April 2021 will see Jupiter disappear behind the Sun as it heads towards superior conjunction on April 11. Meanwhile, Mercury will rise higher after sunset until its easternmost elongation on the same day, after which it will appear fainter as it swings around in front of the Sun. Venus will continue to rise in the west after sunset all month, while Mars will remain high in the west without much apparent movement. In terms of astronomy history, the sixteenth century saw a revolution in which Nicolaus Copernicus published “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres,” placing the Sun at the center of the solar system with the planets orbiting around it. This work would kick off a revolution in knowledge about the solar system and the universe. The Sunshine Coast Club will hold a public meeting on April 14, with updates to the event to be posted on the club website.
