SUNSET: 
Sky at a Glance | April 27th, 2007
Watch Venus pass a not-quite-first-magnitude star in the western evening sky this week. Meanwhile, Saturn shines in fine view much higher during evening, and Jupiter is well placed before dawn.
Vanishing Acts
One of the most dramatic sights in the nighttime sky occurs when the Moon briefly hides a planet or star — an event called an occultation. On April 25th and 26th, many observers in northwestern North America will be treated to an unusual occultation double-header as the Moon conceals Saturn on one morning and Regulus the next. Both events should be visible without optical aid if the sky conditions are good.
Spring's Comet Lovejoy
During the next few weeks, early risers in the Northern Hemisphere can follow recently-discovered Comet Lovejoy as it makes its way northward past some familiar telescopic sights.
The 2007 Lyrid Meteor Shower
This year North American observers can catch the rising and falling phases of the Lyrid meteor shower in the predawn hours of April 22nd and 23rd.
Moon Meets Venus
On the evening of April 19th, the thin crescent Moon passes near Venus, the Evening Star.
How to Make a Star Wheel the Simple Way
Would you like to be able to navigate your way around the night sky with confidence? Using this simple, easy-to-make Star Wheel, you can "dial the sky" for any time or date.
Make a Star Clock!
A quick download, some scissors, and a paper fastener are all it takes to use the stars to tell time.
How to Make a Sundial the Simple Way
Sundials are amazingly simple yet effective devices. They range from sticks planted in the ground to precision-machined marvels costing thousands of dollars. The design shown here can be constructed in minutes from materials lying around your house, but it's surprisingly accurate.
Seven Sisters Host Evening Star
Venus, the brightest planet, and the Pleiades, the sky's brightest star cluster, form a spectacular grouping in the evening sky from April 10-12.
Listen to What the April Sky Offers
With April upon us, the evenings are finally getting warm enough for most of us to comfortably observe the heavens without fear of frostbite. And when you do go out, be sure to download our monthly podcast before you venture outdoors.
A Big Chunk of Rock Passes Near Earth
A mile-wide chunk of rock is now whizzing past Earth. At its closest approach, around 11 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on March 30th, it will be 10th magnitude and just 2 million miles over the heads of observers in Southern California.
The Moon Meets the Pleiades
The Moon will be closing in on Messier 45 tonight; observers along the West Coast may see the Moon pass in front of some of the star cluster.
Gazing Upon Earth's Shadow
Skimming near the northernmost edge of Earth's shadow, the Moon experienced a relatively bright eclipse on March 3rd.
March's Moon Mania
Lunatics be warned! The next three nights will make for some wonderful Moon observing. While floating near the Sickle of Leo, the Lion, you'll see Luna nearly cover a planet, hover gracefully near one of the brightest stars in the sky, and plunge deep into Earth's shadow.
Starry Starry Night
Open star clusters are among the most straightforward deep-sky objects to observe with binoculars, and three wonderful targets for Northern Hemisphere observers ride high overhead as darkness falls at this time of year.
Two Novae in Scorpius
A naked-eye nova erupted in the pre-dawn sky in early February and peaked at magnitude 3.8 on February 16th. As of the 27th it was still an easy binocular target at magnitude 5.4. And in the midst of the excitement, a second, fainter nova went off just below it.
March 3rd's Total Lunar Eclipse
For many of us, the Moon is about to go dark for the first time in 2½ years.
The Best Asteroid Occultation in Decades: A First Report
On the morning of January 26th, at least 20 observers spread from Virginia to northern California timed the occultation of the star 32 Lyncis by the asteroid (372) Palma — in spite of the track shifting nearly half a path-width south of what was predicted.
Observe Mysterious Mercury
Mercury, probably the least observed of the eight major planets, is well placed in the evening sky during the first half of February 2007 for observers in the Northern Hemisphere.
Tour December's Evening Sky
Brave the cold and take in the winter's beautiful stars! Download this MP3 file to your iPod or other handheld device to learn how to view the Geminid meteors, Cassiopeia and her dysfunctional family, and more! (5.4MB file; hosted by Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine.)
