 2011.
Saturn will be 8.614 AU (804 million miles) from Earth, its closest point for 2011.
Saturn rises in the eastern sky at sunset in the constellation of Virgo, near to the bright stars Arcturus and Spica.

Saturn Closest Approach (distance to earth: 8.614 AU, brightness: 0.4 mag)

Blobrana · L

Mars is in conjunction with Uranus (12.8') at 21:51 GMT, 3rd April, 2011.
Distance to earth: 2.345 AU

Blobrana · L

New Moon (diameter: 29.422', declination: 9.73°) 14:32.3 UTC, 3rd April, 2011.
This is the farthest new moon of the year

Blobrana · L

Filipino sky gazers can watch out for the Lyrids, the oldest known meteor shower, this month, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the Lyrids will be visible on April 21 to predawn of April 22.
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Blobrana · L

Lunar Apogee (distance moon center to earth center: 406647.5 km, apparent diameter: 29'51.3") at 10:15.7 GMT, 2nd April, 2011.

This apogee is the 18th farthest of the last 1000 years, and the next 1000 years.

Blobrana · L

April provides a chance to see nearly all the most famous constellations in one night, from Orion to Scorpius. Saturn shines all night, and the Lyrid meteor shower returns.
Saturn is the only evening planet in April, but well have it all night long. Saturn shines brighter than most stars and has a distinct yellow color. Throughout April, Saturn appears in the east at sunset; is about two-thirds of the way up in the south in the middle of the night; and sets about dawn.
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