Kiss the Sky Tonight -- Month of April 2023

Image of M63 (NGC 5055), also known as the Sunflower galaxy. Star formation is one of the most important processes in shaping the Universe. In addition to birthing new stars, it gives rise to planetary systems and plays a pivotal role in the evolution of galaxies. Yet there is still much that astronomers do not understand about this fundamental process. The driving force behind star formation is particularly unclear for a type of galaxy called a Flocculent Spiral Galaxy. Unlike grand-design spiral galaxies, Flocculent spiral galaxies do not have well defined spiral arms. Instead, they appear to have many discontinuous arms. M63 is one such Flocculent Spiral Galaxy. The arms shine with the radiation from recently formed blue stars and can be more clearly seen in infrared observations. By imaging Flocculent Spiral Galaxies like M63, astronomers hope to gain a better understanding of how stars form in such systems. The Sunflower galaxy was discovered in 1779 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain and was the first of 24 objects that Méchain would contribute to Charles Messier’s catalog. The galaxy is located roughly 27 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Canes Venatici. It has an apparent magnitude of 9.3 and appears as a faint patch of light in small telescopes. [Video and Content Credits: NASA, the Office of Public Outreach – Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), JPL – Caltech, Preston Dyches, Christopher Harris, and Lisa Poje with subject matter guidance provided by Bill Dunford, Gary Spiers, and Lyle Tavernier] [Image Credit: Jim Miller, Astromart Gallery Contributor - https://astromart.com/gallery/user/1042 ]

Kiss the Sky Tonight -- Month of April 2023

Welcome to the night sky report for April 2023 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. During April, near the Big Dipper, you will find several interesting binary stars. You can also spot galaxies like the Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 5457, M101), the Cigar Galaxy (NGC 3034, M82), and M96 (NGC 3368) -- the last of which is an asymmetric galaxy that may have been gravitationally disrupted by encounters with its neighbors. Also, during the month, the planet Mercury – smallest and fastest moving of the planets in our Solar System – will reach its highest and most visible place in the evening sky for the year. The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.

Whether you call it the Big Dipper, or Ursa Major, or the Plough, it's probably the most familiar pattern of bright stars in the northern sky. The Big Dipper is a really useful reference for finding your way around the sky, but it also contains a hidden surprise: One of its stars is really two. Or, actually, six… Let's break that down…

What looks at first glance like a single bright star here, midway along the Dipper's handle, is on closer inspection a double star: Mizar and Alcor. Next time you have a chance, try to see if you can perceive them as two stars with your own eyes. Once you give it try, then grab binoculars if you have them, which will easily show them as separate stars.

The two star systems are around a light-year apart, and are located 80 to 90 light-years away from our solar system, with Alcor taking just shy of a million years to complete an orbit around Mizar.

Now, lots of stars are bound together by gravity in small groups, especially in pairs – or binaries – that orbit around each other. But usually it takes a telescope to be able to see them as separate stars. Mizar and Alcor are a rare example of a double star that you can see as a pair without the aid of a telescope.

But it gets more interesting: Although they appear as a close pair of two stars, they are in fact six. Alcor is a binary pair of stars, while Mizar is actually four stars – two pairs of binaries. So find the unusual "double" stars Mizar and Alcor in the Big Dipper in April, where what at first appears as one star is, in reality, a six-star system.

During the spring, our view is away from the cloudy plane of the Milky Way, and the clearer view reveals other galaxies. Near the end of the Big Dipper’s handle lies the Pinwheel Galaxy, also known as M101. A ground-based telescope reveals its spiral shape. With the eye of the Hubble Space Telescope, we can see individual stars that make up this spiral galaxy. The Pinwheel Galaxy is similar in both size and shape to our own Milky Way galaxy.

Beyond the Big Dipper’s bowl lies a pair of galaxies: M81 and M82. The two galaxies are relatively nearby, just 12 million light-years away, and very close to each other -- just 150,000 light-years apart.

South of the Great Bear roams another great beast: Leo the Lion. Leo’s bright heart is marked by the star Regulus, a system of four stars -- two double stars circling each other. Within Leo’s stomach lie a number of galaxies. Two of them, M95 and M96, are large spirals. An infrared view of M95 shows an orderly galaxy seen face-on, but a visible light view of M96 shows an asymmetric galaxy, probably gravitationally disrupted by encounters with its neighbors.

On April 11, the planet Mercury – smallest and fastest moving of the planets in our solar system – will reach its highest and most visible in the evening sky for the year.

Mercury is only visible in the sky for a few weeks every three to four months. The rest of the time, it's too close to the Sun in the sky and is lost in its bright glare. And since the planet orbits so close to the Sun, it's always near the Sun in the sky, appearing low near the horizon for no more than an hour or two, either following sunset, or preceding sunrise.

Some of Mercury's fleeting appearances – known as "apparitions" – are better for observing than others, for a combination of reasons that have to do with how our view of the solar system changes with the seasons, what hemisphere you're in, and what phase the planet happens to be showing us at the time. For this apparition, in the Northern Hemisphere, the best viewing is April 3rd through the 11th, as the planet appears higher in the sky each evening. It quickly fades in brightness after that, as the phase it shows us becomes an increasingly slimmer crescent.

Also on April 11, you'll find planet Venus right next to the Pleiades star cluster. The two will be close enough to appear in the same field of view through binoculars. This pairing makes for a fun reminder that the night sky is kind of like a time machine – the farther out into space you look, the farther back in time you're seeing. On that night you're seeing light that left Venus about 9 minutes earlier, whereas the light of the Pleiades left those stars around 400 years ago.

The latter half of April includes some awesome close approaches of the Moon with three of the bright planets in the sky. On April 15th and 16th, you'll find the crescent Moon rising with Saturn. Find them low in the southeastern sky in the couple of hours before sunrise. Then on the evening of the 23rd, find the slim crescent Moon hanging just five degrees above Venus in the west after sunset. And on April 25th the Moon finds its way over to Mars, high up in the west after dark.

At this time, around the 26th and 27th, the Moon will be at its first quarter phase, meaning it appears as a "half-moon," high in the sky after dark. The first-quarter Moon is a great time to pull out your binoculars or telescope, if you have them, as it's an ideal time to observe the Moon's craters and mountains along the terminator  – the day/night boundary – with ease. Lots of astronomy clubs plan public observing nights around this time as well, and you can look for events in your area with NASA's Night Sky Network.

April brings the annual Lyrid meteor shower. It's a medium-strength shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak, under ideal conditions. The Lyrids peak this year in the pre-dawn hours of April 23rd, though you should see a few shooting stars on the morning before and after the peak as well. Fortunately, the peak falls just a couple of days after the new moon. That means the Moon won't interfere with this year's Lyrids, overwhelming fainter meteors in the glow of moonlight.

The Lyrids are named for the constellation Lyra, which is near the point in the sky where their meteors appear to come from, called the radiant. They're one of the oldest known meteor showers, with the first recorded sighting in China some 2,700 years ago. They originate as dust particles from a comet during its 400-year orbit around the Sun.

The Lyrids tend to produce fast-moving meteors that lack persistent trails, but they can also produce the occasional bright meteor called a fireball. To observe them, find a comfortable spot away from bright city lights, get horizontal, and look straight up. You'll see the most meteors by looking slightly away from the origin point, which is near the bright star Vega.

So here's wishing you clear skies to catch a few shooting stars one April morning, when the forecast calls for light showers of comet dust, with a chance of fireballs.

The night sky is always a celestial showcase. Explore its wonders from your own backyard.

The following Deep Sky Objects are found in constellations that peak during the month. Some can be viewed with a small telescope, but the majority will require a moderate to large telescope. The following is adapted from my personal viewing list: "The Guy Pirro 777 Best and Brightest Deep Sky Objects."

Constellation: Canes Venatici

NGC 4111                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H195-1

NGC 4143                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H54-4

NGC 4151                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H165-1

     - NGC 4145                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H165-1

NGC 4214                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H95-1

NGC 4242                 Galaxy                                    P214

NGC 4244                 Galaxy                                    C26

NGC 4258                 Galaxy                                    M106 Herschel 400 H43-5

NGC 4346                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H210-1

NGC 4395                 Galaxy                                    P71

NGC 4449                 Galaxy                                    C21, Herschel 400 H213-1

NGC 4485                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H197-1 Paired with H198-1

NGC 4490                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H198-1 Cocoon Galaxy Paired with H197-1

NGC 4618                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H178-1

NGC 4631                 Galaxy                                    C32, Herschel 400 H42-4 Whale Galaxy

     - NGC 4627                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with C32

NGC 4656                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H176-1 Hockey Stick Galaxy

     - NGC 4657                      Galaxy                                         - Interacting with H176-1

NGC 4736                 Galaxy                                    M94

NGC 4800                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H211-1

NGC 5005                 Galaxy                                    C29, Herschel 400 H96-1 Paired with H97-1

NGC 5033                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H97-1 Paired with H96-1

NGC 5055                 Galaxy                                    M63 Sunflower Galaxy

NGC 5194                 Galaxy                                    M51 Whirlpool Galaxy

NGC 5195                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H186-1 Paired with M51

NGC 5272                 Globular Cluster                   M3

NGC 5273                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H98-1

     - NGC 5276                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H98-1

NGC 5371                 Galaxy                                    P215

Constellation: Coma Berenices

NGC 4147                 Globular Cluster                   Herschel 400 H19-1

NGC 4150                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H73-1

NGC 4192                 Galaxy                                    M98

NGC 4203                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H175-1

NGC 4245                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H74-1

NGC 4251                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H89-1

NGC 4254                 Galaxy                                    M99

NGC 4274                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H75-1

NGC 4278                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H90-1

NGC 4293                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H5-5

NGC 4314                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H76-1

NGC 4321                 Galaxy                                    M100

NGC 4350                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H86-2

     - NGC 4340                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H86-2

NGC 4382                 Galaxy                                    M85

NGC 4394                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H55-2 Paired with M85

NGC 4414                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H77-1

NGC 4419                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H113-1

NGC 4448                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H91-1

NGC 4450                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H56-2

NGC 4459                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H161-1

NGC 4473                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H114-2

NGC 4477                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H115-2

     - NGC4479                       Galaxy                                         - Paired with H115-2

NGC 4494                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H83-1

NGC 4501                 Galaxy                                    M88

NGC 4548                 Galaxy                                    M91, Herschel 400 H120-2

NGC 4559                 Galaxy                                    C36, Herschel 400 H92-1

NGC 4565                 Galaxy                                    C38, Herschel 400 H24-5

NGC 4651                 Galaxy                                    P222

NGC 4689                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H128-2

NGC 4725                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H84-1

NGC 4826                 Galaxy                                    M64 Blackeye Galaxy

NGC 4889                 Galaxy                                    C35

NGC 5024                 Globular Cluster                   M53

NGC 5053                 Globular Cluster                   P78

Constellation: Corvus

NGC 4027                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H296-2

NGC 4038                 Galaxy                                    C60, Herschel 400 H28.1-4 Antennae Galaxy (North)

NGC 4039                 Galaxy                                   Herschel 400 H28.2-4 Antennae Galaxy (South)

NGC 4361                 Planetary Nebula                 Herschel 400 H65-1

Constellation: Virgo

NGC 4030                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H121-1

NGC 4179                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H9-1

NGC 4216                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H35-1

NGC 4261                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H139-2

     - NGC 4264                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H139-2

NGC 4273                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H569-2

     - NGC 4268                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H569-2

NGC 4281                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H573-2

     - NGC 4277                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H573-2

NGC 4303                 Galaxy                                    M61, Herschel 400 H139-1

NGC 4365                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H30-1

NGC 4371                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H22-1

NGC 4374                 Galaxy                                    M84

NGC 4406                 Galaxy                                    M86

NGC 4429                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H65-2

NGC 4435                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H28.1-1 Eyes of Markarian’s Chain (North)

NGC 4438                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H28.2-1 Eyes of Markarian’s Chain (South)

NGC 4442                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H156-2

NGC 4472                 Galaxy                                    M49

NGC 4478                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H124-2

     - NGC 4476                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H124-2

NGC 4486                 Galaxy                                    M87 – Virgo A Galaxy

NGC 4526                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H31-1

NGC 4527                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H37-2

NGC 4535                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H500-2

NGC 4536                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H2-5

NGC 4546                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H160-1

NGC 4550                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H36-1

     - NGC 4551                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H36-1

NGC 4552                 Galaxy                                    M89

NGC 4569                 Galaxy                                    M90

NGC 4570                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H32-1

NGC 4579                 Galaxy                                    M58

NGC 4594                 Galaxy                                    M104, Herschel 400 H43-1 Sombrero Galaxy

NGC 4596                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H24-1

NGC 4621                 Galaxy                                    M59

NGC 4636                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H38-2

NGC 4643                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H10-1

NGC 4649                 Galaxy                                    M60

     - NGC 4647                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with M60

NGC 4654                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H126-2

NGC 4660                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H71-2

NGC 4665                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H142-1

NGC 4666                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H15-1

NGC 4697                 Galaxy                                    C52, Herschel 400 H39-1

NGC 4698                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H8-1

NGC 4699                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H129-1

NGC 4753                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H16-1

NGC 4754                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H25-1 Paired with H75-2

NGC 4762                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H75-2 Paired with H25-1

NGC 4781                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H134-1

NGC 4845                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H536-2

NGC 4856                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H68-1

NGC 4866                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H162-1

NGC 4900                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H143-1

NGC 4958                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H130-1

NGC 4995                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H42-1

NGC 5054                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H513-2

NGC 5068                 Galaxy                                    P203

NGC 5247                 Galaxy                                    P67

NGC 5363                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H6-1 Paired with H534-2

NGC 5364                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H534-2 Paired with H6-1

NGC 5566                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H144-1

     - NGC 5560                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H144-1

     - NGC 5569                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H144-1

NGC 5576                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H146-1

NGC 5634                 Globular Cluster                   Herschel 400 H70-1

NGC 5746                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H126-1

     - NGC 5740                      Galaxy                                         - Paired with H126-1

NGC 5846                 Galaxy                                    Herschel 400 H128-1

For more information:

Northern Latitudes:

https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/learning-resources/tonights-sky

https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/planner.cfm

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/

https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/skyreport

http://outreach.as.utexas.edu/public/skywatch.html

https://griffithobservatory.org/explore/observing-the-sky/sky-report/

http://www.beckstromobservatory.com/whats-up-in-tonights-sky-2/

https://www.fairbanksmuseum.org/planetarium/eye-on-the-night-sky

http://dudleyobservatory.org/tonights-sky/

https://cse.umn.edu/mifa/starwatch/2022

http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/learn/astro/nightsky/maps

https://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php

https://www.skymania.com/wp/your-night-sky-this-month/

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

https://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/explore-the-sky/your-sky-tonight.html

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/

https://stardate.org/nightsky

https://www.adventuresci.org/starcharts

https://www.astromart.com/news/search?category_id=3&q=kiss+the+sky&from=&to

Equatorial Latitudes:

https://heavens-above.com/SkyChart2.aspx

https://in-the-sky.org/data/constellations_map.php

https://ytliu0.github.io/starCharts/chartGCRS.html

Southern Latitudes:

https://www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/

https://www.stardome.org.nz/star-charts--sky-spotter

Watch Satellites Pass Over Your Location:

https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/

Astromart News Archives:

https://www.astromart.com/news/search?category_id=3&q=.

Check out some of my favorite Words of Wisdom:

https://astromart.com/news/show/words-of-wisdom-my-favorite-quotable-quotes

https://astromart.com/news/show/words-of-wisdom-my-favorite-proverbs-from-around-the-world

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