Calendar
Yuri’s Night
Yuri’s Night is a global celebration of humanity’s past, present, and future in space. Yuri’s Night parties and events are held around the world every April in commemoration of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to venture into space on April 12, 1961, and the inaugural launch of the first Space Shuttle on April 12, […]
Moon at Apogee
Every month, the moon's eccentric orbit carries it to apogee – its most distant point from Earth.
Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The waxing crescent Moon will appear near Mars in the western sky after sunset on April 17th.
Occlusion of Mars by the Moon
The Moon will pass in front of Mars, creating a lunar occultation visible from parts of Asia on April 17th.
J. A. Fleming died, 1945 (b. 1849).
Illustration from the Bibliographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 1945. The Royal Society, London. Sir John Ambrose Fleming FRS died in 1945, aged 95 (born 29 November 1849). "He was an English electrical engineer and physicist who invented the first thermionic valve or vacuum tube, designed the radio transmitter with which the first […]
Sup. Conjunction of Mercury
Mercury will pass very close to the Sun in the sky as its orbit carries it around the far side of the solar system from the Earth.
First Quarter Moon
The First Quarter Moon occurs on April 19th - it is visible high in the southern sky in early evening.
World Creativity and Innovation Day.
During World Creativity and Innovation Day, April 21 (WCID) and Week April 15 – 21 (WCIW) individuals, families, teams, leaders, nations, organizations, students, and communities are acknowledged informed inspired encouraged to use their creativity – to be open to and generate new ideas, to be open to and make new decisions and to be open […]
Lyrids Meteor Shower
Peak: ~Apr 21-22, 2020 The Lyrids are a medium strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum. These meteors also usually lack persistent trains but can produce fireballs. These meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere where the radiant is high in the sky at dawn. Activity from […]
International Earth Day
First held in 1970, Earth Day is held annually on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
International Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day
On Girls in ICT Day– marked annually on the fourth Thursday in April – the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is highlighting the need to promote technology career opportunities for girls and women in the world's fastest growing sector.
Space Shuttle Discovery launched with Hubble Space Telescope, 1990
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990.