MARSHALL'S NIGHT SKY THIS WEEK - April 14 to April 20
We are proud to present you with another edition of Marshall's night sky events this week, we hope you find something of interest! Let us know in the replies if you did, we would love to hear about it!
If you're looking for info regarding the planets and their positions throughout the month as well as daily asteroid, comet, star and interesting sky events for the current week; it's all here.
We also have upcoming rocket launches listed, and past history regarding notable launches and events as well!
Let's get started by examining the highlights of the night sky this week, April 14 to April 20. 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!
Information is freely gathered from various websites. 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 Skymaps.com will allow you to download and print out a free planisphere for each month, the link is here: https://www.skymaps.com/.
EVENTS
14th April
15th April
16th April
Antares is 0.4* north of the Moon at 23:00 UTC.
17th April
Mars at aphelion.
18th April
Mercury at aphelion.
19th April
20th April
PLANETS
Mercury
Mercury emerges into the morning twilight early in this month. It achieves aphelion on the 18th and its greatest western elognation of 28* on the 21st. It continues to brighten for the rest of the month. It is also the best morning apparition of 2025 for Southern Hemisphere observers.
Venus
Venus is now the "Morning Star", and continues its rapid rise in the dawn sky, going from 15* to 41* elognation this month. It also resumes prograde motion on the 10th. Venus is in conjunction with the Moon on the 24th - 25th, and wioth Saturn on the 28th - 29th, and achieves greatest illumination on the 27th.
Mars
Mars is viewable in the evening hours all month, and crosses the border from Gemini to Cancer on the 12th. It reaches the aphelion of its orbit on the 17, when it will be at its faintest illumination.
Jupiter
Jupiters observing window is shortening, as its elognation from the Sun diminishes from 65* to 40* during the month.
Saturn
Saturn emerges from the Suns glare early in the month, its elognation from the Sun stretching from 18* to 43* during the month, with its ring plane opening from -0.5* to -2.0*. During this narrow window, the rings will be backlit due to the Sun and Earth being situated on opposite sides of the ring plane, with the ring shadow casting a razor thin line across the ball of the planet.
Uranus
Continually losing altitude in the evening twilight, it becomes lost in the solar glare later in the month.
Neptune
Neptune emeges into the morning twilight during the month, and it still situated in Pisces.
COMETS AND ASTEROIDS
Comets brighter than Magnitude 10:
None listed
New Comets from Magnitude 10 to 15:
C/2025 F2 (SWAN)
Magnitude: 8.9 (Observed - COBS) trending_up
Coma Diameter: 2.3'
Tail Length: n/a
Observation Date: 2025-04-14
Apparent: 00h 19m 07s +31° 04’ 28”
J2000: 00h 17m 48s +30° 56’ 03”
in Andromeda
P/2010 H2 (Vales)
Magnitude: 13.5 (Predicted - JPL) trending_flat
Apparent: 13h 30m 46s +06° 23’ 27”
J2000: 13h 29m 30s +06° 31’ 15”
in Virgo
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
Magnitude: 13.6 (Observed - COBS) trending_down
Coma Diameter: 2.7'
Tail Length: n/a
Observation Date: 2025-04-13
Apparent: 20h 24m 03s +21° 06’ 32”
J2000: 20h 22m 56s +21° 01’ 35”
in Vulpecula
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
Magnitude: 13.8 (Observed - COBS) trending_flat
Coma Diameter: 3.3'
Tail Length: n/a
Observation Date: 2025-04-12
Apparent: 09h 37m 23s +10° 43’ 49”
J2000: 09h 36m 02s +10° 50’ 40”
in Leo
C/2024 J2 (Wierzchos)
Magnitude: 14.2 (Predicted - JPL) trending_down
Apparent: 00h 21m 53s +18° 04’ 43”
J2000: 00h 20m 34s +17° 56’ 18”
in Pisces
C/2021 G2 (Atlas)
Magnitude: 14.3 (Observed - COBS) trending_flat
Coma Diameter: 1.7'
Tail Length: n/a
Observation Date: 2025-04-13
Apparent: 15h 31m 22s -10° 11’ 15”
J2000: 15h 29m 59s -10° 06’ 07”
in Libra
C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)
Magnitude: 14.5 (Predicted - JPL) trending_down
Apparent: 01h 17m 42s -44° 43’ 51”
J2000: 01h 16m 35s -44° 51’ 49”
in Phoenix
21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Magnitude: 14.9 (Predicted - JPL) trending_down
Apparent: 01h 50m 32s +06° 14’ 58”
J2000: 01h 49m 12s +06° 07’ 28”
in Pisces
Asteroids brighter than Magnitude 10:
4 Vesta
Magnitude: 5.9 trending_up
Apparent: 15h 08m 07s -05° 22’ 26”
J2000: 15h 06m 47s -05° 16’ 39”
in Libra
1 Ceres
Magnitude: 9.3 trending_flat
Apparent: 23h 32m 17s -11° 58’ 04”
J2000: 23h 30m 58s -12° 06’ 27”
in Aquarius
7 Iris
Magnitude: 9.8 trending_up
Apparent: 02h 32m 28s +16° 54’ 05”
J2000: 02h 31m 04s +16° 47’ 25”
in Aries
STARS
Sirius - Have you ever tried for Sirius B? Sirius A and B are now at their widest apparent separation in their 50-year orbit, 11 arcseconds apart, and will remain so for the next couple years before they start closing up again. If you can block Sirius A out of your FOV you might have a shot at open cluster Gaia 1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_1)
T Coronae Borealis - A star system, located 3,000 light-years away from Earth, is predicted to become visible to the unaided eye soon. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity as the nova outburst only occurs about every 80 years. Now just before the Meridian at Sun rise. Coronae Borealis is moving East in the sky each night and will soon be visible in late evening. T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, last exploded in 1946 and astronomers believe it will do so again in 2025. Once in a lifetime event! Plan ahead just in case! The TSS TCrB Citizen Science Section is here. Wiki article here.
SPACE LAUNCHES
Info from https://www.spaceflightnow.com/
Blue Origin
New Shepard | NS-31
Suborbital West Texas
Mon Apr 14, 2025 9:30 AM GMT-4
Launch Site One, West Texas, Texas, USA
NET April 16 Minotaur 4 • NROL-174
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-8, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 rocket will launch the NROL-174 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The agency said there are multiple national security payloads on board, which are “designed, built, and operated by the NRO. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command was responsible for launch procurement through the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 contract.
NET April 19 Falcon 9 • NROL-145
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of satellites supporting the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) proliferated architecture constellation. The agency has the stated goal to “build and fortify the largest government constellation in history, with proliferated launches continuing through 2029.” This will be the fourth launch for this constellation this year and the tenth overall. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster will target a landing on the droneship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’
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, lots 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 ISS, they should have a busy radio schedule coming up. AMSAT are another great resource in this regard.
This video is from the ISS live feed on YouTube. Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
April 14
67 years ago, in 1958, Sputnik 2 burns up after reentering Earth's atmosphere.
61 years ago, in 1964, the second Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO-2, OSO-B) accidentally ignites its third stage while undergoing a spin test, killing 3 and injuring 8 more.
44 years ago, in 1981, after a successful mission, the shuttle Columbia (STS-1) returns to Earth.
April 15
65 years ago, in 1960, Luna E-3 No.1 (Luna 1960A), a Soviet spacecraft intended to fly around the Moon on a circumlunar trajectory, fails to make it out of Earth orbit.
26 years ago, in 1999, Landsat 7 is launched.
20 years ago, in 2005, NASA launches DART (Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology), but the spacecraft hits the satellite it was supposed to rendezvous with.
April 16
65 years ago, in 1960, Luna E-3 No.2 (Luna 1960B), a Soviet spacecraft intended to fly around the Moon on a circumlunar trajectory, loses the boosters from the rocket and crashes.
53 years ago, in 1972, Apollo 16 launch to land on the moon.
45 years ago, in 1980, 2696 Magion, a dark background asteroid, is discovered by Slovak astronomer Ladislav Brožek at the Kleť Observatory in former Czechoslovakia.
April 17
151 years ago, in 1874, the French astronomer Jerome Coggia discovers Comet Coggia (C/1874 H1, the Great Comet of 1874).
70 years ago, in 1955, Albert Einstein dies of a rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, in Princeton, New Jersey.
58 years ago, in 1967, Surveyor 3 is launched for the Moon.
55 years ago, in 1970, Apollo 13 splashes down in the South Pacific Ocean and is retrieved by the USS Iwo Jima.
49 years ago, in 1976, the Helios-B (Helios 2) solar probe flies to a record distance of 26,987,000 miles ( 43.432 million km) from the Sun.
44 years ago, in 1981, last contact is made with the Einstein Observatory (HEAO-2) X-ray telescope.
18 years ago, in 2007, the first Columbian satellite, Libertad 1, is successfully launched.
13 years ago, in 2012, the retired shuttle Discovery is flown atop a 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to Dulles airport in Washington.
11 years ago, in 2014, NASA's Kepler space telescope discovers the first Earth-size exoplanet orbiting a star in the habitable zone, Kepler-186f.
11 years ago, in 2014, the Lunar atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) makes a planned impact on the Moons surface.
April 18
235 years ago, in 1790, Caroline Herschel discovers her fourth comet, Comet C/1790 H1 (Herschel).
23 years ago, in 2002, Stardust reaches its aphelion, and at 407 million kms (253 million miles) from the Sun, the furthest distance so far by a solar-powered craft.
17 years ago, in 2008, the first Vietnamese satellite, Vinasat-1, is successfully launched.
11 years ago, in 2014, the SpaceX CRS-3 mission successfully completes its Resupply Service mission to the ISS, as well as the first controlled landing of the first stage on the ocean.
10 years ago, in 2015, FRB 150418 is detected by the Parkes observatory in New South Wales, Australia.
7 years ago, in 2018, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is launched by NASA aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
April 19
63 years ago, in 1962, NASA announces that the Friendship 7 spacecraft will be lent to the U.S. Information Agency for a world tour, known as the "fourth orbit of Friendship 7".
54 years ago, in 1971, the USSR launches the first space station, Salyut 1.
50 years ago, in 1975, India launches the nations first satellite, Aryabhata.
24 years ago, in 2001, the shuttle Endeavour (STS-100) launches, bringing Canadarm2 to the ISS.
24 years ago, in 2001, Chris Hadfield, aboard the ISS, is the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk.
13 years ago, in 2012, the retired shuttle Discovery is delivered to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Virginia for public display.
April 20
61 years ago, in 1964, Luna E-6 No.5 (Luna 1964B) is launched to perform a soft landing on the Moon, but the upper stage malfunctions 340 seconds into the flight, causing the engine to shut down before reaching orbit.
58 years ago, in 1967, Surveyor 3 is the second craft to make a soft landing on the Moon.
53 years ago, in 1972, Apollo 16 lands on the moon.
52 years ago, in 1973, Canada's Anik A2 communications satellite is launched.
21 years ago, in 2004, Gravity Probe B (GP-B) is successfully launched by NASA to measure spacetime curvature near the Earth.
8 years ago, in 2017, Tianzhou 1, the test mission of China's new unmanned cargo spacecraft, is launched to dock with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory.
And that is it for the upcoming week. We hope you can all get out and do some observing, sketching and imaging.
Clear skies!
The TSS Team.