Explore the starry skies of April! There will be a number of intriguing celestial sights to enjoy with the help of a binocular or telescope. Here are a few of our favorites:
April is Global Astronomy Month!
Here's your chance to bring your telescopes and binoculars to stargazing parties organized by your local astronomy club. Kicking off on April 1st, Astronomers Without Borders will bring together enthusiasts and organizations from around the world to share their passion for the universe, celebrating the motto of One People, One Sky. Check out the GAM events planned in your area.
April Sky Highlights
Full Moon rises at sunset on April 5. April 11 places Mercury at its highest altitude in the evening sky this month. April 12 gives us a beautiful evening pairing of Venus and the famous Pleiades star cluster. April 13 is the Moon reaches Last Quarter, starting deep sky week. New Moon is April 19, allowing us to view deep sky targets all night. April 22 places a crescent Moon near Venus, which trails the Pleiades. April 23rd's Lyrid Meteor shower occurs with no Moon interfering! April 25 the Moon is in close proximity to Mars. April 23 the Moon reaches First Quarter.
Spring Brings Galaxy Season
April skies provide stargazers with ample opportunities to observe far-off galaxies. With the Virgo Galaxy Cluster and bright galaxies in the Big Dipper and Coma Berenices well-positioned in the sky, April evenings are truly a gift for galaxy hounds. Check out a few of our favorite galaxies: M101, M51, and M106 near the Big Dipper asterism; M86, M87, M84 and M104 in the Virgo Galaxy Cluster; and don't miss NGC 4565, M64, M99, and M100 in the constellation Coma Berenices. While a humble 80mm telescope will show most of the galaxies we mention, a big reflector like our SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian will provide jaw-dropping views of these distant beauties!
International Dark Sky Week
Sunday, April 15th through Saturday, April 21st, celebrate International Dark Sky Week by keeping your outdoor lights turned off after sunset to reduce light pollution. Endorsed by the International Dark-Sky Association and the American Astronomical Society, International Dark Sky Week presents an opportunity to appreciate the beautiful night sky without the adverse effects of light pollution from outdoor lighting. Turn out those lights and enjoy views of the starry sky from your own backyard!
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Kick off International Dark Sky Week by getting outside after midnight on the night of April 16th to enjoy the start of the Lyrids Meteor Shower. Look for meteors to radiate outwards from the constellation Lyra at the peak of the shower, after midnight on the 22nd into the early hours of April 23rd. The Lyrids is a medium shower, which should produce about 18 per hour this year. The Moon will be set, so spotting meteors will be at its best. The Lyrids shower often produces meteors with impressive dust trails that can last several seconds. You don't need a telescope to enjoy the show ? just sit back in a comfy chair and watch bright dust trails flare across the sky.
Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
On April 11th, Mercury reaches its highest altitude at 17 degrees above the horizon evening sunset. This is the best time to view Mercury. Use astronomy binoculars to view the planet low in the western sky.
April's Deep Sky Challenge: M87 in the Virgo Galaxy Cluster*
This is a great challenge for experienced observers. It's been said that the jet of light, famous in photographs, emanating from the core of M87 can be observed visually in telescopes possibly as small as 10" from a dark sky location, on the clearest of nights.
If you're up for the challenge, try to view M87 as high in the sky as possible, and use as much magnification as the conditions permit. Look for a short streak of light emanating from the core, slightly brighter than the surrounding haze. The key to this challenge is finding the right viewing condition. When trying on different nights, note the visibility of the stellar core ? this is a good indicator of the quality of the night and the suitability of a particular eyepiece. A Barlow like the Orion Shorty 1.25" 2x Barlow Lens and an eyepiece such as the 15mm Orion Expanse Telescope Eyepiece provide a good starting point for viewing.
With some patience and a dark, clear night, you may just find Virgo's hidden treasure. Good luck and clear skies!
* This challenge is adapted from "Focus on Downtown Virgo" by Observing at Skyhound at Skyhound.com.
All objects described above can easily be seen with the suggested equipment from a dark sky site, a viewing location some distance away from city lights where light pollution and when bright moonlight does not overpower the stars.
