| Observatory |
What's Up...
Some observing hilights
to look forward to...
The following tips on current and upcoming astronomical events
have been assembled for our Okanagan region by Dave Gamble
with the objective of giving OC RASC members a heads-up on
special personal astro-experiences to look forward to.
Tues. April 1 – The new month opens with a beautiful celestial panorama in the western evening sky… no fooling! The waxing crescent Moon is just to the upper left of the Pleiades and brilliant Jupiter adds its interest to her upper left between the horns of Taurus. Orion, which is starting to bid its farewell for the year, strides below left.
Sat. April 5 – Now one day past her First Quarter phase , Luna has moved up the sky toward the Gemini twins where she has met up with Mars, positioned just to the right… still intriguing for its brightness and distinctive warm colouring.
Mon. April 7 – Now just days from full phase, tonight Luna will ornament the familiar spring icon of Leo’s reverse question mark asterism. To her lower left is its lumina Regulus which is actually a quadruple star system organized into two closely spaced pairs of stars.
Sat. April 12 – This is Full Moon night, and Luna is celebrating it deep in the southern sky, perhaps shy because this will be the smallest full Moon in 2025. Culminating in the south just after midnight, our neighbour will look down on progressing Okanagan spring scenes as her light glints off newly sprouting leaves. Joining her for the experience is bright Spica, the beacon of Virgo which will be very close to her upper right.
Thurs. April 17 – Tonight you’ll have to stay out observing into the wee hours to see Luna, now in waning gibbous phase. Our neighbour has dipped VERY deep into the southern sky, well below the ecliptic, posing just left and below ruddy Antares!
Mon. April 21 - For lovers of meteor showers, this year's Lyrids will peak overnight. Normally a just past Last Quarter Moon would be a problem, but due to Luna’s far southern excursion, rising just as the eastern sky brightens, she won’t be noticed! The radiant in Lyra will rise higher in northeastern sky as Monday night turns into Tuesday offering a good view of 'shooting stars' as well as a chance of the odd fireball.
Thurs. April 24 – While we’ve been treated to another monthly guided tour of the night sky by Luna… something else has been happening! Venus quietly slipped into the Sun’s glare and is now emerging as ‘the Morning Star’! To see her in her new role you’ll have to have a low eastern horizon and look for her brilliant spark just to the left of the thin crescent Moon as they rise into the brightening sky.
Mon. April 28 – If you’d like to try the challenge of seeing a one day old crescent Moon, there may be chance this evening. A very low western horizon will be needed to locate, probably with binoculars, the fingernail paring crescent Luna still immersed in the glow of the recently set the Sun.
Wed. April 30 – To close out the welcome spring month of April, the waxing crescent Luna poses among the setting stars of Taurus and Auriga. Jupiter may be seen bidding his annual farwell from just below.