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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the week ending Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Here is what’s happening in the skies of Southern California:
After the new moon on the morning of the 10th, the crescent moon will emerge into the evening sky on Tuesday the 11th. It can then be found above the western horizon starting 30 minutes after sunset. The waxing crescent moon appears higher in the sky for a longer time on following nights, and by Wednesday the 17th, the moon is visible until it sets at 1:02 a.m.
The brilliant planet Jupiter, in Taurus the Bull, is in the western sky after sunset this week. The planet sets in the west-northwest at 11:15 p.m. The moon will appear close to Jupiter on Sunday the 14th. Because Jupiter appears lower and lower in the sky on successive nights, the year’s opportunity to observe Jupiter in the evening will draw to a close in a couple of weeks.
The planet Saturn, in Libra the Scales, makes its appearance above the east-southeast horizon at 8:20 p.m. The ringed planet is well placed for telescopic viewing by 11:00 p.m. Saturn is at its highest, 44 degrees above the southern horizon, at 1:44 a.m.
Comet PANSTARRS C/2011 L4 has faded and can no longer be easily seen from areas with urban or suburban light pollution. Comet PANSTARRS, however, is still putting on a good show through binoculars and telescopes when observed from wilderness locations shortly before dawn. The comet is low in the northeast sky, and appears between the Andromeda galaxy and the upper edge of Cassiopeia the Queen. A finder chart is available on our special comet PANSTARRS page.
Free views of the sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night, are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes Tuesday-Sunday before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for our schedule. The next public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place between 2:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.