April will be a very special month in the sky because there will be an eclipse of the Sun on April 8. Totality will be along a narrow path from central Texas to northern New York and Maine. The rest of the country will experience a partial eclipse with the amount varying by the distance to the eclipse path. Iowa is fairly close, so the Moon will cover about 80% of the Sun. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon is lined up perfectly with the Sun, and the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth. This shadow is a small spot, about 100 miles in diameter, because the Moon is much smaller than the Sun. The spot of totality moves as the Moon moves in its orbit and the Earth rotates. The result is a long, narrow path where observers will experience the eclipse at different times. Totality will last about four minutes at any one place, but it will take from about 1:30 to 2:30 CDT for the total eclipse to move across the U.S. The partial eclipse will last a couple of hours with the maximum partial eclipse occurring in Iowa at about 2:00 CDT. It can be observed by using eye protection or by projecting the image of the Sun through a small hole and onto another surface.

If you are able to witness totality, look for the last bit of sunlight, the diamond ring, peeking through a valley on the Moon. You can then remove your eye protection and enjoy the ghostly corona surrounding the eclipsed Sun. You may want to look about a fist width at arm’s length to the west of the Sun to spot Venus. Jupiter will follow about 3 fist-widths behind the Sun. If you can see Jupiter, look a short distance above it for Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. You may need to use binoculars to see it, but if you do, be extremely careful. Totality will last only a short time, and you don’t want to be caught accidentally looking at the Sun when it reappears. Also, during totality take a look at the distant horizon all around you. You will be looking out of the Moon’s shadow, and you will be surrounded by the colors of sunrise and sunset.

Jupiter will be the only planet that will be readily visible during April. It will be low and unmistakable in the western early evening sky, and it will be dropping lower each day as it prepares to go behind the Sun from our perspective. Before it goes, it will put on one last show. On the evening of April 10, there will be a close grouping of Jupiter to the lower left of the Moon and blue-green Uranus visible with binoculars just above Jupiter. They will remain close until they are lost in the twilight glow in a few days.

Observing highlights

-April 8: A total solar eclipse will race along a narrow path in the eastern half of the United States. The rest of the country will experience a partial eclipse.

-April 10: The Moon will be to the upper right of very bright Jupiter with Uranus visible with binoculars just above Jupiter.

-April 11: The Moon will be to the right of Aldebaran, the bright reddish eye of Taurus (the Bull), and above the Pleiades (or Seven Sisters) open star cluster.

-April 14: The Moon will be below the bright twin stars of Gemini (the Twins). Slightly brighter Pollux will be on the left and Castor on the right. These stars represent the heads of the twins with two lines of dim stars that represent their bodies extending almost to Orion (the Hunter).

-April 17: The Moon will be to the upper right of Regulus, the bright heart of Leo (the Lion). The Moon will move in its orbit and be to the left or lower left of Regulus on the 18th.

-April 22: Very bright Jupiter will be passing about a moon’s width to the left of Uranus. Look as soon as it is dark with binoculars to see Uranus.

-April 22: The Moon will seem to almost touch Spica, the brightest star in Virgo (the Maiden) if you can pick it out of the Moon’s glare.

-April 26: The Moon will be to the right of Antares, the bright reddish heart of Scorpius (the Scorpion) after they rise late in the evening. The Moon will be to the left of Antares on the 27th.