By Neill Simmons
The highlight of April comes on Saturday, the 5th, when the red planet, Mars, appears to be very close to the Moon in the west. Mars will be in the constellation of Gemini. The two brightest stars in Gemini plus the planet Mars will form a triangle. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is a dusty, cold, desert world with a very thin atmosphere which is toxic to humans. One year on Mars is 687 days and it is classified as a terrestrial planet, meaning it has a solid, rocky surface like Earth.
Jupiter is still very bright to see in April. Jupiter spins over 28,000 miles per hour which makes a day on Jupiter just about 10 hours long. In contrast, our Earth spins on its axis at approximately 1,000 miles per hour completing one rotation every 24 hours. Jupiter is in the “Winter Hexagon.” The Winter Hexagon is an asterism, which is a group of stars making a pattern. The bright stars forming the hexagon are parts of six constellations. These are Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Gemini, Canis Minor and Canis Major. This will be easy to see low in the west. Make sure to see this in April as it will be gone by May.
April is one of the best months to see the Big Dipper as it is higher than usual. The Big Dipper is a prominent asterism within the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear), visible in the Northern Hemisphere, and is known for its ladle-like shape, making it a useful tool for finding the North Star, Polaris, which is located in the Little Dipper, Ursa Minor (Little Bear). Contrary to popular opinion, Polaris is not the brightest star but it is the only star that doesn’t move and is due north. Polaris has been used for centuries as a navigational tool.
Leo the Lion is a prominent zodiac constellation, easily recognizable by its “sickle” asterism or a backwards question mark shape and the bright star Regulus, which marks the lion’s heart. Look high in the east during April. In Greek mythology, Leo is associated with the Nemean Lion, which was killed by Hercules as one of his 12 labors.
If you happen to be awake before 6:15 am, look east to see the planet Venus. Venus is frequently referred to as the “Morning Star.” It is also called the “Evening Star” when it appears in the western sky after sunset. Venus is the brightest planet in our solar system, and it’s often visible as a very bright point of light in the sky, making it the most prominent “star” in the dawn or dusk sky. Also early in the morning, on April 25, look to see the Moon appearing very near the planet Venus.
Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc has been launching over four rockets per month. The rockets belong to Space X to launch communication satellites. In addition, NASA is also using Vandenberg for its rockets. Check either Vandenberg or Space X online sites for the most current launch information and schedules.
Free public star parties are held monthly at Griffith Observatory from 2 to 9:45 p.m. They are a chance for the whole family to look at the Sun, Moon, visible planets, and other objects, to try out a variety of telescopes, and to talk to knowledgeable amateur astronomers about the sky and their equipment. This month, the Star Party will be held on Saturday, April 5.
When not stargazing, Neill Simmons is a Wealth Advisor with LPL Financial in Woodland Hills. If you have any astronomy or financial questions, he may be reached at (818) 936-2626 or neill.simmons@lpl.com.
