Five Planets Visible In April

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 16

Five Planets Visible In April

All the bright, naked-eye planets will be visable during April. Even Mercury, which is usually difficult to locate, can be well seen in the morning sky during the first half of the month, and especially during the first week. It will rise around 4.15 a.m. on April I and during the following week will be visible for about an hour before morning twilight begins. It can be found low in the eastern sky In the constellation Aquarius, the Water-Bearer, where it will outshine the surrounding stars. Venus continues to be visible briefly in the western sky. slightly north of west, and sets between 7.45 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. It is thus only visible against the bright twilight sky but because of its brilliance can easily be seen. On the evening of April 13 at 6 p.m. it will lie less than a degree south of the three-day-old moon. The two objects will make a pretty sight low in the west On the evening of April 23, Venus will lie fairly close to the bright red star, Alderbaran, the brightest star in the constellation l

s Taurus, the Bull. I Mars will be the most coni spicubua planet and on April , 16 at midnight is in opposi- ■ tion to the sun. It will remain F visible all night throughout ' the month. Mars will continue 1 to be in the constellation I Virgo, the Virgin, and will ; pass close to Spica, the brightt est star of that constellation, • on the evening of April 23. I Jupiter will be visible in ! the evening sky, in the north- ! west It will set around midl night on April 1, at 11.30 p.m. ! on April 15 and at 10.30 p.m. on April 30. Jupiter will lie ■ close to the borders of the . constellations of Gemini, the 1 Twins, and Cancer, the Crab. I It will be found slightly • higher in the sky than the - two bright stars, Castor and i Pollux, and almost in line . with these stars. t Saturn rises at 6 a.m. on i April 1 but rapidly draws ■ away from the sun. On April i 15 it will rise around 5.15 ' a.m. and on April 30 at 4.30 : a.m. Saturn will be close to : the celestial equator on the 1 border between the constel- ■ lations Cetus, the Whale, i'and Pisces, the Fishes.