NASA Sky Watching Events for April 2023: Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared the astronomical events that will happen this month. Sky watchers will experience major celestial events involving mercury, the moon, planets and meteors that would be visible in the night sky, including. So, let’s look in detail at the April 2023 sky observation highlights shared by NASA.
🔠What’s in the night sky this April?
The Moon will pair beautifully with several planets, while viewing conditions may be ideal for the Lyrid meteor shower. More tips for observing the sky: pic.twitter.com/6TdJbIMJUx
— NASA (@NASA)
March 31, 2023
NASA Sky Watching Highlights in April 2023: Mercury, Moon, Planets and Meteors!
According to the timeline shared by NASA, you can detect Mercury after sunset earlier this month. Afterwards you will also be able to see the visits of the moon to the planets. On April 23, 2023, you’ll even be able to see a shooting star when the Lyrid meteors peak:
|
Date |
April 2023 Sky Viewing Events |
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6 of April |
full moon |
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April 11 |
Mercury will be at its highest point in the night sky during the year, for observers in the northern hemisphere. Look west shortly after sunset. [Best viewing is April 3-11, as it climbs a little higher each evening.] |
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Venus is near the Pleiades star cluster this afternoon in the west. |
|
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April 15 to 16 |
Find the moon near Saturn in the east, a couple of hours before sunrise. |
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April 20th |
New Moon |
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April 23rd |
The crescent moon will hang just five degrees above Venus in the west after sunset. |
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April 23rd |
The Lyrid meteor shower will peak this morning. The best viewing is between midnight and dawn. |
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April 25th |
The Moon and Mars will pair off this afternoon, high in the west, after nightfall. |
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April 26 to 27 |
The moon will be in its first quarter phase, which is a good time to observe with binoculars or a telescope if you have access to them. Around this time you can easily see details in lunar craters and mountains along the day-night line (the terminator). |
Mercury rising on April 11, 2023
Image source: NASA
On April 11, Mercury will reach its highest point. The planet will be more visible during the year in the night sky. Mercury is the smallest and fastest moving planet in our solar system. It has the fastest orbital movement in the solar system. Apparitions or fleeting apparitions of Mercury will be visible in the northern hemisphere during the night of April 3-11.
Venus next to the Pleiades star cluster: a time machine event on April 11, 2023
Image source: NASA
Another great celestial event will take place on April 11! Avid sky watchers can see Venus right next to the Pleiades star cluster through binoculars. NASA claims this pairing will be like a time machine event by hinting “The further you look in space, the further back in time you are looking.” This time travel phenomenon will occur because that night you will see the light that left Venus about 9 minutes earlier, while the light from the Pleiades left those stars about 400 years ago.
Phases of the Moon in April 2023
Image source: NASA
The image above shared by NASA explains the four main phases of the moon. The full moon will be visible on April 6. The third quarter moon will be visible on April 13. The new moon will be visible on April 20 and the first quarter on April 27.
Moon and planet pairings in April 2023: 15th Saturn, 23rd Venus, 25th Mars
Image source: NASA
In the second half of April 2023, close encounters of the Moon with three bright planets in our solar system will occur. On April 15 and 16 you will be able to see the crescent moon rising with Saturn. On the eve of April 23, you’ll be able to see the thin crescent moon hovering just five degrees above Venus in the west after sunset. On April 25. The moon finds its way to Mars and will be visible overnight high in the west.
Lyrid meteor shower on April 23, 2023
Image source: NASA
In April 2023 the Lyrid meteor shower will return. Lyrid is a medium-intensity shower and, under ideal conditions, can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The Lyrid meteor shower is named after the Lyra constellation, which was first seen in China about 2,700 years ago. On April 23, the Lyrids will peak before dawn. Therefore, you may also be able to see some shooting stars in the morning before and after the peak.
So, this month will be a blessing for sky watchers as they will be able to see some shooting stars on an April morning, or they will also be able to see the moon and planets pairing up in the night sky.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn