Derekscope

Vesta at opposition
At opposition, Vesta will be located in the constellation of Libra, near the boundary with Virgo.
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From a dark sky, it may even be visible to the naked eye, but binoculars will provide a better view.

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How to sign opposition in BSL?

To locate castor in Gemini using the Moon as a guide, here’s a simple star-hopping method

1. Find the Moon
   Start by identifying the Moon in the night sky. Its position changes nightly, so check its location relative to Gemini.
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2. Locate Gemini
   Look for the two bright stars, Castor and Pollux, which represent the heads of the Gemini twins. They are close together and form a noticeable pair.
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3. Star-Hop from the Moon
   If the Moon is near Gemini, use it as a reference point – move your gaze towards the brighter of the two stars—Pollux—and then to Castor, which is slightly dimmer and to the right of Pollux.

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Castor is a fascinating star system, as it’s actually a three binary stars, meaning it consists of six stars bound together by gravity!
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How to sign binary star in BSL?

Look in the western sky about 90 minutes after sunset – the moon will be a 12%-illuminated waxing crescent.  Jupiter will be a bright planet in the sky, easily visible with the naked eye.

Venus, being much brighter than Saturn, will be the easier of the two to spot, but they can be seen with the naked eye or through binoculars – binoculars can help in viewing them.

The pair will be too widely separated to fit within the field of view of a telescope, but will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.

For the Jupiter’s observers, this might be unique – while these moons are often visible, their specific alignment and proximity to Jupiter tonight could make this a particularly interesting viewing opportunity. 

Look towards the eastern horizon as dawn breaks;
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Venus – the brightest of the three, appearing as a very bright “morning star”.
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Saturn – it will be noticeably dimmer than Venus, but still visible.
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Moon – a thin, waning crescent, about 10% illuminated.
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Consider using binoculars or a telescope for a closer view of Venus and Saturn.

This observation will be possible about 30 minutes before sunrise, if the eastern horizon is unobstructed.

Meteor Showers – Lyrids

• Beginning to ending date: 15th April to 28th May
• Peak Date: 22nd April
• Rating: Strong
• Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 15 per hour
• Radiant Position: RA: 18h 08m / DEC: +32°
• Degrees: 272º  (Face:- East at midnight & moving to South at 4am)
• Comet: Comet Thatcher

Note: Today sees the meteor showers reach its peak at around 14:00 / 2pm (BST), meaning that the best observing times are this morning and from darkness the evening (Tuesday 22nd April) through to dawn on Wednesday 23rd April 2025.

Mercury will reach its greatest elongation east – meaning it will be farthest from the Sun in the morning sky.

Despite being at its greatest elongation, Mercury will be a morning planet in April 2025, and its position is not outcome likely for viewing from the UK, making it unlikely to be visible.