April Night time Sky 2024 – Astronotes

April, is that you simply? Jaysus you’re lookin’ properly! 

That’s proper, are you able to imagine it, we’re already in April. March was a little bit of a loopy one, with some days feeling like all of the seasons had been rolled into one. We’re previous that now, and from right here on out we’re hoping for higher climate, and a few really wonderful night time sky star gazing.  

When going out stargazing this April, don’t overlook to regulate the climate. Don’t overlook April showers convey Might flowers! In Northern Eire the climate could be unpredictable, however should you preserve a very good eye in your most well-liked climate apps and web sites, it provides you with a good suggestion of when is greatest to exit for some stargazing. Even the slightest little bit of rain can hinder the lens of a telescope, so watch out and plan appropriately.  

Moon 

Top-of-the-line issues to look at within the night time sky is the Moon. Within the UK, the Moon will likely be utterly full at 12:48am on 24th April. The total moon this month is called the Full Pink Moon. This doesn’t imply that the moon will look pink, though that might be cool to see. The time period “Pink Moon” is commonly related to April’s full Moon as flowers start to bloom, notably moss pink or creeping floor phlox, which is among the earliest and most widespread spring flowers. Creeping floor phlox thrives in sandy or rocky soils and is commonly used as a floor cowl.  

A Pink Moon! The moon is not going to really be pink, however the nickname makes it sound as if it would! Picture Credit score: Wikimedia commons

Stars and Constellations 

Stargazing wouldn’t be stargazing with out stars! Keep in mind if you end up going out to let your eyes adapt to the night time sky. Preserve these cellphones in your pockets as a result of the tough, vivid mild will destroy your night time imaginative and prescient. Use purple lights as a substitute.  

Leo 

If you wish to select some constellations within the April night time sky, why not strive searching for one of many indicators of the Zodiac? Leo the Lion is a superb constellation to seek out and is well noticed by its asterism, The Sickle. As you recognize, asterisms are usually not official constellations, however are shapes discovered inside constellations, or are even made up of the brightest stars from varied constellations.  

Wanting South at roughly 11pm it is possible for you to to see Leo within the night time sky. Look out for his backwards query mark formed head! Credit score: Heather Alexander/Stellarium

Leo itself is a constellation with an ideal mythology behind it. It’s generally linked with Hercules and the Nemean Lion. The primary labour of Hercules was to defeat the Nemean Lion; nevertheless, this lion’s coat was impervious to stone, rock and wooden. This proved to be troublesome for Hercules, however he realised that as a substitute of attempting to penetrate the lion’s pores and skin, he may strangle the creature as a substitute. He defeated the lion after which used considered one of its claws to pores and skin the beast and preserve the coat. Not essentially the most uplifting story, notably for the poor lion, however that’s Greek mythology for you! 

Arcturus 

Top-of-the-line stars to look out for in Spring is Arcturus. It’s discovered within the constellation of Bootes the Herdsman. Arcturus is discovered on the backside of the constellation and is redder in color. It’s the 4th brightest star within the night time sky and can also be a really fast-moving star. We received’t see it transfer within the sky in our lifetime, however hundreds of years from now, it is going to be in a special space of the sky and could have warped the look of Bootes a lot that it received’t seem like the constellation we all know at present.  

Arcturus as seen by the Hubble Area Telescope (Picture credit score: NASA)

Meteor Bathe 

Lastly, we’ve one other sensible occasion in April that hopefully everybody will get to see if the skies stay clear. The Lyrids meteor present will begin on 14th April, and have its peak round 22nd-23rd April. The bathe will finish round 30th April. We get the Lyrids meteor bathe from Comet Thatcher. Comets, and a few asteroids, go away a particles area in house. When the Earth passes via the particles that is how we get meteor showers. Comet Thatcher was solely found in 1861 however the Lyrids meteor bathe is among the oldest recorded showers, with data courting again to 687 BCE. There are usually 18-20 meteors per hour with the Lyrids, so hopefully, should you preserve watching the skies, you’ll catch a glimpse.