| March is the third month in the Gregorian calendar and consists of 31 days. In ancient Rome, the year began on March 1. Around the year 45 BC Julius Caesar reform the calendar and moved the beginning of the year to January 1. The month of March is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. |
The new moon for April occurs on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007. This makes the weekend of April 4th-15th the best weekend for deep sky viewing.
The Full Moon for April occurs on April 2nd, 2007. This full moon is known as the Full Pink or Full Pascal Moon.
Mercury is viewable in the morning hours of April up to the third week of the month when it disappears into the glare of the morning sunrise.
On April 1st, 2007 Mercury passes within 1° 30′ of Uranus.
April starts out with Mercury a mere 1° 30′ of the Planet Uranus in the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer). On April 9th, Mercury crosses into the constellation Pisces (The Fish). On April 14th, Mercury briefly crosses into the constellation Cetus (The Sea Monster) until April 17th when it returns to the constellation Pisces. Finally at the end of the month, on April 27, Mercury moves into the constellation Aries (The Ram) hidden by the glare of the Sun.
Venus is prominent all month in the evening sky after sunrise in the West, as the Evening Star. Starting out the month in the constellation Aries (The Ram), Venus moves into the constellation Taurus on April 7th. By April 10th through April 12th Venus will pass within 3° on the Taurus asterism, Pleiades (M45).
On April 10th, 2007 Venus & Pleiades will pass within 3° at sunset.
Mars is viewable in the morning hours all month. Mars starts out April in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat), but almost immediately, on April 2nd, Mars crosses into the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer).
On April 28th-29th, 2007,Mars will pass within 1° of Uranus.
Jupiter can be found in the constellation Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer) until December 2007. In the month of April, Jupiter can be viewed in the morning hours about 12° from the former planet Pluto. Jupiter is moving across the sky in retrograde motion until August 2007.
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The planets, Jupiter & Pluto will be located within 12° of each other for the entire month of April. |
Saturn is located in the constellation Leo (The Lion) until the year 2009. During the month of April, Saturn can be viewed from the middle of the night until morning.
On April 25th the waxing gibbous moon will occult Saturn. Unfortunately for us on the west coast of the US, this will occur after they set (within 1° of each other, around 3:00am). The occultation can be best viewed from northern Asia.
Uranus is located in the constellation Aquarius until the year 2009. Uranus starts out this month, on April Fool’s Day, only about 1° 30′ from the planet Mercury. On April 28th-29th, Mars will pass within 1° of Uranus. Uranus Rises on April 1st around 6:00am about an hour before sunrise and by the end of the month Uranus is rising around 4:00 am.
On April 1st, 2007 Mercury passes within 1° 30′ of Uranus.
Neptune is located in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat) until the year 2010. Neptune rises around 4:00am at the first of the month and by the end of the month Neptune is rising around 2:00am.
April 15th, 2007 at Sunrise The positions on Neptune, Mars, Uranus, The Moon and Mercury.
Pluto is located in the constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) until the year 2023. Pluto will spend the entire month about 12° from the planet Jupiter, located in the constellation Ophiuchus (The Snake Bearer). Pluto rises around 2:00am on the first of the month and by the end of April Pluto is rising around midnight.
| The planets, Jupiter & Pluto will be located within 12° of each other for the entire month of April. | |
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