Minnesota Starwatch

University of Minnesota

Department of Astronomy

Minnesota Starwatch for April 2005
[Starwatch Logo]

Starwatch Newsletter

Minnesota Starwatch is a newsletter describing the night sky in the Midwest.

It is updated monthly, and is produced by the
Department of Astronomy, University of Minnesota
116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Minnesota Starwatch for April 2005

Two eclipses this month will be minor for most of the Northern Hemisphere. On April 8, a partial eclipse of the Sun will be viewed across the southwestern and southern U.S., but Minnesota will be north of the northern limit of the eclipse. This solar eclipse will be much more spectacular in the South Pacific and across Central America. The center of the eclipse will alternate between total and annular along a narrow path across the south Pacific ending near sunset across Panama, Columbia and Venezuela.

On the morning of April 24th the full Moon will barely pass through the Earth's penumbra, the pale outer parts of its shadow, producing only a slight fading of the Moon.

Jupiter will be at opposition April 2-3 although it will also be at its greatest distance from the Sun and therefore will not be at its maximum brightness, although it will still be spectacular. Jupiter will rise in the east at sunset and be visible throughout the night. Jupiter will dominate the planets this month because Venus is in conjunction, behind the Sun. It will not be visible again until the end of April just above the horizon in the west near sunset.

Saturn will be well placed for viewing all month. It will be visible in the west after sunset until it sets about midnight. Mars will be in the east-southeastern sky for only a few hours before sunrise.

For fun Astronomy Outreach programs check out our Public Outreach link, or if you're interested in how you can help build the new Minnesota Planetarium, please call 612-630-6151 or visit http://www.mplanetarium.org. Como Planetarium is offering fun family shows about astronomy on a limited basis; please call 651-293-5398 for more info! This has been a Minnesota Starwatch produced by the University of Minnesota Astronomy Department.