Today, Saturday, April 30, will be a wonderful day for all astronomy enthusiasts, because three unusual phenomena can be seen in the sky: a solar eclipse (the first eclipse of 2022), a black moon, and the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus ( the two brightest planets in the night sky).
The trio of astronomical phenomena will close with a flourish a special month for admirers of the sky and the stars, who have also been able to enjoy the Lyrid meteor shower and the April full moon, also called the pink moon.
In this note we will tell you what these majestic events are, what time to see them from your country and what will be the best way to appreciate them.
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The kiss of Jupiter and Venus
The first event that will be seen during the early morning will be the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus. It is popularly said that both stars ‘kiss’, because they come very close to each other in the night sky; however, it is an optical illusion, as we explained in a previous article.
Jupiter has been rising in the celestial vault in the direction of Venus and will achieve its closest approach this April 30. The conjunction may continue to be appreciated on May 1.
The pair of celestial bodies will always be better appreciated an hour before sunrise, in the eastern sector of the sky. However, when the Sun rises above the horizon, its observation will be difficult, because the brightness of the king star will overshadow both planets.
Venus and Jupiter are the brightest planets in the night sky. The dawn of April 30 and May 1 will be seen very close to each other. Photo: Adobe Stock
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Solar Eclipse April 2022
The April solar eclipse will be a partial type and the first of the 2022 eclipse season. During this phenomenon, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun seen from the Earth’s perspective and will cover a portion of its luminous surface.
As a result, our giant star will resemble a crescent moon and some cities will experience brief daylight darkness due to the satellite’s shadow.
The privileged regions that will be able to observe the partial solar eclipse in its greatest splendor will be the Falkland Islands, Argentina (center and south) and Chili (center and south).
Meanwhile, in Uruguay, Paraguay, the south of Bolivia and the south of Peru, people will only be able to see a very small shadow, so the best method to appreciate it will be a live broadcast.
These will be the times when they will be visible for each country, according to Time and Date, a website specializing in astronomical events:
- Antarctica: starts 4.39 pm Maximum phase 4.52 pm
- Santiago Chile): starts 4.33 pm Maximum phase 5.36 pm
- Argentina Buenos Aires): starts 5.42 pm Maximum phase 6.09 pm
- Bolivia (La Paz): starts 5.39 pm Maximum phase 6.01 pm
- Uruguay montevideo): starts 5.43 pm Maximum phase 6.00 pm
- Paraguay asuncion): starts 5.12 pm Maximum phase 5.20 pm
The solar eclipse of April 2022 will be partial. The center and south of Argentina and Chile, in the umbra, will see how the Moon will cover more than half of the satellite. Instead, countries in the penumbra will see only a small hidden area, as in the photograph. Photo: EFE
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Black moon, the ‘invisible’ phenomenon
The black moon It is the name given to every second new moon that occurs in the same month. Months usually only have one new moon; however, two occur approximately every two and five months, due to a lag between the lunar cycles and the Gregorian calendar.
Every new moon — including the black moon — is virtually invisible to observers on Earth, because the Sun only illuminates the far side of the moon. The only exception where a new moon can be seen occurs during solar eclipses, such as the one forecast for April 30.
In other words, the people benefiting from glimpsing the black moon —that is, its silhouette— will be the same ones who will appreciate the partial solar eclipse on Saturday, April 30.
To see a solar eclipse (and, therefore, the black moon) it is advisable to use special glasses, otherwise you can suffer eye damage due to solar radiation.
The second new moon that occurs in a month is called a black moon. As this year will coincide with a solar eclipse, the phenomenon can be seen in a sector of the planet. Photo: NASA
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