April 16–May 2, 2022
MOUNT WASHINGTON — We begin with an adventure for two weeks of morning stargazing, referring to the diagram, above. Then, hurry to gather our thoughts around tonight’s highly charged Full Moon and the evening stars going forward, as drawn in the second star chart, below.
Radiant planet Venus appears as if a great star rising in the darkness at daybreak, as captivating as the rising Sun but with the advantage of our gazing without the caution to look away from its steady light. At about 5 a.m. on the 17th, in hilly terrain, Venus joins dimmer Mars and Saturn, tracing a diagonal close above the east-southeast horizon. Have binoculars handy to enhance the view of the dimmer planets. On the 19th, or thereabouts, planet Jupiter climbs above the eastern skyline, trailing Venus, at about 5:15 a.m. (Times account for viewing in hilly terrain.) These two brightest planets command our attention. Venus is visible to the naked eye until about 5:40 a.m., as twilight brightens. Sunrise on the 20th is 6:05 a.m.
Venus and Jupiter appear closer to one another each day. Look as often as possible to see the distance between them shrink. Be present especially on the mornings of April 29 through May 2. Their closest approach occurs April 30 and May 1: a spectacular planetary conjunction not to be seen again until the year 2039.
Tonight, April 16, the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox rises in the east-southeast at 7:43 p.m.
Known as the Egg or Sprouting Grass Moon, among other names from many cultures, moonrise is opposite sunset, which occurs at 7:35 p.m. Passover and Easter holidays are timed in relation to this, the first spring Full Moon. Passover is celebrated the day of, and Easter the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox, which was March 20 this year. Hence, today is the first day of Passover. Tomorrow, the 17th, is Easter Sunday.
Darkness falls at 9:16 p.m. tonight. Bright blue star Spica and kite-shaped constellation, Corvus the Crow, shine near the moon on the 16th and 17th. Study the star chart for setting winter stars and constellations squeezed in on the bottom right corner, in the southwest to west. Spring constellations are rising, with Leo the Lion center stage. Note the Big Dipper at the top of the sky and follow its handle to “arc to Arcturus and speed to Spica.”
Shooting stars are in the air. Peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower is predicted to be on the 21st. Although a bright moon interferes with visibility, I was delighted by a streak in my direction when out at dawn on a quest to view the planets.
April’s Awareness and Activism for the Heavens and Earth
Open the following resources for ways to be a part of assuring a healthy Earth Day Everyday and protecting Dark Skies for the vitality of all living beings.
- International Dark Sky Week begins on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, and extends through Saturday, April 30
- April is Global Astronomy Month
- Why Light Pollution is a Solvable Environmental Crisis