Astrological events for April
These four panels show the Whirlpool galaxy — which is actually a pair of galaxies also known as Messier 51 and NGC 5194/5195 — and how different wavelengths of light can reveal different features of a cosmic object. Located approximately 23 million light-years away, it resides in the constellation Canes Venatici.
Image via the NASA Images Library at nasa.gov
Here is the latest report from Starry Night Software and Chris Vaughan, at Space.com.
There are several interesting observing opportunities throughout the month of April.
Here are just a few coming up:
Monday, April 10: Venus passes the Pleiades (M45) (evening)
Tuesday, April 11: Mercury at peak visibility (after sunset)
Saturday, April 15: The Whirlpool (M51) and Pinwheel (M101) galaxies (all night)
Friday, April 21: Crescent moon above Mercury and Uranus (after sunset)
Sunday April 23: Lyrids Meteor Shower Peak (pre-dawn)
Tuesday, April 25: Waxing moon meets Mars (evening)
Saturday, April 29: On the moon itself, the Craters Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus and Arzachel (all night),
Sunday, April 30: Venus gleams between the bull's horns (evening), and much more.
Space.com also includes lots of other interesting pictures, maps, charts, and information including excellent planet positions and data for this month:
https://www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html
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John Taylor is an amateur astronomer who lives in Hayden.