![]() ![]() Jupiter and Saturn, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, are largely unobservable as they are so close to the sun. makes a triangle of reddish lights with Betelgeuse above it and to the left and Aldebaran slightly below and further to the left (westwards). local time, when it should just be coming out against the darkening sky. Mars is higher still, and almost due north, but it too is only 26 degrees high at sunset, and won't become readily visible until about 6:30 p.m. At sunset the planet is still some 16 degrees above the northwestern horizon, so as evening progresses it will become more distinct even as it gets lower the planet sets at 7:43 p.m. Venus is also low to the horizon, but its brightness makes it an easier target. ![]() on April 5 the sun follows it at 6:33 a.m.įor observers in mid-southern latitudes, such as in Melbourne, Mercury is much lower in the sky at sunset it is basically not observable as it is only a few degrees above the horizon at sunset on April 6 the planet sets at 6:40 p.m. in New York it can be seen hugging the horizon, just 10 degrees high by 6 a.m. Jupiter sets only 20 minutes after sunset and Saturn rises on April 5 at 4:58 a.m. ![]() Jupiter and Saturn are both not readily visible, as they are currently up during the day and lost in the solar glare. Higher still and some distance east is Mars, though that planet will be more easily spotted by about 8 p.m. At sunset Venus is at about 35 degrees altitude, and it is so bright it is often mistaken for an airplane. Above Mercury, and much brighter, is Venus, which is often one of the first "stars" to come out as the sky gets darker. Mercury will still be about 12 degrees high difficult to spot, but not impossible. On April 5, when the sun sets in New York, the planet will be about 16 degrees high in the west, but it won't become easily visible until about 20 minutes after the sun gets below the western horizon. For observers in mid-northern latitudes, one can catch Mercury just after sunset, which is heading towards its highest elevation in the evening sky (that occurs on April 11). On the night of April 5, as the moon gets higher in the evening, one can see no fewer than three of the five naked-eye planets. Related: How to observe the moon with a telescope April's Full Pink Moon and visible planets Meanwhile, on Earth, the full moon is bright enough to cast visible shadows (the effect is especially stark on a snowy surface in winter). Moon filters are available that can make some features stand out, but if one waits a few days after the full moon or observes a few days before, shadows will bring out more detail. From a lunar observer's perspective the sun would be directly overhead - it would be noon - so there are few shadows to give any contrast. Through binoculars or a telescope, the full moon is so bright that details can often be lost. When the moon does pass through the shadow of the Earth we see a lunar eclipse - the next one is slated for May 5, and will be visible Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia). As a result, we see the fully illuminated side of our satellite most months (the very word "month" comes from the word "moon"). Similarly, we don't see the moon pass directly between the sun and Earth every month. ![]() The moon's orbit is inclined slightly to the plane of the Earth's orbit, so the moon doesn't pass through the Earth's shadow every time it completes a circuit of the Earth. Looking for a telescope to observe the features of the full moon up close? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide. Don't forget a moon filter!įull moons happen when the sun and moon are on the opposite sides of the Earth. ![]()
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