Astroblog: Venus, Mars and the Crescent Moon, April 22-23.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Venus, Mars and the Crescent Moon, April 22-23.

The morning sky as seen at 6:00 am, April 23 in Australia.

On Wednesday April 22 and Thursday April 23 the crescent Moon is near the pairing of Venus and Mars. This will look very nice indeed, especially on the 23rd, when the very thin crescent Moon is just under the very thin crescent Venus.

Unlike North America, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and South-East Asia don't see the Moon pass in front of Venus (although if you are in South America, you will see Venus spectacularly close to the Moon), but the triangle Venus forms with the Moon and Mars is pretty nice (in Africa its better on the 22nd than on the 23rd.

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks on the 23rd. The Lyrids produce a small number of meteors, and in the Southern hemisphere, the radiant is pretty close to the horizon (near the bright, blue white star Vega, almost due north), so rates will be lower still from our point of view, but if you are up and observing, there may well be the occasional meteor to enliven the morning sky. As well, you can watch for satellites. and look at Jupiter's moons through binoculars.

A fairly good way to spend the morning overall.

Labels: Mars, Meteors, Moon, Venus

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 6:35 am

Comments:

I saw Venus and the crescent moon predawn...one of the most spectacular sights ever...with Venus like a twinkling diamond near the bottom of the moon. Saw a great shooting star too...and then back to bed in Palm Desert, SoCalifornia, USA.

# posted by

Janis Clarke : 5:19 am

Fantastic! I just got to see cloud, unfortunately.

# posted by

Ian Musgrave : 7:08 am

i will try and look for this! thank You Moni! and others involved for this interesting information, and all! blessings...Cathi

# posted by

Cathi Hartline : 3:02 pm

Hello Ian .....Once near Mt. Isa in the near pre-dawn I saw the crescent moon as a cup and in it a very bright star ... all the other stars had faded in the approaching light but this was so stark and spectacular in the sharp cloudless windy winter sky ... Always wanted to know which star ...thought because of brightness it must be Venus ... Do you know?

# posted by

dan : 9:48 pm

Hello ... once near Mt. Isa in a cold windy pre-dawn sky I saw the crescent moon as a cup and in it a single very bright star ...All the other stars had faded in the approaching light but this was so stark and spectacular I have always wondered the name of the star ... thought because of its brightness and size it must be Venus ... Would you be able to tell me? I never forgot it .. Thank You ...Dan

# posted by

dan : 9:54 pm

G'Day Dan

I would need to know the date to look this up.

Cheers! Ian

# posted by

Ian Musgrave : 9:28 am