00:00 What's up for April?
00:04 Some easy-to-spot planets?
00:06 There's still time to observe Comet 12P!
00:10 And how to enjoy this month's solar eclipse if you're not in the path of totality.
00:14 For several days in the first half of April, early risers can watch Mars and Saturn rising
00:20 together in the morning.
00:22 Taking a look about half an hour before sunrise, you can find them low in the east about 10
00:26 degrees above the horizon.
00:27 They're at their closest on April 10th and 11th, but still really close in the sky the
00:32 whole second week of April.
00:34 Now on the evening of April 10th, you can find the Moon with Jupiter in the west.
00:39 Jupiter is easy to identify as a bright, unflickering light low in the west following sunset all
00:44 month.
00:46 Being just a couple of days after its new moon phase, the Moon shows only 7% of its
00:51 illuminated surface on this evening, making for a beautiful crescent shining there with
00:55 the giant planet Jupiter.
00:57 This is also a good night to have a look for Comet 12P, Ponds Brooks, which has been getting
01:02 brighter and is easily observable with binoculars or a small telescope, especially if you can
01:07 get away from bright city lights.
01:10 The comet will be just beneath the Moon and just right of Jupiter, but you'll have to
01:13 be quick as it drops below 10 degrees elevation an hour after sunset and then sets an hour
01:19 later, so you'll want a clear view toward the horizon and be looking for it as twilight
01:24 ends.
01:25 If you want to catch this comet, do it soon because it will be too close to the Sun and
01:29 the sky to be observable after mid-April and later, when it makes its closest approach
01:34 to Earth, it will be on its way outward from the Sun and growing fainter.
01:38 There's a total solar eclipse on the way and it's kind of a big deal.
01:44 We've been really fortunate to have two total eclipses visible across a wide swath
01:50 of the U.S. recently, first in 2017 and now on April 8, 2024.
01:56 The next time such an eclipse will cross the states is 21 years from now.
02:01 If you live in or near the path of totality or you're traveling there to experience
02:05 the eclipse, you're in for an incredible experience.
02:09 But what if you're not going to be able to experience totality for this eclipse in
02:13 person?
02:14 What can you expect and how can you still enjoy it?
02:16 Well, for starters, NASA has you covered with a live webcast from multiple locations as
02:21 the Moon's shadow moves across the country.
02:25 So join us for the total eclipse online, whatever your plans.
02:29 If you're anywhere in the continental U.S. outside of totality, you'll still experience
02:34 a partial solar eclipse.
02:36 The amount of the Sun to be covered by the Moon at maximum eclipse depends on how far
02:40 you are from the path of totality.
02:43 When observing a partial eclipse, you'll still need to use specialized eye protection
02:47 such as eclipse glasses, a pinhole projector, or a telescope with a solar filter.
02:53 One of the easiest methods is something most of us have in our kitchen, a regular colander.
02:58 These make excellent pinhole cameras that project the eclipse onto the ground.
03:02 And barring that, the sun dapples that filter through the tree leaves do something very
03:06 similar.
03:07 It's also fun to note the eerie way the sunlight dims during the eclipse, especially in places
03:12 where the Moon covers 80% or more of the Sun's disk.
03:17 NASA has a bunch of eclipse resources to help you get ready for this awe-inspiring celestial
03:22 event.
03:23 There's info on safe viewing, citizen science opportunities, and you'll even find our
03:28 Eclipse Explorer where you can find eclipse details for your specific zip code.
03:34 From wherever you're observing, solar eclipses are remarkable events.
03:38 So observe safely and join our live webcast, because it's an event you surely don't
03:43 want to miss.
03:46 Here are the phases of the Moon for April.
03:50 Stay up to date on NASA's missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov.
03:55 I'm Preston Dyches from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that's what's up for this
04:01 month.
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