Bootleg Astronomers

The Bootleg Spring Star Party Registration Form is available HERE (pre-registration deadline is May 31st, 2025) 12th)

*** Due to the number of people doing imaging at the Bootleg Star Parties, Bootleg Management is indicating that Green Lasers will not be permitted starting one hour after sunset ***

1	Moon near the Pleiades at 22h UT (evening sky).
2	Moon near Jupiter at 23h UT (evening sky). Mag. −2.1.
4	Moon near M35 star cluster at 4h UT (evening sky).
5	First Quarter Moon at 2:16 UT.
5	Moon near Castor at 12h UT (evening sky).
5	Moon near Pollux at 17h UT (evening sky).
5	Moon near Mars at 21h UT (evening sky). Mag. 0.5.
6	Moon near Beehive cluster M44 at 20h UT (evening sky).
8	Moon near Regulus at 15h UT (evening sky).
10	Mercury 2.00° NNE of Saturn at 14h UT (25° from Sun, morning sky). Mags 1.1 and 1.2.
13	Moon near Spica at 0h UT (evening sky). Occultation visible from most of South America. • Lunar occultation of Spica (In-The-Sky)
13	Full Moon at 0:23 UT.
13	Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 23h UT (distance 406,295km; angular size 29.4').
16	Moon near Antares at 21h UT (morning sky). Occultation visible from southern Africa. • Lunar occultation of Antares (In-The-Sky)
16	Mercury 0.68° SE of Neptune at 23h UT (27° from Sun, morning sky). Mags 0.7 and 7.9.
21	Last Quarter Moon at 1:36 UT.
21	Mercury at westernmost elongation at 19h UT (27° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. 0.4.
22	Lyrid meteor shower peaks at 13h UT (timing and activity is variable). Active April 17-26. Radiant is between Hercules and Lyra. Expect 10 to 20 bright, fast meteors per hour at peak. • Lyrids (Wikipedia) • AMS Meteor Shower Calendar 2024-2025 (IMO)
24	Venus at its brightest at 6h UT (37.5° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. −4.54.
25	Moon near Venus at 3h UT (38° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. −4.5.
25	Moon, Venus and Saturn within circle 4.1° diameter at 6h UT (37° from Sun, morning sky). Mags. −4.5 and 1.2.
25	Moon near Mercury at 22h UT (morning sky). Mag. 0.3.
27	Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 16:13 UT (distance 357,119km; angular size 33.5').
27	Venus shows greatest illuminated extent (309 square arc- seconds) at 17h UT. Mag. −4.5.
27	New Moon at 19:32 UT. Start of lunation 1266.
29	Moon near the Pleiades at 8h UT (evening sky).
30	Moon near Jupiter at 17h UT (evening sky). Mag. −2.0.

>>> All times Universal Time (UT). USA Central Standard Time = UT-6 hours. (DST = UT-5 hrs,)

Zodiacal Light is caused by sunlight reflected off meteoric dust in the plane of the solar system. Choose a clear, moonless night, about 1-2 hours after sunset, and look for a large triangular-shaped glow extending up from the horizon (along the ecliptic). The best months to view the Zodiacal Light is when the ecliptic is almost vertical at the horizon: March and April (evening) and October-November (morning); times reversed for the southern hemisphere.
• Zodiacal Light (Wikipedia)
• Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD)
• Photographing the Zodiacal Light (Weatherscapes)