April will be an excellent month for stargazing, planet-gazing, asteroid-viewing, and other outdoor activities. There are plenty of April night sky events to record on your calendar, ranging from close encounters between numerous planets and our moon to a slew of solar system viewing possibilities.
Are you ready to discover the beauties of the night sky this month? Continue reading to learn about the most extraordinary April night sky events!
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: A meteor crosses the sky illuminated under the stars on a clear night on April 21, 2020 in London, England. The clear skies created by the New Moon coincide with the Lyrid meteor shower, an annual display caused by the Earth passing through a cloud of debris from a comet called C/186 Thatcher.
Flaming Space Rocks This April 2022
The Lyrids will become visible on April 15 and will last through the end of the month, according to the EarthSky. The peak will most likely be on April 22 and 23.
According to The Eagle 101.9, Fans will likely be able to observe 100 meteors each hour during the peak. That has the potential to be spectacular.
The Lyrids, a byproduct of Comet Thatcher, are responsible for these two weeks of blazing space pebbles.
The good news is that this comet isn't expected to hit Earth any time soon. In fact, NASA estimates that it won't be discovered for another 200 years.
Keep an eye on the northern sky for the Lyrid meteors in the final part of April for what should be a fun sky-watching experience.
Partial Lunar Eclipse
In 2022, there will be two partial solar eclipses, which occur when the moon blocks part of the sun disk in the sky.
According to National Geographic, the first will be visible over parts of the Pacific and Southern Oceans and parts of southern South America and Antarctica.
The moon will pass between Earth and the sun on April 30, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 20:41 UT, when the moon will obscure up to 64 percent of the sun's disk.
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Viewers will need to be in the Southern Ocean west of the Antarctic Peninsula to see the eclipse to its full extent.
However, eclipse chasers in Chile and Argentina's southernmost regions will be able to witness about 60 percent of the sun covered out by the moon.
Fans will require protective eyewear to safely see all phases of a partial solar eclipse.
Even if the sun does not appear as brilliant in the sky, staring at it directly can cause serious eye damage.
If astronomers want to watch the eclipse on April 30, make sure to use eyewear that satisfies international safety requirements.
Black Moon
Even with a telescope, one of the major astronomical events this April 30 will not be visible.
The term "blue moon" has gained popularity in recent years to designate the second full moon in a calendar month, although the moon does not turn blue in color.
AccuWeather said the black moon in April is the polar opposite of the 'blue moon,' which refers to the month's second new moon.
Because the lighted side of the moon is pointed away from the Earth at this time, new moons are impossible to view.
Although the black moon cannot be seen in the sky, this is an excellent time of the month for stargazing since there is no natural light pollution from the moon, offering skywatchers darker vistas of the universe.
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