Today:
For reasons that scientists don’t yet understand, the aurora borealis, or “northern lights” are seen more frequently in April. The Sun, unusually quiet over the past few years, now shows a significant increase in sunspots and other solar activity, improving our chances of seeing some northern lights over the next few years.
Thursday:
This evening the planet Jupiter will become visible, due west near 8 o’clock, about one quarter of the way above the horizon, with the twilight ebbing from the skies. Our largest planet gradually settles lower into the west and northwest, setting just north of west, at around 9:30.
Friday:
Seemingly being poured from the bucket of the constellation Bootes, the tiniest sliver of a crescent moon will emerge in the predawn twilight tomorrow, first breaking the horizon just slightly to the right east, at about 5:50 AM.