Did you know that April 14th of every year is Look Up At The Sky Day? How often do you take a peek at the sky during the day or night to see what you can find? There will conveniently be a few treats for your eyes in the sky on this day. If you have a small telescope or strong binoculars, you'll be able to spot a new surprise comet as well as an old comet. You'll also be able to view some planets.
Comet Yi-SWAN, a newly discovered comet, will be within reach for most of April and May. Look for the comet right after dusk, low in the northwest. It will also be visible just before the light of dawn in the northeast, but next week will be better for this viewing with the comet higher in the sky. You'll need aid when viewing this comet as it only has a magnitude of 8.5. The appearance of this comet is described as a green, diffuse fuzzball. No one has yet reported a tail, but that might change these next few days as the moon's glare wanes. Can you guess what recent comet had the same appearance? Yup, Comet Lulin - and, Comet Lulin still remains within telescopic reach.
Lulin can be found in the feet of Gemini in the western sky just after dark at at 9th magnitude. The window of moonless evenings for better viewing begins this week.
Planets will also be visible on April 14th and through the week. Saturn will be rising in the south and remain visible for most of the night. Mercury can be viewed on the western horizon just after sunset.
For more information on location of the comets or planets, head to:
www.skyandtelescope.com
Good Luck!
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