Stargazer
April 2025
Compiled by John Panek
Monthly Highlights
Big Carbon on Mars - organic molecules with up to 12 carbon atoms in long chains have been discovered by the SAM instrument (gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer) on board the Curiosity rover. They have features similar to fatty acid chains produced in organic life, both animal and vegetable. https://www.cnrs.fr/en/press/organic-molecules-unprecedented-size-discovered-mars
The first huge batch of survey data has been released by the European Space Agency from the Euclid mission. Only 63 square degrees of the sky, but revealing 26 million galaxies up to 10.5 billion light years away, this rich data set reveals galaxy shapes, strong lenses, clusters, and star formation areas in both visible and near infrared wavelengths. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid/Euclid_opens_data_treasure_trove_offers_glimpse_of_deep_fields
A new nova in Sagittarius - V7993 Sgr was discovered on March 23-24 by both the Russian New Milky Way Survey and Japanese amateur astronomer Tadashi Kojima at magnitude 13, and brightened within 2 days to mag 10.5. It is reported to have a red color, and is more than 10 degrees above the horizon at dawn for observers in the Northern hemisphere. https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=17122
SCAS CELEBRATES
HONOR THE NIGHT
Ancient cultures measured time by the Moon's phases, the days of each cycle counted out. They knew when the Moon would wax and wane. Who today is aware whether the Moon is crescent, full or gibbous? We no longer honor the night sky. On a retreat with preteen students, far enough from city lights to see the cosmos, on a night when bright Venus cast a shadow, we asked them to turn off their flashlights, let their eyes adjust, Trust their steps in starlight. We honored the night sky.
Juliane Mc Adam, retired middle school language teacher, CA
Lunar Timetable
Last Quarter April 20, 9:35 pm
New Moon April 27, 3:31 pm
First Quarter April 4, 10:14 pm
Full Moon April 12, 8:22pmSOUTHERN CROSS OBSERVATION PAD
The popular free SOUTHERN CROSS OBSERVATION PAD HAS RE-OPENED in MIAMI-DADE BILL SADOWSKI Park! Come visit with us 7:30-10 p.m. Saturday's weather permitting. Bring `scopes & binocs, chairs, family, friends, colleagues, students, and bug repellent. Our SCAS Astros have introduced thousands to the awesome beauty of our seasonal night skies since 1986. Please dim headlights at the Park entrance SW 176 St./SW 79 Ave. 1/2 mile west of Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay 33157. The small parking lot is near the deck. Face masks are optional. Check the SCAS Facebook for weather/Holiday cancellations.
For astrophotography instruction visit our free D'AURIA outdoor observatory, Saturdays from dusk -10 P.M. 23325 SW 217 Avenue, Homestead 33031. Park outside the gate. No white lights, lanterns, lasers. litter, alcohol, or pets at both sites. For membership open www.scas.org
ENJOY SCAS PUBLIC STAR PARTIES: Weather permitting!
Saturday evenings dusk- 10 p.m.
SCAS Observation Pad in Miami-Dade Bill Sadowski Park SW 176 St./SW 79 Ave. Palmetto Bay 33157 free
D'Auria Observatory 23325 SW 217 Ave.dusk-10 p.m. astrophotograqphy information free No white lights, lanterns, lasers, litter, alcohol, or pets at either location.
METEOR SHOWERS THIS MONTH
Two Active showers this month
Lyrids: April 17-25, ZHR 18, peaking April 21-22, when the moon is 40% full
eta Aquariids: April 20-May 21, ZHR 50, peaking May 3-4 when the moon is 44% full.
Open the link: News and Information about Meteor Showers
Here are some tips on how to maximize your time looking for meteors and fireballs during any meteor shower:
- Get out of the city to a place where the city and artificial lights do not impede your viewing
- If you are out viewing the shower during its peak, you will not need any special equipment. You should be able to see the shower with your naked eyes.
- Carry a blanket or a comfortable chair with you - viewing meteors, just like any other kind of stargazing is a waiting game, and you need to be comfortable. Plus, you may not want to leave until you can't see the majestic celestial fireworks anymore.
In case you missed it......
The 41st annual Winter Star Party was a great success! Many sleep-deprived but happy astronomers report: BEST PARTY EVER! Don't take my word for it, read the first hand accounts over on Cloudy Nights: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/941985-winter-star-party-2025/page-3
BRIGHT COMETS THIS MONTH
Nothing visual or Binocular
Again, everything this month requires a 6 inch or larger scope and dark skies. See https://cometchasing.skyhound.com for a guide
SCAS EVENTS
SCAS HAM RADIO
Recently, member Dan Zuckerman replaced and upgraded his ham equipment. He was chatting with folks in Europe.
Do we have some retired, or new SCAS ham operators who would like to establish a SCAS radio dept?
It could become very convenient, or necessary in certain future conditions. Consider the astronomy information shared and maybe international SCAS members!
Contact Barb if you wish to link up with Dan. barbyager@aol.com.
SOLAR VIEWING
Weather permitting SCAS needs solar telescopes at the "front door" to ZooMiami 12400 SW 152nd st, starting this month
There will be large crowds of families. Please contact barbyager@aol.com ASAP if you can bring equipment, We are restoring our popular solarviewing events at ZooMiami.
Plans need to be made in advance. Updates will be sent out to members soon.
Interested to join our new solar team? Contact: barbyager@aol.com . If you have solar equipment or want to help, please send an email to Dr. Lester Shalloway with your information: drlester3@aol.com.
IN THE SKY
Uranus is on the border between Aries and Taurus - catch it now before it disappears in twilight at the end of the month
Mercury and Saturn conjunct on the morning of April 12, only 2.2 degrees apart
Jupiter and the thin crescent moon pair up on April 2 and April 30.
Mars is challenging all month due to small apparent diameter, but check it out on the 30th when it is 2 degrees away from M44 the Beehive
NASA/SPACE NEWS
Southwest Research Institute has released a paper describing asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson, as elongated and rotating slowly, possibly as a result of thermal torques slowing its spin over time. It is likely a member of the Erigone collisional asteroid family, a group in similar orbits created when a larger parent asteroid broke apart. On April 20, the Lucy spacecraft will perform a flyby, imaging with multiple cameras to measure shape, surface geology, and cratering.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally returned to Earth after their inital planned 8 day mission aboard the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test turned into a 9 month stay. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-spacex-crew-9-astronauts-to-discuss-science-mission/
ISS - Miami Track
ISS Passes for Miami – 11 good ones in April, 2 of them in the evenings and 9 in the mornings
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Open the Link: News and Information about ISS passes over Miami.
Contribute
Have something interesting and astronomy related you would like to contribute? Send a brief 1-2 paragraph article to our Stargazer editor: 350.john@gmail.com
Clear Sky Clock
Evening
April 2 Jupiter in the west between crescent moon and Aldebaran
April 4 and 5 Crescent moon near Mars, Pollux, and Castor
April 12 Full moon near Spica
All month - a great time to catch the Zodiacal light after dusk, especially when the moon is new or a thin crescent
Morning
April 16 and 17 waning gibbous moon near Antares
April 19, the moon is inside the Sagittarius teapot
April 25 a really nice conjunction of the thin crescent moon, Venus, and Saturn
Constellations
(See https://noirlab.edu/public/education/constellations/ for excellent images and finder charts)
Leo, the Lion, is almost directly overhead April evenings. With its distinctive sickle-shaped asterism, Leo contains the bright Regulus (Alpha Leonis). Ancient Greeks and Romans associated Leo with the Nemean lion, killed by Hercules as part of his 12 labors - with a hide inpenetrable by iron, bronze, or stone, Hercules strangled the great beast after unsuccessfully trying to reason with it. Ancient Egyptians worshiped Leo as the place where the Sun rose after creation.
Ursa Major, the Great Bear, ascends in the Northeast in spring evenings. The famous double star Mizar and Alcor are in the middle of the stars that form the handle of the big dipper, In Greek mythology, Zeus desires a young woman named Callisto, a nymph of Artemis. Zeus's wife Hera discovers that Callisto has a son named Arcas fathered by Zeus and transforms Callisto into a bear as a punishment. Callisto, while in bear form, later encounters her son Arcas. Arcas almost spears the bear, but to avert the tragedy Zeus whisks them both into the sky, Callisto as Ursa Major and Arcas as the constellation Boötes.
Gemini, The Twins, arc overhead in springtime. Gemini was associated with the myth of Castor and Pollux. Pollux was the son of Zeus and Leda, while Castor was the son of Tyndareus, king of Sparta and Leda's husband. Castor and Pollux were also mythologically associated with St. Elmo's fire in their role as the protectors of sailors. When Castor died, because he was mortal, Pollux begged his father Zeus to give Castor immortality, and he did, by uniting them together in the heavens.