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| | Volume 23 -- Issue 4
April 2017
Welcome to this issue of Qué tal. Here you will find useful observing information
about the visible planets, our Moon and other
moons, the Sun, as well as various 'things' celestial.
Among
these web pages you will find monthly star maps for either the northern
or southern hemisphere that are suitable for printout. Animated
images are utilized to illustrate celestial motions such as orbital
motions of the planets, and other solar orbiting objects, or apparent
and real motions along the ecliptic and the local horizon. Regular
features include plotting the monthly positions of the visible planets
using heliocentric coordinates; following moon phases; conjunctions; the sun's
apparent motion and the Earth's real motion along the ecliptic.
For additional observing information and other useful Earth and Space news
posted several times each week follow my WordPress Blog at bobs-spaces.
At A Glance: Welcome to this issue of Qué tal.
This month the innermost planet Mercury will be visible as an evening planet for about the first two weeks of the
month but daily it will set closer to the Sun. Mercury passes inferior conjunction this month and then joins Venus in the morning skies
before the Sun rises. Mars is still over the western horizon and this month it moves through parts of the constellation Taurus the Bull.
Jupiter reaches opposition this month and rises around sunset local time and is visible all night near the blue-white star Spica. Saturn rises
several hours before the Sun and will be starting its retrograde motion this month as it moves westward across the stars of Sagittarius the Archer.
During the month of April, on the 12th we celebrate the flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. Click here to see a
short video dedicated to the flight of Yuri Gagarin and other space voyagers.
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Lee's Summit, MO 
