Monthly Night Sky Report: April 2025

         Introduction

    I don't even know where to begin regarding the weather in March. Utahns enjoyed warm temperatures in the 70s and snowy days during the same week. The storms presented themselves during the weekends when it's often more convenient for astronomers with full-time jobs to observe. Typical! During the week, however, I could still easily spot Jupiter and Mars with Orion and Taurus nearby. I also enjoyed watching the Moon go through its phases during the month. Of course, there was a storm during the night of the total lunar eclipse. I hope to catch the next one!

    The temperatures will continue to climb over Utah during April. Indeed, there will be many more clear days to enjoy the wonders of the night sky. Venus and Saturn return for observers to enjoy during April. The Lyrid meteor shower returns as the Earth plows through the debris left by Comet Thatcher.        

                      

Mercury

    Mercury can be found in the morning sky during April. It will begin the month at a dim 2.77 magnitude and be challenging to spot in the Sun's glare. As the month progresses, Mercury will brighten, ending the month at magnitude 0.16. This innermost planet will reach its greatest western elongation on the 21st. Saturn will be close by on the 12th, only 2.2° separates the pair. Brilliant Venus can be found about 7° above the pair, acting as a guidepost to find the dimmer planets. The moon will be nearby on the 25th.  

  

Venus

    Venus has transitioned from the Evening Star to the Morning Star, now rising above the Rocky Mountains before sunrise. Venus is bright and will be easy to spot in the glow of dawn. However, as April progresses, Venus will climb higher in the sky and brighten until the 27th, when it reaches its peak brightness of -4.8 magnitude. Venus should be used as a guide to find dim Saturn and Mercury below, hovering just above the horizon. The Moon will pass close to Venus on the 24th.  

    

Mars

    Mars is past its prime for views through a telescope as it moves away from the Earth in its orbit around the Sun. However, the Red Planet is still easy to see in the night sky after sunset. Mars will be high in the southern sky during the beginning of April, shining brightly against the background stars of Gemini. Mars, along with the brightest stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, will form a line in the sky on the 10th. By the 12th, Mars will leave Gemini and float over to the neighboring constellation, Cancer. This constellation is home to one of my favorite open star clusters, M44, the Beehive Cluster. By the end of the Month, Mars will be just 2° away from M44. In early May, Mars will pass between the Earth and the Beehive Cluster, a spectacular event for astrophotographers and visual astronomers alike. The Moon will pass by on the 5th.      

Jupiter

Saturn

      Jupiter will continue to be a great observing target during early April. As the month progresses, sunset will occur later, limiting the observing time of this gas giant. Jupiter will reside in Taurus during April, sharing the sky with some great DSOs like the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters. Several Galilean Moon transits can be viewed throughout the month, so be sure to check out the Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or JupiterMoons for Apple devices. The Great Red Spot may also be seen at specific times depending on the observers' location, and the resources mentioned above can also be helpful. An observer will need a four-inch (100 mm) or larger telescope to view the transits and the Great Red Spot. The Earth's own moon will pass close to this gas giant on the 2nd and 30th.

    Saturn is trying to outrun the Sun during April. The Ringed Planet gets off to a slow start at the beginning of the month, rising less than an hour before the Sun. Saturn is dim and will be lost in the glow of the rising Sun. Observers should watch the eastern horizon before sunrise on the 12th, when Saturn and Mercury can be found hugging the horizon below Venus. Views of Saturn will improve throughout the month as it rises earlier each morning. Telescope views of Saturn will reveal the rings as a thin line, as the ring plane is nearly perpendicular with the Earth. The Moon will be nearby on the 24th.   

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

    Uranus can be found close to the Pleiades again this month. Early April will be the best time to view this ice giant as the daylight hours increase. By the end of the month, Uranus will be lost in the sunset glow. This ice giant can be found about 9° below the Pleiades. 

   Neptune returns to the morning sky by the end of April. However, due to its distance from the Earth and its dim glow, it will likely be too hard to spot against the light of the rising Sun. 

Lyrid Meteor Shower

    The Lyrid Meteor Shower returns this month! While this isn't the most anticipated meteor shower of the year, the Lyrids provide a great opportunity for observers to get back out under the stars. This shower will peak on the 22nd under a dark sky until Moonrise around 4:00 AM.  On the peak date, the Lyrids will produce approximately 20 meteors per hour. This shower is produced by Comet Thatcher, a comet with a 416-year orbit around the Sun.

    In addition to the Lyrid Meteor Shower, observers should look for the northern lights. The Sun is still active and will continue to be so throughout the year. Observers should also watch the constellation Corona Borealis. Astronomers are still waiting for the Blaze Star to go nova, and with the warming temperatures of Spring, this is an ideal time to keep watch. Corona Borealis will rise in the East as the Sun sinks below the opposite horizon.   

Monthly Breakdown

April 01: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus
April 02: Moon passes within 6° of Jupiter
April 04: First Quarter Moon 🌓
April 05: Moon passes within 2° of Mars
April 12: Full Moon 🌕
April 20: Last Quarter Moon🌗
April 21: Mercury reaches greatest western elongation 
April 22: Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks 
April 24: Moon passes within 2° of Venus
April 24: Moon passes within 2° of Saturn 
April 25: Moon passes within 4° of Mercury
April 27: Venus reaches magnitude -4.8 
April 27: New Moon 🌑

April 28: Venus and Saturn within 4°

April 28: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus

April 30: Moon passes within 5° of Jupiter 

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

                

Midmonth Check-In: March 2025 and Charles Messier

             

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    March has started off with 60° F weather and also snow. On clear nights, I could observe the Moon and Venus in the western sky and, with each passing night, watch the Moon meet up with the other planets in the night sky. I could also observe the Sun (with proper eye protection!) during the cloud-free days. I anxiously awaited the Total Lunar Eclipse on the 13/14 of this month. Still, as the meteorologists predicted, a rainstorm changed to a snowstorm the hours before, during, and after the eclipse. I was excited to try out my new scope to image this eclipse, but I must wait for the next one. 

    Observers can still enjoy the Vernal (Spring) Equinox and, with it, the Zodiacal Light. Observers may still view most of the Messier objects in a single night if the weather permits for the remainder of March.      

Charles Messier   

       I have talked quite a bit about the Messier Marathon and the objects of the Messier Catalog over my last several posts. I feel it is time to introduce the man behind this catalog of objects, Charles Messier. Born in 1730 in France, Charles Messier became interested in astronomy at an early age by witnessing Comet Klinkenberg-Cheseaux. Unfortunately, a few years prior to the appearance of this comet, Messier's father passed away so he had to give up a formal education to begin working. While Messier was 21, he was recruited by the French Navy to work as a draftsman, creating maps and using astronomical tools. Due to his strong passion for astronomy, Messier quickly became a skilled observer and was promoted to chief astronomer of the Marine Observatory in Paris. Messier could study comets from this newly appointed position, discovering over a dozen, earning him the nickname "Comet Ferret" from King Louis XV. 

    In 1758, Messier was observing a comet when he became distracted by a fuzzy comet-like object in the constellation Taurus. He noticed that this "comet" did not move against the background stars and made a note in his journal. After viewing the night sky for several years, Messier had cataloged 103 comet-like "objects to avoid" when looking for comets. 

    The object in 1758 that Messier discovered is known as the Crab Nebula, M1, one of the most spectacular supernova remnants in the sky. Messier's Catalog has grown to 110 objects that must be seen, instead of avoided, by all amateur astronomers. Fortunately for those of us in the northern hemisphere, all of these objects can be viewed throughout the year, or during one single night during late February and early March. While it would be nice to see every object in a single night, I recommend spreading these objects out throughout the year so more time can be spent observing and enjoying these beautiful DSOs. 

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: March 2025

        Introduction

  February was another mixed bag as far as the weather was concerned over much of Utah. Northern Utah experienced temperatures in the 60's and also snowy days. While I'm writing this, snow is on the ground, with a few more storms supposedly arriving this week. The more distant weather reports claim we will experience 60° weather again. The warmer days and nights make being outdoors much more bearable and enjoyable. On those clear nights, I could easily spot Venus as it shone with most incredible brilliance. Moving eastward, Jupiter and Mars were easy to pick out, with bright Orion and Taurus providing the background stars. Of course, the clouds and storms were present on the days and nights I planned to take out my newish scope to image the Sun, Moon, and any DSOs I could find. Maybe March will be a better month!

    In the past, March has brought warmer temperatures as well as heavy snow storms. While I do enjoy the heavy snow storms, I am ready for warmer temperatures so I can relish the outdoors. There are a few astronomical events that I am looking forward to during March, and clear skies are a necessity. Early March is a great time to participate in a Messier Marathon. My hope is to travel to southern Utah for warmer weather and clear skies, but due to work conflicts, I will most likely be unable to travel. March also brings the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, which is a great time to view the Zodiacal Light in the west after sunset. There will also be a Total Lunar Eclipse that will be visible over Utah and all of North America. A Partial Solar Eclipse will be visible for those in the eastern part of North America, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Europe.     

                      

Mercury

    Mercury will be found in the west after sunset during the first half of March. This tiny world will approach Venus in our evening sky, with their closest approach falling on the 13th. The Moon will be close by on the first evening of the month, closer to Venus than Mercury. By the 19th, Mercury will slip below the western horizon before the Sun has fully set, being lost from view. It will return in April.   

  

Venus

  Venus will be the most noticeable object in the sky after sunset during the first three weeks of the month. The earlier in the month an individual observes this planet, the brighter and more prominent it will appear to be. A thin crescent Moon will be close by on the 1st, with Mercury falling closer to the horizon. During the 3rd week of March, Venus lies too close to the Sun to safely view. It quickly returns but will instead be found in the morning sky. Venus will rise about an hour before the Sun during the last week of March, with the Moon again being close by on the 28th.

    

Mars

    Mars can be found in Gemini all month, forming an ever-changing triangle with the brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. By April, this trio will create a line in the night sky. Mars is retreating from the Earth and will decrease in magnitude, making it much more difficult to see any surface features on the Red Planet. This should not discourage observers from viewing the planet, however! The reddish color contrasts nicely with the background stars of Gemini. The Moon will be close by on the 9th.      

Jupiter

Saturn

    Jupiter will be a great target for observers throughout March. It can easily be seen high in the southwest sky with the stars of Taurus in the background. Aldebaran is close by, but the distance will increase as the month progresses. Observers using binoculars or a telescope can see the Galilean Moons, while the latter can also see the cloud bands and even the Great Red Spot. Several Galilean Moon transits can be viewed throughout the month, so be sure to check out the Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or JupiterMoons for Apple devices. The Great Red Spot may also be seen at specific times depending on the observers' location, and the resources mentioned above can also be helpful. An observer will need a four-inch (100 mm) or larger telescope to view the transits and the Great Red Spot. The Earth's own moon will pass close to this giant planet on the 5th.

    Saturn is trying its hardest to return to our sky but will, unfortunately, be lost from view during March. The ringed planet will grace the sky once again next month.

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

    Uranus can be found approximately 9° below the Pleiades during March. Observers using any optical aid to view the Pleiades should drop down this small amount to be rewarded with the blue-green disk of Uranus. A thin crescent Moon will be tucked nicely between the Pleiades and Uranus on the 4th, being less than 5° away. 

   Like Saturn, Neptune will be lost from view during March. It can be found in the morning sky late next month.

Zodiacal Light and Lunar Eclipse

    Like February, March will be a quiet month for a significant meteor shower. However, the Zodiacal Light will be more prominent in the night sky during this month as we approach the Vernal Equinox. An interested observer will need to travel to a dark-sky site, like the West Desert of Utah, and have a clear view of the western sky without any city lights in the distance. Enjoy the bright planets and constellations as the sky darkens. After sunset and a dark sky, look to the west to see the faint glow.  A long exposure image will suck up more light, revealing the wonder of the Zodiacal Light. A moon-free sky will also enhance the view.

    The highlight this month will be the Total Lunar Eclipse, which Utahns can enjoy beginning on the 13th at approximately 10:00 PM. By 11:10 PM, the Moon will begin to turn red as it passes through the Earth's shadow. Between 12:30 AM and 1:30 AM on the 14th will be the best part of the eclipse, as the Moon is completely covered by Earth's shadow. I find that trying to image a Total Lunar Eclipse never does it justice. Weather permitting, I will try out my new scope and hope for good results.  

Monthly Breakdown

March 01: Moon passes within 6° of Venus
March 01: Moon passes within 2° of Neptune
March 04: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus

March 06: Moon passes within 6° of Jupiter  

March 06: First Quarter Moon 🌓

March 08: Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation

March 08: Moon passes within 2° of Mars

March 09: Mercury and Venus within 6°

March 13: Total Lunar Eclipse begins 

March 14: Full Moon 🌕 

March 14: Total Lunar Eclipse ends

March 20: Vernal Equinox 

March 22: Last Quarter Moon🌗

March 28: Moon passes within 10° of Venus 

March 29: New Moon 🌑

March 30: Venus and Saturn within 10°

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

                

Midmonth Check-In: February 2025 and Best of 2024

            

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    February has been a mixed bag for Utahns as far as the weather is concerned. We have experienced days that reached almost 70°F, although windy, while others reached temperatures in the mid-20s. The wind helped keep the inversion at bay but also brought clouds and unstable conditions for setting up any observing gear. Even with these conditions, I could still see four of the seven planets in the planetary parade and look at the bright constellations of the winter sky. The Moon was also breathtaking during the early part of the month as it increased in brightness as its phase moved closer to "full."  

    

    Observers may still view the winter constellations and the planets that make up the planetary parade. If a clear night occurs and a dark sky can be obtained, the Zodiacal light may still be viewed this month. While this light is noticeable with the unaided eye, an image of just 30 seconds will significantly enhance the view. Don't forget that now is a great time to view most of the Messier objects as Utah approaches the best date of the year for a Messier Marathon. 

Best of 2024   

    I captured many more images during 2024 than I did in 2023 and would love to share them! I purchased a new telescope in 2024 that can image the Sun (with proper filters), the Moon, deep sky objects, and stars. It is a very compact telescope, and I was able to take it on many trips throughout the year, including my eclipse trip to Texas in April. 

    As mentioned, I was able to travel to Texas to see the eclipse on 08 April 2024. I created a post with a full write-up of my experience and photos, but here are the best taken from my phone.

Eclipse through the leaves.

"Diamond Ring" at the end of totality.

Eclipse reaches totality.

Taken during totality, notice the visible planets and stars.

    In addition to these phone photos, I created a timelapse of the entire eclipse with my new telescope. The first video found here is my original, unedited color video. It's over five minutes long and is kind of shaky due to the wind. My second video is the same but in black and white which kind of adds a little bit, especially leading up to, during, and after totality. 

    Below are several images of the Moon. I couldn't choose just one favorite! 

Moon from 18 April.

    

    

Moon from 11 October.

Moon from 24 October

    The Sun was a hot topic for 2024 due to the eclipse and the Northern Lights being visible. I took several images of the Sun with my new scope throughout 2024, but I will share only a few of the best ones with a large number of sunspots.

Sunspots on 19 April.

Sunspots on 03 May.

Sunspots on 11 May, the day after Northern Lights were visible over Utah.

Sunspots on 11 August.

    Due to the active Sun, the Northern Lights were visible over Utah. Here are the best images I took on 10 May from my home. 

    Over the Labor Day weekend, I traveled to Fish Lake, Utah, and captured several decent images with my phone and DSLR cameras. 

Stars through the trees taken with my smartphone.

Western sky after sunset. Taken with my smartphone.

Milky Way over Fish Lake. Taken with my smartphone.

Cloudy Milky Way over Fish Lake. Taken with my smartphone.

Meteor over Fish Lake. Taken with DSLR camera.

Meteor and Milky Way over Fish Lake. Taken with DSLR camera.

Milky Way over Fish Lake. Taken with DLSR camera.

    During my first night at Fish Lake, I set up my DSLR camera to take a timelapse of the Milky Way. That was also when I caught the image of the bright meteor above. Here is my timelapse video.

    I was also able to capture many deep sky objects with my new scope. The telescope is able to track and stack several images to help bring out the detail of the target. While I did capture several different DSOs, I will only share the ones that turned out the best. Aside from stacking, no other editing has been done on these images. Enjoy!

M57, the Ring Nebula.

M13, the Hercules Cluster, with a satellite trail.

M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, with a satellite trail.

M27, the Dumbbell Nebula.

    I aim to capture and share the entire Messier Catalog of objects. I hope that 2025 will be as eventful, if not more so, than 2024, and I will have plenty more images to share!

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: February 2025

       Introduction

   It's hard to believe that the first month of 2025 is already over! While it was a pretty quiet month, astronomically speaking, there were still some great sights to see. I really enjoyed viewing the bright evening planets. While at work, I would challenge myself to see how quickly I could spot Venus, Jupiter, and Mars. Oftentimes, I could pick out Venus before the Sun had fully set. The bright constellation of Orion was an easy object to spot as well. 

    February won't bring any major meteor showers, but there will still be some interesting objects to view. Most notable will be brilliant Venus continuing to dominate the early evening sky. Jupiter and Mars will also be great targets to view. Observers will also have the opportunity to watch the Pleiades disappear from view in early February.   

                      

Mercury

    Mercury won't be visible until later in the month due to its superior conjunction with the Sun on the 9th. When Mercury does return to view, this tiny world can be found in the western sky after sunset, near Saturn. The pair will reach their closest on the 24th when they will be just 1.5° apart in our night sky. Mercury will continue to climb higher in the sky with each passing sunset while Saturn dips closer to the horizon. A skinny and challenging-to-view crescent Moon will join Mercury on the 28th. 

  

Venus

  Venus will again be easy to spot in the evening sky after, and even during, sunset. This planet will reach its greatest brightness of 2025 on the 14th, shining at magnitude -4.9. On the first evening of February, a crescent Moon can be found less than 3° from brilliant Venus. A telescope or large-sized binoculars will show the different phases of Venus as it travels around the Sun.  

    

Mars

    Mars will continue to capture the attention of observers as this planet stays bright during February. The Red Planet reached opposition in January and will be visible in the eastern sky after sunset. During January, I was able to pick out Mars before the sky darkened after sunset. The Moon will pass within 1° of Mars on the 9th. Several surface features can be observed on Mars by using a telescope.    

Jupiter

Saturn

   Jupiter will still be a great target throughout February. Observers, using nothing but their eyes, can see the bright white of Jupiter in contrast with the red giant Aldebaran. Observers using binoculars or a telescope can see the Galilean Moons, while the latter can also see the cloud bands and even the Great Red Spot. Several Galilean Moon transits can be viewed throughout the month, so be sure to check out the Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or JupiterMoons for Apple devices. The Great Red Spot may also be seen at specific times depending on the observers' location, and the resources mentioned above can also be helpful. An observer will need a four-inch (100 mm) telescope or larger to view the transits and the Great Red Spot. The Earth's own moon will pass above Jupiter on the 6th.

    Saturn is quickly descending closer to the western horizon and soon will be out of sight. This coincides with the rings of Saturn nearly disappearing from our Earthly vantage point as the angle of the ring plane is nearly perpendicular to that of the Earth. This is like looking at a piece of paper from the edge instead of as it lies flat on a desk. The Moon passed close by Saturn on the last day of January and will do so again on the last day of February. Unfortunately, Saturn will be too close to the western horizon and will also be hidden in the Sun's glare to observe.

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

    Uranus will hover to the lower right of the Pleiades this month. A 59% lit Moon will join the pair on the 5th, residing about halfway between these two objects. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will be required to view this ice giant, but observers will be rewarded with its blue-green disk in the field of view. It's best to view this planet before midnight while it is high above the horizon with as little atmospheric interference as possible.     

   Neptune can be found close to Venus during the first few days of February. The pair will form a nice triangle with the Moon on the first evening of the month. Venus will begin to pull away from Neptune, and the outer ice giant will sink closer to the Sun, becoming lost from view by the end of the month. Binoculars and a telescope will reveal the blue-green disk of this outer world.   

Zodiacal Light

    There will not be a major meteor shower during February, but that should not stop observers from getting away from city lights to enjoy the night sky. On any typical night, observers can see approximately seven meteors per hour. As the Earth approaches the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere, observers have the opportunity to view the Zodiacal Light. This light becomes brighter and more pronounced closer to the 20th of March, the date of the Spring Equinox.

    During the late night hours of the 5th and early morning hours of the 6th, observers can watch the Moon occult the Pleiades. For Utahns, this occultation will begin at approximately 11:30 PM on the 5th. The Moon will begin to pass in front of the Pleiades but will be most noticeable around 12:15 AM when the brighter stars of this open cluster begin to be blocked from view. The occultation will continue until the pair sinks below the western horizon around 3:00 AM. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will greatly enhance the occultation, allowing the observer to view more of the stars of the Pleiades. Astro-photographers may also enjoy capturing images of this event.    

Monthly Breakdown

February 01: Moon passes within 2° of Venus
February 01: Moon passes within 2° of Neptune
February 03: Venus and Neptune pass within 4° 
February 05: First Quarter Moon 🌓
February 05: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus
February 5/6: Moon occults the Pleiades
February 06: Moon passes within 5° of Jupiter
February 09: Mercury reaches superior conjunction
February 09: Moon passes within 1° of Mars 
February 12: Full Moon 🌕 
February 14: Venus reaches greatest brilliancy
February 20: Last Quarter Moon🌗 
February 27: New Moon 🌑

February 28: Moon passes within 1° of Mercury

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.