Night Sky Viewing at Widener University April 2021 Sunrise & Sunset Times (EST) Lunar Phases Sunrise Sunset Begin Month 6:46 am 7:25 pm Last Quarter New First Quarter Full End Month 6:03 am 7:54 pm 4th 11th 20th 26th “Pink Moon” Naked-Eye Planets in the Evening & Morning Constellations & Bright Stars Sky this Month Visible Around 9 pm EDT in April Mercury (in Pisces-Aries): Mercury is lost in the dawn twilight during Cassiopeia – low in NNW, looking like an “M” the first three weeks of April; it reaches superior conjunction with the th Bright stars Shedar, Caph, Ruchbah Sun on the 18 . Thereafter, Mercury swings into the evening sky and becomes visible as a bright yellow star low in the southwest at dusk. Perseus – W of overhead, E of Cassiopeia Bright stars Mirfak and Algol Venus (in Pisces-Aries): Venus reached superior conjunction with the Sun on March 26th, and is Auriga – high in NW Bright star Capella too close to the Sun to spot easily this month. By May, Venus will begin to appear low above the western horizon at dusk as the “Evening Star.” Taurus – getting low in WNW Bright star Aldebaran Mars (in Taurus-Gemini): Mars continues its distinction as the only Star Clusters Pleiades & Hyades bright planet visible in the evening sky, but it also continues to dim as Planet Mars Earth pulls away from it. Mars’s brightness fades by about 30% during April, so that by the end of the month Mars no longer ranks with the first Orion –getting low in WSW magnitude stars such as nearby Aldebaran or Pollux. Mars begins April Bright stars Betelgeuse, Rigel within the confines of the constellation Taurus, just to the east (left) of Gemini – high up in SW, to upper left of Orion Aldebaran, whose brightness Mars rivaled back in February. Mars th Bright stars Pollux, Castor migrates eastward during the month, and by the 30 winds up at the feet of Gemini, and only about as bright as Gemini’s second brightest star Canis Major – up in SW, to lower left of Orion Castor. The orange-hued Mars stands high in the west-southwest at dusk Bright stars Sirius, Adhara during April, and it sets around 12:30 am EDT. Canis Minor – in SSW, below Gemini Jupiter & Saturn (in Capricornus): The two gas giant planets are now Bright star Procyon distinctly visible in the pre-dawn sky, appearing well before the onset of Leo – high in S morning twilight. Saturn rises first in the southeast at around 4:30 am Bright star Regulus st EDT, or 2½ hours before sunrise, on April 1 , followed a half-hour later by much-brighter Jupiter. On the 30st, Saturn is rising at 2:15 am, or 3½ Ursa Major – high in NNE hours before sunrise, with Jupiter again following 45 minutes later at 3 Asterism Big Dipper, w/ pointer stars Merak, Dubhe; handle stars Alioth, Mizar (& Alcor), Alkaid am. Hydra – getting higher in SE Bright star Alphard (“the Solitary One”), lower R of Regulus Boötes – high in NE, near handle of Big Dipper Bright star Arcturus Virgo – rising in ESE Bright star Spica For more information on the night sky, visit the Widener Observatory Stargazing website at www.widener.edu/stargazing/. A set of free sky maps can be obtained at www.skymaps.com/. .