Monday 14th to Sunday 20th April 2025
If you look towards the west
Of course, if you using an astronomical telescope, everything will appear to be upside-down, so the two moons will look like they are above the top of Jupiter rather than the bottom!
If you don't have your telescope with you, instead have a go a spotting different red things in the sky. To the left of Jupiter will be the red giant star Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion and above that, the "red planet" Mars. You will see two other bright stars in the area, Procyon and Capella. Procyon is not a red giant and the light coming from it will appear white in colour. Interestingly, Procyon is one of the closest stars to us - only about 11 light years away. Capella is much further away, at around 42 light years and it is classed as a yellow giant.
If you stay up later, into the early hours of Thursday 17th, an 85%-lit gibbous Moon will rise above the horizon towards the south east around 1am. Above the Moon will be the red supergiant star Antares.
Antares is one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye and it is around 550 light years away from us. The star is so massive, that if it was placed in the middle of our Solar System, it would extend all the way out to the asteroid belt and swallow us up!
www.starsoversomerset.com
Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium
Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2025
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