April 2007

April nights start with a full moon to the east, Saturn shining brightly overhead slightly to the east, and Venus even brighter in the west. Saturn remains next to the lion's head or the sickle of Leo. Venus is below the V that makes the horns of Aries. For northern observers, the skies are staying brighter later. Southern skywatchers have earlier darkness. A crescent moon passes by Venus around the 18th. The moon's nearly full again by the end of the month.

Jupiter is a morning object all month. For those in the north, Jupiter is above and right of the teapot of Sagittarius. Mars is a ruddy object near Capricorn. If you have a big scope, dark skies, and the knack for finding it, Neptune is a little above the Red Planet at the start of April. Mars drops below Neptune as the month goes on and passes near Uranus around the 25th. Uranus is brighter and can be spotted in binoculars or even with the naked eye. Mercury is in Aquarius at sunrise at the start of April. If you can't find it early in the month, you probably won't find it at all in April. The Messenger gets closer and closer to the sun until it becomes an evening object next month.

Meteor shower enthusiasts can try for the April Lyrids on the 21st and 22nd.

The asteroid Juno is at opposition (up all night) on the 13th. It can be found in a telescope in Virgo.