April 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 13
April skies over Sunriver reveal more galaxies
By Alex Yeager,
Sunriver Observatory
As the days grow longer,
evenings now offer milder
temperatures and comfortable
conditions for stargazing. Winter constellations like Orion
the Hunter are beginning to
set earlier in the night, while
Leo the Lion rises higher in the
eastern sky.
Look toward the northeast
and you’ll spot Ursa Major, the
Great Bear, known for its long
tail. That tail forms the familiar handle of the Big Dipper,
an asterism within the larger
constellation.
Ursa Major also points us
toward one of the most fascinating types of objects visible
in the spring sky – galaxies.
There are several galaxies near
or within this constellation
which are regularly observed at
the Sunriver Observatory.
One highlight is M51, the
Whirlpool Galaxy, a beautiful
face-on spiral galaxy interacting with a smaller companion
galaxy. Another favorite pairing is M81 and M82, which
can often be viewed together
through a single telescope, offering a striking double-galaxy
view. Many more distant gal-
Landscape
continued from page 12
This year, SNCO will participate in the City Nature
Challenge, a global community
science event that brings people
together to document biodiversity around the world. If you
are looking to deepen your
connection to the ecosystem
around you, SNCO’s bioblitz
is the perfect opportunity.
Ursa Major
axies appear across the spring
sky, revealing a deeper look
into the universe beyond the
Milky Way.
Each evening, Venus climbs
higher above the western horizon after sunset. It will often
be the first “star” you notice in
the evening sky, so bright that
it has long been known as the
Evening Star.
A new moon on April 17
coincides with International
Dark Sky Week, a time to celebrate Sunriver’s dedication to
protecting its beautiful night
sky. By using responsible outdoor lighting and reducing unnecessary light pollution, our
community helps preserve one
of our most valuable natural
resources, a sky filled with stars.
Dark Sky Week also encourages
communities everywhere to ap-
preciate and protect their own
night skies.
April also brings the Lyrid
meteor shower, which peaks
around April 22. While the
Lyrids typically produce a
modest number of meteors,
darker skies this year should
make them easier to see. As
with most meteor showers,
the best viewing occurs around
midnight. Find a dark location,
lie back on a blanket, and look
straight up as meteors streak
across the sky.
With warmer evenings returning, spring constellations
rising higher each night, Venus
shining brightly after sunset,
and a meteor shower to enjoy,
April is a wonderful time to
step outside and gaze at the
night sky.
A bioblitz is a fun, fast-paced
event where participants work
together to discover, identify
and record as many living species as possible within a set
timeframe. The event will
begin at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory
campus with guided inquiry
groups focused on exploring
and documenting the incredible diversity of the area.
This year, staff members have
recruited experts in avian species, plant species, herp species
and insects all helping participants learn and contribute
meaningful observations. By
the end of the morning, they
will have created a snapshot of
the incredible biodiversity that
lives in Sunriver.
You can find more information on the bioblitz and how
to get involved at the nature
center at www.snco.org.
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APRIL 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
Page 13
