JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Solar System .

What's Up April 2007: Where to look in the night sky for stunning views

Apr 05, 2007

Your browser cannot play the provided video file(s).

Take a 2-minute guided tour on where to look in the night sky for this month's stunning views.

Transcript:

Look up at the night sky this month and you'll see great views of Saturn and the moon.

Hello and welcome. My name is Jane Houston Jones and I'm an educator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Each month I'll be telling you about some cool views you can see in the night sky.

One of the views I love to share is Saturn. Everyone is always amazed that they can actually see the rings.

Just step outside after sunset and you’ll see Saturn. It's a bright golden glow nearly overhead.

You don't even need a telescope.

I get to see a lot of Saturn because I work on the Cassini mission, which is sending back stunning views of the ringed planet and its fascinating moons almost every day.

There is another planet you can see this month, it’s Venus. Just look low in the west after the sun sets. Venus is the brightest object that you’ll see.

But wait, there’s more! Between April 21st and April 25th, you’ll see the moon grow larger and appear higher in the sky each night. By the 25th you’ll find it above Saturn!

Here’s a viewing tip for next month. In late May – you’ll be able to see asteroid Vesta. It won’t be as bright as the big dipper stars, and you’ll definitely have to get away from city lights to see it.

You’ll hear more about Vesta when NASA’s Dawn mission launches in June. Dawn will travel to Vesta and the largest asteroid, Ceres.

You can learn more about NASA missions by visiting www.nasa.gov.

You can find our sky charts and resources for amateur astronomers at education.jpl.nasa.gov. Just click on the What’s Up button.

That’s all for this month. I’m Jane Houston Jones.

I really enjoy viewing the solar system through my own telescopes and sharing the views with others.
Download m4v

Related Pages

News .

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Succeeds in Historic First Flight

News .

NASA to Attempt First Controlled Flight on Mars As Soon As Monday

News .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter to Make First Flight Attempt

News .

Probing for Life in the Icy Crusts of Ocean Worlds

News .

NASA’s Odyssey Orbiter Marks 20 Historic Years of Mapping Mars

News .

NASA’s First Weather Report From Jezero Crater on Mars

News .

NASA Invites Public to Take Flight With Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

News .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Survives First Cold Martian Night on Its Own

Image .

Goldstone Radar Observations of Asteroid 2001 FO32

News .

NASA’s InSight Detects Two Sizable Quakes on Mars

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Universe Newsletter
Social Media
RSS
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono