The Nine Planets Solar System Tour. Jodrell Bank - The Night Sky. Highlights of the Month April - Mars at Opposition. Image NASA. Mars, lying above Spica in Virgo, reaches opposition on April 8th when its magnitude will be -1.5 and its angular diameter 15.1 arc seconds. Due to the fact that Mars, and to a lesser extend, the Earth have elliptical orbits, its distance from us at opposition can vary from ~54 to 102 million km. As a result the angular size will vary from ~13 to 25 arc seconds - a major difference.
The angular size at opposition is now increasing to reach 18.6 arc seconds in May 2016 and 24.31 arc seconds in July 2018. Sadly,this year, Mars' elevation when on the meridian will only be ~30 degrees, so the atmosphere will limit our view somewhat but given a night of good seeing and a small telescope the planet's main features should be seen such as the north polar cap and Syrtis Major - a triangular shaped dark region.
April - it is still worthwhile to view Jupiter. Jupiter imaged by Damian Peach Features in Jupiter's atmosphere - December 2013. ESO. ESA/Hubble. The Hubble Heritage Project. Astronomy Picture of the Day. Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2016 April 15 Mercury and Crescent Moon Set Image Credit & Copyright: Miguel Claro (TWAN, Dark Sky Alqueva) Explanation: Innermost planet Mercury and a thin crescent Moon are never found far from the Sun in planet Earth's skies.
Taken near dusk on April 8, this colorful evening skyscape shows them both setting toward the western horizon just after the Sun. Tomorrow's picture: Heliopause Electrostatic Rapid Transit System Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD at NASA / GSFC& Michigan Tech.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year.