The sky of Tokyo, Calendar, Planets (April, 2017)

The sky of Tokyo

Calendar (April)

Planets

Mercury

Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation on the 1st. It can be seen low in the western sky after sunset in the beginning of the month. Until the 7th, its elevation as seen from Tokyo exceeds 10 degrees at 30 minutes after sunset, making it easy to see. From the middle to the end of the month, its position is close to the Sun, making observation difficult. Mercury reaches inferior conjunction on the 20th, after that it is positioned low in the eastern sky before sunrise. From the 1st to the 7th, its brightness is -0.1 to -1.1 magnitude.

Venus

Venus shines brightly low in the eastern sky just before sunrise. At the beginning of the month, its elevation is low, making it difficult to find. But its elevation increases at the end of the month, making it easy to find. Its brightness is -4.2 to -4.5 magnitude. Venus reaches its greatest brilliancy on the 30th.

Mars

At the beginning of the month, Mars is located in the constellation Aries and moves east. In the middle of the month, it moves into the constellation Taurus. It can be seen low in the western sky after sunset. Mars sets before 21:00 as seen from Tokyo. Its brightness is 1.5 to 1.6 magnitude.

Jupiter

Located in the constellation Virgo, Jupiter rises in the eastern sky around sunset. It reaches opposition on April 8. This is a good time to observe Jupiter. Its brightness is -2.5 to -2.4 magnitude.

Saturn

Located in the constellation Sagittarius, Saturn rises in the southeastern sky around midnight at the beginning of the month and around 22:00 at the end of the month as seen from Tokyo. It reaches its stationary point on the 6th; before that Saturn moves slowly to the east (direct motion), after passing the stationary point, it moves to the west (retrograde motion). At the stationary point, it seems to stop with respect to the stars. Its brightness is 0.4 to 0.3 magnitude.