The full pink moon, Lyrid meteor shower, and complete solar eclipse will all be visible in the heavens in April.
Astronomers Without Borders, a US-based group that unites individuals who enjoy stargazing, has declared April to be “Global Astronomy Month.”
Events pertaining to space are notable in April. Take notice of the following significant occurrences while observing the night sky:
- April 5 and 6, Full Pink Moon
- On April 7, 34P/PANSTARRS will travel by.
- the April 20 total solar eclipse
- April 21, 22, and 23: Lyrid meteor outburst
Full Pink Moon on April 5 and 6
The first full moon in the Northern Hemisphere will be at its brightest on April 6 at 12:37 am EDT. The first sighting of the full Pink Moon will occur on April 5, but due to its highest illumination occurring so early in Eastern Time, Western time zones will see it at its height on April 5’s night.
Comet 34P/PANSTARRS’s nearest approach to Earth on April 7
The Jupiter-family comet 364P/PANSTARRS will pass by the Earth at an 11 million mile distance early in April. The comet’s visual level is expected to be around 12.3, and it will be in the “foxy” constellation Vulpecula. It will be visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, though those in northern regions will be able to see it more distinctly.
20 April: Total solar eclipse
Even though eclipses are usually exciting occasions, this one has a special quality. A complete solar eclipse is caused by a highly rare cosmological alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun. The next total eclipse, which won’t occur again until 2031, will be the first of its kind since 2013.
A full moon will partly obscure the sun on April 20. Due to the moon’s slightly insufficient distance from Earth in its elliptical path, a total solar eclipse will not be produced for a short period of time. A short ring of flames will be visible over the Indian Ocean, but the Moonshadow will completely block out the sun.
April 21, 22, and 23 – Lyrid meteor shower
The Lyrids are expected to start late on April 21 or 22 and last until April 23 dawn. The climax is expected to occur on April 23 at 9:06 EDT. The new moon on April 19 won’t obstruct viewers from observing the night sky despite the Lyrids’ narrow peak.