April, 2012 is a great month for sky-gazers as five planets of our solar system- Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn-show up this month. While Venus, Jupiter and Mars will be visible throughout the
April, Saturn will shine at its brightest in mid April leaving Mercury hidden for our naked eyes.
The sky’s two most brilliant planets, Venus and Jupiter, will be the first to pop out at the evening sky with Venus being the higher planet and Jupiter the lower. Mars a rusty planet will be visible towards south-east high in the sky (at its highest at 10 to 11 pm) through out the month of April. By mid month, when Saturn resides opposite the sun (a phenomenon known as opposite) in ‘our’ sky, Saturn will be rising in the east at its brightest for the year.
To spot the Venus and the Jupiter look at the evening sky towards west above the horizon. The brightest of all ‘stars’ will be the Venus and below it will be the Jupiter (though not as brilliant as the Venus).
Just to make it easy to spot one, readers should keep in mind that planets do not twinkle.’ To spot the Mars look high in the sky towards the southeast, a dim rusty dot will be visible. Spotting Saturn isn’t as easy. It will appear towards east to southeast at nightfall and south around middle to late night. It has a bright golden appearance. Try to look for two bright objects close together on the sky’s dome, one among then might be the Saturn. Mercury is a morning planet all month long. It will be almost impossible to see it from the Northern hemisphere.
Keep watching and enjoy!
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Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST
Article source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Apr/20/april-is-the-heavenly-month-14.asp
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