We are proud to present you with another edition of Marshall's night sky events this week! Welcome, we hope you find something of interest! Let us know in the replies if you did, we would love to hear about it! Let's get started by examining the highlights of the night sky this week, 1-7 April 2024. As usual we will list the highlights and discuss a few. We hope you find this info useful and if you have anything you wish to discuss or add, please hit the "Reply" button below and let us know!
Please note that all images are from Stellarium, the link to the webpage is here: http://stellarium.org/ All other information is freely gathered from various websites, Apps, planetarium software and social media. We would encourage you to download and print your finder charts more specific to your location, the charts/graphics included are for basic guidance only. Many websites like Sky maps.com will allow you to download and print out a free planisphere for each month, link: https://www.skymaps.com/
EVENTS
1st) -
2nd) - Zodiacal light visible in Northern Latitudes in the west after evening twilight for next two weeks.
2nd) - Moon at last quarter at 03:15
6th) - Conjunction of Moon and Mars at 03:51
7th) - Close approach of moon and Venus. The Moon and Venus will make a close approach, passing within a mere 20.7 arcminutes of each other.
7th) - Lunar occultation of Venus, The Moon will pass in front of Venus, creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including the eastern Contiguous United States, eastern Canada, Mexico and southern Greenland amongst others. Although the occultation will only be visible across part of the world – because the Moon is so close to the Earth that its position in the sky varies by as much as two degrees across the world – a close conjunction between the pair will be more widely visible. Starting from 16:10 SAST (14:10
7th) - Conjunction of Moon and Venus. The Moon and Venus will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 23' to the north of Venus, (16:38
7th - Moon at perigee, The Moon will reach the closest point along its orbit to the Earth and will appear slightly larger than at other times, this will also have an effect on our tides which will be higher/lower during this time. (17:51
PLANETS
Mercury
Mercury is not readily observable since it is very close to the Sun, at a separation of only 12° from it.
Venus
Venus rises just before Sunrise at magnitude –3.8.
Mars
Mars rises at magnitude +1.2, in the southeast after dawn and will be difficult to view. It's about 16° upper right of Venus.
Jupiter
Jupiter is magnitude –2.1 in Aries this week in the west at twilight and sets around 10 or 11 p.m.
COMETS
12P/Pons-Brooks
This 5th magnitude comet is only visible to the Northern Hemisphere in the constellation Aries. It is now within reach of binoculars and is still brightening. Peak magnitude will be 21st April.
This comet was first discovered by Jean-Louis Pons on July 12 1812. It has an orbital period of 71.32 years, this is a must see!
We have seen some stunning photos of this comet! Please post yours here on the forums for us to marvel over.
- Pons ZO.png (110.83 KiB) Viewed 291 times
- Pons ZI.png (57.97 KiB) Viewed 291 times
C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)
This is now a 7th magnitude object in Aquila and fading. Astro photographers are wanted to photograph and submit the images for scientific use regarding the solar wind. If you can help then the following link has all the info, happy comet hunting! https://petapixel.com/2024/02/21/astrop ... oken-tail/
Better get a look at this one now, it's fading quickly.
- Pann ZO.png (108.68 KiB) Viewed 291 times
- Pan ZI.png (103.18 KiB) Viewed 291 times
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
At 11.8 magnitude in Virgo and brightening. Will peak in October at a possible -18.
Discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory on 9 January 2023 and independently found by ATLAS South Africa on 22 February 2023. The comet will pass
- tusch ZO.png (85.01 KiB) Viewed 291 times
- Tusch ZI.png (46.23 KiB) Viewed 291 times
SPACE LAUNCHES
1st) Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-70. Time : Approx. 1:25 p.m. EDT (17:25
2nd) Starlink Group 7-18, Falcon 9 . Time : 01:59 AM GMT Place : Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
3rd) Long March 2C (Unkown payload). Time : 12:55 AM GMT Place: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China
5th) Starlink Group 8-1 Falcon 9. Time : 01:59 AM GMT Place : Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
6th) Starlink Group 6-47, Falcon 9. Time 01:59 AM GMT Place : Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
International Space Station
We highly recommend using "Spot the station" from NASA to find out when the International Space station will be passing over your location. This is a fun object to see flying high above, try using binoculars here, lot's of fun!
For the HAM radio enthusiasts among you, please keep a eye on the ARISS website for upcoming contacts or SSTV broadcasts for when the International Space Station is within range. There are several HAMS on board the
