In the realm of planets, it's good to be a giant.
Look to the southeastern sky at sunset now to find Jupiter, the gaseous giant planet reigning the heavens. It's hard to miss because this planet appears at negative second magnitude (very bright). Officially, Jupiter reaches opposition on April 2. (Opposition means that from Earth's view, Jupiter is directly opposite the sun.) Throughout the night, this planet moves across the southern sky and then into the west by morning.
Saturn, the giant ringed planet, can be seen in the western sky after dusk, hanging out in the constellation Gemini. This zero magnitude planet, dimmer than Jupiter, is visible through the evening.
The usually effervescent Venus returns in late April, but it will be hard to find until May.
So long, sun? There will be a partial solar eclipse before sunset on April 8. For the Washington area, the partial eclipse begins at 5:58 p.m., maximum occurs at 6:19 p.m., and it all ends at 6:40 p.m. Only 5 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon, according to Fred Espenak, an eclipse expert from the Goddard Space Flight Center. The eclipse is so imperceptible, you may not even notice. (Do not look directly at the sun and do not use binoculars or a telescope to view it. Instead, use a pinhole in cardboard to project the sun onto a piece of paper.)
About two weeks later, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse on the morning of April 24, when the moon moves through the outer (penumbral) portion of Earth's own shadow. The middle of the eclipse is 5:55 a.m., and sky gazers in the Washington area won't see much because of dawn's interference and the faintness of the shadow. For eclipse details, visit Espenak's Web site, sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html.
Down-to-Earth Events
April 5 -- Astronomer Mike A'Hearn discusses the Deep Impact comet mission at the University of Maryland Observatory, College Park. View the heavens through a telescope after the lecture, weather permitting. 8 p.m. Information, 301-405-6555; www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse.
April 6 -- Nobel laureate Robert Laughlin proposes new ways to understand science in his lecture, "A Different, Radical Universe," at the Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. Smithsonian Associates members, $12; general admission, $15. For tickets and information, 202-357-3030, or www.residentassociates.org.
April 8 -- Gene Kranz, the NASA flight director for Apollo 11's lunar landing and the controller who safely guided Apollo 13 back to Earth, talks of his career in "An Evening with Gene Kranz," at 8 p.m., Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, National Air and Space Museum. Free lecture, but tickets required. Information, e-mail lectures@nasm.si.eduor 202-633-2398. www.nasm.si.edu.
April 9 -- The National Capital Astronomers and the National Park Service host "Exploring the Sky" at Rock Creek Park, near the Nature Center, in the field south of Military and Glover roads NW. 8:30 p.m. Information, 202-895-6070 or capitalastronomers.org.
April 9 -- Astronomer Sean O'Brien, of the National Air and Space Museum, leads a star party at Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane, Va. 7:45 to 11 p.m. Parking $4. Information, 540-592-3556. www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/skymeado.htm.
April 14 -- Donald Brownlee of the University of Washington will present results from the Stardust comet sample-return mission. His talk begins at 8 p.m. at the Einstein Planetarium, National Air and Space Museum. Free lecture, but tickets required. Information, e-mail lectures@nasm.si.edu or 202-633-2398. www.nasm.si.edu.
April 15 -- "Exploring the Universe: Family Day" at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hands-on space activities. The Washington area LEGO users group will display models. Information, 202-357-2700; www.nasm.si.edu.
April 16 -- Can we travel in time? Enjoy the lecture, "Space-Time Invariance and Quantum Gravity," at the Montgomery College Planetarium, Takoma Park. Parking available in the faculty lot. 7 p.m. Information, 301-650-1463; www.mc.cc.md.us/departments/planet.
April 16 -- Astronomy Day 2005, celebrated by the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club at C.M. Crockett Park in Fauquier County. See the sun safely through a solar telescope and later scan the heavens in the evening, plus lectures and other activities. 3 to 11 p.m. Information and directions, www.novac.com.
April 20 -- Astronomer Andrew Baker on "Dust You Can't Sweep Under the Rug," at the University of Maryland Observatory, College Park. Scan the sky through a telescope after the lecture, weather permitting. 8 p.m. Information, 301-405-6555; www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse.
Blaine Friedlander can be reached at bfriedlander@earthlink.net.
