What’s Up in the Night Sky? – April 2024

Fred Barrett | Apr 03, 2024

Wait! Never mind the header at the top of this column! For this month only, it should read “What’s up in the DAY Sky?”.

The long awaited Total Eclipse of the Sun arrives in only a few days; mark it: 8th of April. In our area, along highway 7, we will experience a 98 -99 % coverage of the Sun – a partial eclipse. To experience totality, it will be necessary to travel roughly 50 km south of highway 7. Totality starts about 3:22:30 EDT in Belleville, 3:23:30 EDT in Kingston and 3:24:30 EDT in Brockville. The length of totality is longest in Kingston at about 3 minutes.

The eclipse will last between 2 and 3 hours from first contact on the Sun’s right side to last contact on the left. Temperature will change noticeably as it progresses and the day grows slowly darker. Shadows appear sharper as the light decreases and colours intensify near totality. In the last thirty seconds before totality, light drops so dramatically that it really comes as a surprise. Watch for changes in animal behaviour. They will think night is falling and their instinct will have them preparing for night to arrive. In the last seconds before totality, light is blocked by the Moon’s mountains and let through by its valleys producing the effect of a string of pearls that are called Baily’s beads, named after the 19th century Scottish astronomer who first noted them. These slowly disappear until only the light punching through one last deep valley leaves you with the impression of a diamond ring. Note: Yes, you can look at the total eclipse without eye protection BUT ONLY DURING TOTALITY. Don’t take your eye protection or filters off until you see the first diamond ring and put them back on quickly when you see the first hint of the second, end of totality, diamond ring. If you are not sure, leave your protection on.

Now arrives what we’ve all been waiting to see – the Sun’s atmosphere, the Corona. It can only be seen during a total eclipse. The Sun is in an active period right now and the corona should appear round. Look for looping prominences from the Sun’s Photosphere pushing up into the Corona along the Sun’s limb. They will look like they are coming from the Moon’s dark disk. Totality ends when you notice the diamond ring appear on the opposite side of the Moon with Baily’s beads following quickly afterwards.

During totality, if you remember, check out the planets. A hard to miss Venus will be 15 degrees southwest of the eclipse. Almost as bright, an easy to see Jupiter will sit about 30 degrees northeast of the black disk of the Moon. Much dimmer Mars and Saturn are 35 degrees southwest of the eclipse.

Enjoy the eclipse! The next one for North America isn’t until 2044. I should point out that total solar eclipses aren’t particularly rare. Having one happen in your own neighbourhood is the rarity. I plan on heading out come rain or shine. With the unpredictable weather we’ve been having the last 3 years or so, who knows what the sky will be like at the last minute! This March has been crazy.

The annual Lyrid meteor shower is active from April 14 – 30 with its peak on the night of April 22, the night before a Full Moon. A peak of 18 meteors per hour is typical but the bright Moon will cut that rate down. The radiant is above and to the right of the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra. It’s about 30 degrees high by midnight.

Jupiter is about 20 degrees high in the west after sunset in early April and is lower as the month progresses. Best observing time is the first week of April. After that, observing time decreases as it heads below the horizon. About the 10th, a crescent Moon is 4 degrees above Jupiter with Uranus about 2 degrees above Jupiter. Comet Pons-Brooks sits 4 degrees west of Jupiter. Have a look- out for Uranus near Jupiter on the 20th. Follow Comet Pons-Brooks from early April as it approaches Jupiter from above right, passes and then continues down and away from Jupiter. In all this observing you will have to be quick.

You will need a clear eastern horizon to catch Mars and Saturn in the early morning in early April. The pair get closer until on the 11th, they are a fraction of a degree apart with Mars northeast of Saturn. They will be about 6 degrees above the horizon around 6 am EDT. Good luck with that challenge and be quick.

Highlights this month: April 5: Moon passes 2 degrees south of Mars at midnight. April 6: Moon passes 1.2 degrees south of Saturn at 5 am EDT. April 7: Moon passes 0.4 degrees north of Venus at 1 pm EDT. A challenge. Moon is at perigee – 356,765 Kms. April 8: New Moon occurs. Total Solar Eclipse. April 10: Mars passes 0.5 degrees north of Saturn at 11 pm EDT. April 15: First quarter Moon. April 19: Moon is at apogee – 403,269 Kms. April 22: Lyrid meteor shower peaks. April 23: Full Moon. Called the Full Pink Moon – wild ground phlox appears; one of spring’s first wildflowers. Also called Breaking Ice Moon, Grass Appearing and Frog Moon. I lean towards Full Frog Moon, especially their legs. Yum. April 28: Mars passes 0.04 degrees south of Neptune at midnight EDT.

Keep looking up! Be prepared ready for the April 8 Solar Eclipse! And watch for those early Lyrid meteors!

Don’t forget to check out events at the North Frontenac Dark Sky site, or, as it’s known now, the North Frontenac Astronomy Park.

Also check the Lennox and Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area for observing opportunities this summer.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) website https://rasc.ca has a listing of astronomy events for Ontario and the Kingston branch of the RASC website lists events happening, especially in our area.

Feel free to contact me with questions or observations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.