Star Calendar
April 2017
Star C alendar Planets:
Moon and Sun balance on either side of the solstice point on the 7th. They rise and set at the same point on the horizon on that day and make the same path across the sky. One might observe the pair at 4:45PM and imagine the height of summer between them.
Mercury begins the month at greatest elongation, bright and decently visible just after 8:PM or so. He is hasty to depart though, and crosses the near-side of the Sun on the 20th.
Venus is already visible in the morning and will be stationary to the stars by the 12th. She is very tall, waxing less slender and will present a maximally brilliant dawn beacon by the end of the month.
Sun rises/sets steadily more north of east/west and adds an hour and a quarter of daylight over the course of this month.
Mars is seen low in the West at about 7:30 as the month begins and lower and later as the month progresses. Mars and Aldebaran (higher and to the left) look very similar these days. On the evening of the 28th the Moon, Aldebaran and Mars will shine together WNW at about 7:45PM.
Jupiter reaches opposition on the 7th. He is now brightest and closest for the year and is in the middle of his period of backward movement near Spica. Look for the Moon in the mix on the 10th.
Saturn is seen culminating in the early morning and stops in the steam (Milky Way) of the Teapot (Sagittarius) on the 6th to begin this year’s loop.
Star Calendar Days:
1 Sunrise/set in Spring Valley at 6:39/19:21 (12h42m daylight)
Day number 91; ¼ of the year has passed
Mercury shining in low West 8:PM, sets at 9:PM
Moon in horns of Taurus in evening, West
6 Saturn stationary, begins retrograde loop at spout of Teapot
Moon passes close to Regulus during this night
7 Jupiter at opposition, brightest and nearest for the year
9 Mercury stationary, then retrograde to stars, already retreating Sunwards
10 Moon clusters with bright Jupiter and Spica, ESE in evening
10-11 Full Pink Moon at 2:08AM (leaf buds are pink)
11 Passover begins
12 Venus stationary, to direct motion
16 Moon with Saturn in south at 5:30AM
Easter
20 Mercury, so recently visible, at inferior conjunction
22-23 Moon and Venus present the same phase, East at 5:30AM, use binoculars
26 Venus most brilliant for this appearance
28 Moon strikes a pose with Aldebaran and Mars, around 9:PM, West
30 Sunrise/set in Spring Valley at 5:55/19:52 (13h57m daylight)
More than 2 ½ hours additional daylight since March 1st
Midway from equinox to solstice, and about 1/3 of year has passed
Venus covers greatest sky area for this appearance
