TRAC Monthly Report: April 2025

Spring Night Sky

Spring Constellations

As a result of poor weather and scheduling conflicts, we didn't get many opportunities to observe the spring night sky in April. The main constellations were identified, and the bright stars were pointed out and committed to memory (I'll be checking!) by everyone present.

Lunar Observations

Moon–Pleiades Occultation (01 Apr 2025)

On 01 Apr 2025, we observed the crescent Moon occult the Pleiades star cluster at 21:30.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: A few of the stars which make up the iconic Pleiades cluster were hidden by the Moon at 21:30 on 01 Apr 2025. This occultation was fairly hard to observe and photograph due to the low altitude of the objects.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: A digitally brightened image showing a few more of the fainter stars in the cluster.

Moon–Jupiter Conjunction (02 Apr 2025)

The Moon was positioned close to the planet Jupiter low in the west after twilight on 02 Apr 2025.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: Jupiter is to the left of the Moon, and high above it is Capella – a star with which all astronomy club members should be familiar.

Moon–Mars (05 Apr 2025)

The Moon at first quarter was above Mars and to the east of the bright stars Castor and Pollux. The sky was very clear, but it was quite gusty, so we decided not to test the astro camera on this occasion.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: The two brightest stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux, lie to the top right of the Moon. The faint orange dot below the Moon is the planet Mars.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: The Moon at first quarter on 03 Apr 2025.

April's Full Moon (11 Apr 2025)

Although the weather was poor, the full moon was briefly visible.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: April's Full Moon, as it appeared from Rainham, Kent at 21:00 on 11 Apr 2025.

Moon Near Elnath (30 Apr 2025)

To finish the month, the crescent Moon was seen next to the magnitude 1.6 star Elnath in the constellation Capella.

Image credit: JM (TRAC)

Above image: The Moon, low in the sky at twilight, sitting close to Elnath in Capella with Jupiter shining brightly below.

Asteroid Vesta

Vesta was spotted using binoculars at 22:30 on 27 Apr 2025. The view was clear, but I found it quite hard to find the asteroid due to how faint it is. The strategy was to start at Spica and move eastward, following the stars in Virgo until a triangle of stars was reached. Vesta was the dim dot in the centre of the triangle.

We'll try again over the first weekend in May when Vesta will reach opposition and peak brightness.

Summary

A Quieter Month

April was a slower month for the astronomy club. The highlights were our observations of the Moon, especially the occultation of the Pleiades. The planets are now becoming poorly placed or out of view completely. It was great to finally see an asteroid (Vesta), though this will be something to work on in May.

James M
TRAC Team Leader
01 May 2025 – Rainham, Kent