Moon occulting Pleiades
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APRIL 2006 SKYWATCH On April Fools, there is a special sight in the evening sky. At 7:00 p.m. local time, about 45 minutes after sunset, look west to see an “old Moon in the new Moon’s arms.” The light filling out the Moon is called earthshine. It comes from sunlight reflecting off the earth up to the Moon, and then back to us. Moon itself is a beautiful, ghostly sight, with reverberations of unseen worlds. But there is more. This moon sits in front of the Pleiades sisters, clustered like jewels in Taurus. As Moon moves, it snuffs out the Pleiades stars, one by one. East Coast has the good viewing here. By the time Moon gets to the West Coast, it has moved to the upper left of the Pleiades. This is an occultation, or an eclipse of the Pleiades by the Moon. It is not only a beautiful sight in the heavens, but it also has ramifications on earth. The Pleiades are said to have a Mars/Moon influence. They are connected with inner vision, and also with ruthless, judgmental actions rashly taken. This occultation combines with the March 29 Solar Eclipse and the April 5 Saturn turning direct to give us a powerful, potent week. In all of these situations, the U.S. East Coast is featured. Saturn is quite visible now, not far from the Pleiades. Look up and to the left. Find the Gemini Twins. Saturn is higher and to the left of them, bright and yellow. It remains visible throughout most of the night. Mars, between Saturn and Moon, is also visible. It looks like a dull orangish star, and has nestled with the two reddish stars in that part of the sky to make a dramatic fiery triangle. Mars is above Aldeberan, the red Eye of the Bull, and to the right of Betelguese, the red giant in Orion. Mars is moving away from earth, and by the end of April it will have faded to be even fainter. Moon reaches Mars on April 4, and Saturn on April 6. On April 8, Pluto will be opposing Mars. Jupiter, big and bright, rises in the east in the early evening. By the end of April, Jupiter appears highest in the south shortly after midnight. The waning moon passes close to it on April 15. Venus is still a morning star, rising shortly before the sun. Venus is said to be more feisty as Morning Star. After all, she announces the Sun. Venus conjoins Uranus on April 18. When we admire radiant Venus on the morning of the 18th, think about Uranus lending its freedom drive to her. April is an exciting month in the heavens—and thus on earth. |
