Ernie Jacobs

Look Up with the BAA – April / May 2021

Posted on by Ernie Jacobs

As seen on our April 17th Looking up! Spring into Galaxies

Sun and Moon:
  • Sun
    • Tonight (4/16) the Sun sets at 7:58 PM and rises on tomorrow morning (4/17) at 6:30 AM
    • On May 21st the Sun sets at 8:37 PM and rises the following morning (5/22) at 5:46 AM
  • Moon
    • First Quarter: 4/20
    • Full: 4/26 – Pink Moon, Moon near Perigee (Supermoon)
    • Last Quarter: 5/3
    • New: 5/11
    • Lunar X & V: 5/18 7:41 PM
    • First Quarter: 5/19
Lunar X & V captured with an iPhone through an 8″ telescope.
Lunar X & V, indicated by the white circles, captured with iPhone thru an 8″ telescope.

The Planets:

Click on image for larger view. Table of Rise/Set times, Distance from Earth, and Equatorial Diameter 4/16 thru 5/21.

Club Events:

  • Looking Up! Virtual Star Party – Spring into Galaxies – 4/17 8:30 PM (Facebook & YouTube)
  • May General Meeting (members) – Friday 5/14 7:00 PM Zoom
  • Looking Up! Virtual Star Party – 5/22 8:30 PM

Click here for more info on our upcoming events.

Special Celestial Events:

  • April 17th – Moon close to M35
  • April 22nd – Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak
  • April 25th – 28th – Mars Passes by M35
  • May 4th – Moon, Jupiter, & Saturn form a large Triangle in pre-dawn sky
  • May 5th – Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak
  • May 12th – A very thin Moon will be close to Venus in the west at evening twilight
  • May 13th – Moon close to Mercury (Evening in the west)
  • May 16th – Moon near Mars in the evening
  • May 17th – Mercury at Greatest Elongation (22º East)

Featured Event: April 25th – 28th – Mars passes by M35

View looking WSW 4/25 – 4/28 as Mars makes a close pass of the open star cluster M35.
A close up view of mars passing by M35 showing Mars Orbital Path.

Meteor Showers:

  • Lyrid Meteor Shower
    • Peak on 4/22
    • Moon is not favorable (sets at 4:23 am)
    • Low hourly rate
  • Eta Aquariids
    • Peak on 5/5
    • Moon is favorable (Waning Crescent rises at 3:27 am)
    • Higher hourly rate than Lyrids (rate higher in Southern US)
  • General Tips for Meteor Showers:
    • Typically best after Midnight and before dawn
    • Dark Skies improve chances
    • Try to avoid Moon. If you can’t try to position Moon at your back.
    • Avoid Radiant Fixation!!!!!
    • Try to view as much of the sky as possible

Clear Skies!