Space and Astronomy

The Planets and Special Events

A Solar Eclipse occurs on Monday April 8. From Los Angeles the Moon will enter the Sun's disk at 10:06 a.m. The Moon will cover a maximum of 49% of the Sun's disk at 11:12 a.m.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower is active April 15-19. It peaks on the nitght of April 21-22.

Venus (Mag 3.9) is too cose to the Sun and cannot be observed..

Jupiter (Mag -2.0) sets in the West at 9:59 p.m. on the 1st.

Mars (Mag +1.2) rises in the Southeast at 5:15 a.m. on the 1st.

Saturn (Mag +1.1) rises in the East at 5:33 a.m. on the 16th.

Reprinted with permission, the information above is made available in the Griffith Observer , a monthly publication by the Griffith Observatory. For complete information on the Planets and other items related to Astronomy, please visit the Griffith Observatory Web Site.

The theory that our Sun is the center of the universe and our planets revolve around it was first documented by Nicolas Copernicus. The interesting thing is that Copernicus was a Catholic Priest and Philosopher, not an Astronomer. But he believed that God would have made the movements of the planets more simple than the previously documented theory (which was very complex). As we know today, Corpernicus was right !

• Your Place In Space: A nice article by Bill Nye in The Planetary Report featuring one of my photos
• Astronomy Picture Of The Day
• Want to see a Sattelite or the Space Station fly by ?
• Read about Solar Flares and Solar Wind
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration