~ St. Maarten’s Backyard Astronomy for April 11 - 13 ~
Sun rises at 5:57am
Sun sets at 6:28 pm
Lunar phase: Full Moon
Moon sets at 5:34am, Saturday
Moon rises at 6:22pm, Saturday
This weekend, the full moon dominates the night sky, and this month, we celebrate the coming of Spring and its many flowers, thus giving the April full moon the nickname “Pink Full Moon.” But this particular April, we will have a “micro-moon” – that means it will appear slightly smaller than what is typically seen during a full moon. It’s the opposite effect from what has lately been called a super moon, so this month, I will say it’s a Petite Pink Moon, maybe it will catch on?
It’s unlikely that you will notice the extra-small size of the moon this weekend. It’s only about 5% smaller on our sky’s dome than usual. We are including a photographic comparison so you can get an idea of the difference.
Why is the April 12-13 full moon so small? It’s all about the orbit of the moon around the earth, which can vary slightly from month to month, from revolution to revolution. This weekend, the moon will lie just over a quarter million miles away (400,000 km) from the earth. Actually, this will be the second of three full micro-moons, or especially-small full moons, in a row in 2025. And of the three micro-moons, this one is the smallest.
You can use the full moon this weekend to locate the constellation Virgo the Maiden, the moon will be close to Spica, the brightest star in Virgo on Sunday night. In actual fact, on Saturday night, the moon will block Spica, but using a good set of binoculars or a backyard telescope might just afford you a sight of Spica peeking out from behind the moon.
For your stargazing activities during the Carnival holidays, this article will be taking a break, but make a note for the Lyrids Meteor Shower on April 21 and 22. Look for these bright meteors overhead after midnight, and the viewing will get better as the night lingers towards sunrise. With luck, you may see as many as 10 to 15 meteors per hour, so find a dark comfy area to look up and enjoy.
Another meteor shower will happen while we are on break for Carnival. The Eta Aquarids run from April 15 to May 27, but the peak is likely your best viewing in the early morning hours of May 5. You could see as many as 10 to 20 meteors per hour at that time!
Thank you for keeping up with the Night Sky articles, backyard (or beach) astronomy designed for St. Maarten sky viewing. FYI: If you are out later on in the week, note that each star rises about four minutes earlier each day than written here, and the moon rises 50 minutes later. Night Sky is researched and compiled by Lisa Davis-Burnett. Earthsky.org is a key resource for information and images. Questions or comments? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
