2022 Guide to the Night Sky by Storm Dunlop

Author:Storm Dunlop [Dunlop, Storm and Tirion, Wil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2021-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

April 15

10 p.m. (11 p.m. DST)

May 1

9 p.m. (10 p.m. DST)

April – Looking South

Leo is the most prominent constellation in the southern sky in April, and vaguely looks like the creature after which it is named. Gemini, with Castor and Pollux, remains clearly visible in the west, and Cancer lies between the two constellations. To the east of Leo, the whole of Virgo, with Spica (α Virginis) its brightest star, is well clear of the horizon and Libra is coming into view. Below Leo and Virgo, the complete length of Hydra is visible, running beneath both constellations, with Alphard (α Hydrae) halfway between Regulus and the southwestern horizon. Farther east, the two small constellations of Crater and the rather brighter Corvus lie between Hydra and Virgo. Part of Centaurus is now above the horizon.

Boötes and Arcturus are prominent in the eastern sky, together with the circlet of Corona Borealis, framed by Boötes and the neighboring constellation of Hercules. Between Leo and Boötes lies the constellation of Coma Berenices, notable for being the location of the open cluster Melotte 111 (see here) and the Coma Cluster of galaxies (Abell 1656). There are about 1,000 galaxies in this cluster, which is located near the North Galactic Pole, where we are looking out of the plane of the Galaxy and are thus able to see deep into space. Only about 10 of the brightest galaxies in the Coma Cluster are visible with the largest amateur telescopes.

The distinctive constellation of Leo, with Regulus and “The Sickle” on the west. Algieba (γ Leonis), north of Regulus, appearing double, is a multiple system of four stars.

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