a pretty Celestial Parade during the month of April 2022
In April 2022, the main planets form a Celestial Parade along the Ecliptic at the end of the night, a spectacle not to be missed.
Planetary alignment:
Due to their own movements along the Ecliptic, the planets find themselves regularly aligned. This was the case for example in December 2021 for Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. Americans use a charming appellation for the occasion: Celestial Parade, Celestial Parade. The more stars involved, the more the show is worth seeing.
During the month of April, four planets will align at the end of the night, soon joined by the Moon. This will be the pretty spectacle of this early spring, with a few other celestial appointments that we will now detail. The sky map of Stelvision you won’t miss a thing.
The sky in April 2022:
- The 1st is the New Moon. Take advantage of the weekend to try the Messier marathon. It consists of trying to observe in a single night a maximum of 110 celestial objects from the catalog of astronomer Charles Messier.
- At dawn, Venus, Saturn and Mars stand in a handkerchief. A pair of binoculars can also help you locate Vesta :
- On the 5th, the angular separation between Saturn and Mars is only 0.3°. In a telescope, the ringed planet and the Red Planet offer an amazing sight.
- The 9th is the First Quarter Moon. A telescope will allow you to admire the lunar Apennines:
- The 16th is the Full Moon. Follow its spectacular lever on the Eastern horizon as the Sun has just set in the West.
- At dawn on the 18th, Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn begin their Celestial Parade. The Last Quarter Moon joins them on the 24th:
- From the 25th to the 27th, follow at the end of the night the descent of the waning Moon below the four planets.
- On the 29th at dusk, spot with a pair of binoculars above the northwest horizon the presence of Mercury alongside the Pleiades cluster.
- On the 30th at dawn, the angular separation between Jupiter and Venus is only 0.2°. If you can, admire this apparent rapprochement through a telescope.
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