Jupiter succeeded Venus throne this year. The giant gas planet will lighten the April night sky this spring and summer.
Space reported the farewell of the Venus planet from the Western sky. However, this should not disappoint too much for another brilliant planet will be making the April night sky brilliant as ever, it's the giant gas planet, the mighty Jupiter.
Jupiter will be the new "evening star" in the April night sky this summer and spring season as clouds already cleared the path for its view. The giant planet Jupiter will take over the night sky starting on April 7 as it rises in the East at the brightest magnitude of -2.5. Among all planets in the solar system, Jupiter will be the closest to Earth, thus bringing the brightest and biggest glow.
According to The Guardian, Jupiter will then move from low in the East at nightfall then will take the highest place in the South while in the middle of the night. Afterward, it will be seen taking down in the West part before dawn. Jupiter will be the closest planet to Earth on the 7th day of April at the distance of 666 million kilometers.
To note, Jupiter had come nearest to the Aphelion (farthest point from the sun) last February 16, 2017. Now, on its circular orbit, Jupiter wants to make the best for the April night sky as it shines in a less than a half magnitude dimmer with 12-percent less wide at its closest position to Earth.
Aside from the giant gas planet Jupiter, there are more planets which will make the April night sky the brightest this year. In the west, the fading Mars will be seen for the first 10 days of April. This will come along with Mercury that is brighter this year, Saturn in the midnight and Venus in the morning sky of the month.
