Mar
30
Sun
âš« New Moon
Mar 30 @ 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
Apr
14
Mon
Total Lunar Eclipse
Apr 14 @ 10:55 pm – Apr 15 @ 4:36 am

Fantastic visibility for all of North America and much of South America. Maximum eclipse is at 7:46am UTC (2:46am central US time.)

Don’t miss this one!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_2014_lunar_eclipse

Apr
15
Tue
⚪ Full Moon
Apr 15 @ 1:43 am – 2:43 am

April’s Full Moon is the “Egg Moon”, “Pink Moon”, “Sprouting Grass Moon”, “Fish Moon”, “Seed Moon”, “Waking Moon”, or “Hanuman Jayanti”.

Apr
22
Tue
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Apr 22 all-day

The Lyrid meteor shower will reach its maximum rate of activity. Some meteors will be visible each night from 16 Apr to 25 Apr, but the best show will be on this evening. The maximum number of meteors expected to be visible from a dark location is around 10 per hour (ZHR). The 2nd quarter moon will wash out some meteors, but the brightest ones will shine through.

Apr
28
Mon
Annular Solar Eclipse
Apr 28 @ 9:53 pm – Apr 29 @ 2:15 am

AKA “Ring of Fire” eclipse. Maximum eclipse at 6:04 am UTC. Decent visibility for Australians and GREAT visibility for Antarcticans. Er, south-polers? Penguins.

Apr
29
Tue
âš« New Moon
Apr 29 @ 12:15 am – 1:15 am
May
4
Sun
Monthly Meeting @ George Mason University
May 4 @ 11:00 pm – May 5 @ 1:00 am

Gary Hand will speak on – Amateur Astronomy: 1994, Today, and 2034

 

May
5
Mon
Aquarids Meteor Shower
May 5 all-day

This shower is composed of dusty remnants of the famed Halley’s Comet. The long-running shower is visible from April 19th until May 28, but peaks overnight on May 5th with up to 60 sightings per hour. The first quarter moon should set right around midnight local time, which will really improve conditions for spotting meteors. Though the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, it will appear that they are coming from the Aquarius constellation.

May
10
Sat
Saturn at Opposition
May 10 all-day

Saturn will make its closest approach of the year and will be reflecting plenty of the sun’s light, making this the best opportunity to spot it. A medium telescope (about 5-8 inches) is needed to see the rings and some of the largest moons which will also be lit up from the sun.

May
14
Wed
⚪ Full Moon
May 14 @ 1:16 pm – 2:16 pm

May’s Full Moon is the “Milk Moon”, “Flower Moon”, “Corn Planting Moon”, “Hare’s Moon”, or “Buddha Poornima”.