Post by Centaur on Apr 7, 2010 22:30:26 GMT -6
Who will be the first to spot the April New Moon with naked eyes after sunset? The Dark Moon will be in geocentric longitudinal conjunction with the Sun on 2010 APR 14 at 12:29 UT (07:29 CDT). The springtime high inclination of the ecliptic relative to the horizon at sunset, combined with the northern celestial latitude of the Moon, may make it possible for some lucky North Americans to spot a Moon roughly a half-day-old on April 14. Observers on the west coast may have the best chances. In any event it will be quite a challenge and perhaps unrealistic, so the vast majority will have to wait until the following evening to spot the young Moon only about a degree to the upper right of Mercury. But give it a try; you may end up in the record books.
I’ve created graphics previewing the western sky from Chicagoland 20 minutes after sunset on April 14 and 30 minutes after sunset on April 15. Mercury and Venus will serve as guides for finding the Moon. The charts should well serve most North American observers. They can be seen by clicking: www.curtrenz.com/astronomical then going to the Moon page.
Photos and descriptions of the April New Moon would be welcome additions to this thread. Please include the date, time, time zone and location. Good Luck!
Below is a photo I took from Arlington Heights, Illinois after sunset on 2008 DEC 28 of the Moon aged 1.5 days in a position relative to Mercury and Venus similar to what might be seen on 2010 APR 14. It should be noted that for observers north of the tropics the celestial geometry in April is far more favorable for spotting an exceptionally young Moon than it is in December.
I’ve created graphics previewing the western sky from Chicagoland 20 minutes after sunset on April 14 and 30 minutes after sunset on April 15. Mercury and Venus will serve as guides for finding the Moon. The charts should well serve most North American observers. They can be seen by clicking: www.curtrenz.com/astronomical then going to the Moon page.
Photos and descriptions of the April New Moon would be welcome additions to this thread. Please include the date, time, time zone and location. Good Luck!
Below is a photo I took from Arlington Heights, Illinois after sunset on 2008 DEC 28 of the Moon aged 1.5 days in a position relative to Mercury and Venus similar to what might be seen on 2010 APR 14. It should be noted that for observers north of the tropics the celestial geometry in April is far more favorable for spotting an exceptionally young Moon than it is in December.