April 2022
The Realm of the Galaxies
In Spring, as the disc of the night sky turns, so we are presented with an amazing view towards the SE - half way up in the sky. This area is simply called the Realm of the Galaxies. It is a super cluster of hundreds of galaxies dominating our place in space. To get a view you really need something more powerful than just your eyes. Our local group of Galaxies, including the Milky Way, has fewer than 40 galaxies, but this special area (called the Virgo Supercluster Cluster) contains THOUSANDS. No other spot in the sky for us has such a concentration. Each galaxy is enormous but are so distant that only powerful binoculars or telescope will spot them and even then they will appear a smudge of light. To find this area, locate Leo with its backward ‘question-mark’ head and find its rear. Next to it is the bowl shape of Virgo and above this is the Realm of Galaxies.
There is just too much in this area to take in! Here are just 3 galaxies of so many that could be chosen.
In order:
NGC 4535 Image Credit – ESA
This is a Barred Spiral Galaxy, the bar structure being seen across the core of the image. Spotted by William Herschel in 1785. The outer spiral contains hot blue young stars and working inwards, yellow cooler, older stars.
M61 Image Credit- Hunter Wilson
Is called an intermediate Barred Spiral Galaxy. It is classified as a starburst galaxy due to its high rate of star formation.
NGC 4567 & 4568 Image Credit- Bill and Marian Wallace Adam Block NOAO AURA NSF
Also known as the Siamese Twins Galaxies or the Butterfly Galaxy.. These are a pair of colliding Galaxies.(A fate that our own Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy are heading towards in 4.5 million years).
Towards the end of March, I spent a series of beautiful dark evenings gazing at this glittering treasure trove of galaxies. Needless to say I couldn’t see them all but ….just wow!
The Lyrids
This month (22nd) the Earth will pass through the path of Comet Thatcher that orbits the sun every 415 years. As the Earth goes around the sun we cross its path at the same time each year. As the comet journeys, it leaves behind a trail of small fragments that break off and when they hit our atmosphere at 110,000 miles per hour they streak across our night sky. Tiny grains travelling at massive speeds can create huge streaks across the sky that can last for seconds. The pieces all seem to originate from the same place in the sky called the radiant. The radiant is very close to the constellation of Lyra, hence the meteor shower being called the Lyrids.
For more information
Planetary Parade
On April 20th Jupiter, Neptune, Venus, Mars and Saturn will make a near perfect line before dawn. You will need to be able to see the horizon to spot Jupiter.
There are going to be quite a few opportunities to spot planetary alignments this year. For more information visit:
New Moon 1st April
Full Moon 16th April
Clear Skies
Milan Davidovic
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