Sky Sights For April 2016
Hey Space Placers! Well, when the wild weather we have been experiencing this early spring gives way to clear skies we have some wonderful sky sights awaiting us. Tonight if it is clear the one day old crescent Moon and the planet Mercury will adorn the western sky as soon as it starts to get dark. You will need a clear view of the western horizon to see them. If you have binoculars please use them as they will really enhance your view. You will also be able to see the ‘dark of the Moon’ - the portion of the Moon that isn’t illuminated by the Sun. We call this ‘Earthshine’ http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/04oct_leonardo/ and it is caused by the reflection of sunlight off our planet’s oceans and clouds which illuminates the lunar surface. Earthshine Moon Greg Redfern Tonight’s Earthshine should be particularly noticeable as the Moon was at perigee, or closest to the Earth for the month yesterday. In fact...