8 night sky events to see in April, from a planet parade to a full pink moon
Spring is known as “galaxy season,” but that’s not all April’s nightscapes have in store. Here’s what to find while you’re stargazing this month, plus when and where to look.
April’s night sky gives stargazers myriad reasons to look up, from impressive galaxy sightings to a planet parade and one of the first good meteor showers of the year.
The month also signals the end of the northern lights season in destinations like Alaska. But the northern lights don’t disappear entirely. Under the right conditions, auroras can still ripple across skies much farther south, including regions like the Great Lakes.
Whether you’re spotting planets or crossing your fingers for the new comet, here’s what to watch for in April’s night sky.
Full pink moon—April 1
April opens with a bright, full moon—known as the “pink” moon. But don’t let the name fool you. This month’s lunar orb won’t look especially blush-hued; it’s named for the season’s colorful wildflower blossoms in eastern North America.
(Learn the eight moon phases—and the surprising origins of full moon names.)
The moon will reach its fullest at 10:12 p.m. ET on April 1. It will look exceptionally bright and large when it rises above the eastern horizon, just as the sun sets.
Mercury at greatest elongation—April 3
Spotting Mercury can be tricky since it rarely strays far from the sun’s glare. But on April 3, the elusive planet reaches its greatest western elongation, placing it at its widest apparent distance from the sun and making it easier to see in the pre-dawn sky. Watch for it just above the east horizon before sunrise on April 3; the fewer obstructions, the better. Soon after Mercury rises, Mars will creep above the horizon, too.
Comet MAPS’ perihelion—April 4
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), a potentially bright new comet, could soon make an appearance. Comets are tough to predict; we don’t know their makeup, so we can’t determine how they’ll react when traveling near the sun. That said, we’ll know Comet MAPS’ viability around April 4, when the heap of ice, rock, and dust reaches its closest point to the sun.
As a “sun-grazing” comet, it will pass within about 850,000 miles of the sun—a risky journey that could either destroy it or ignite a spectacular display.
If it survives, Comet MAPS could become a striking sight, particularly for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. In the north, however, any view will be fleeting, with the comet hugging the horizon.
Pre-dawn planet parade—April 16-23
An exceptional planet parade will adorn the sky for around half an hour before the sun rises in mid-April, from about April 16 to 23. Mercury, Mars, and Saturn will appear in a tight cluster just above the eastern horizon.
Over several mornings, the trio will subtly shift formation—tightening into a pyramid, stretching into a diagonal line, then regrouping again. The most striking views come between April 18 and 20, when the planets appear closest together.
To watch it, look for a viewpoint with unobstructed views across the eastern horizon, such as a large lake.
Peak stargazing conditions—April 17
The Milky Way core is increasingly visible in this month’s pre-dawn hours. To see it, head out around the new moon on April 17—one of the month’s best nights for stargazing.
(A practical guide to stargazing.)
This night comes with no lunar glare, so sights like the Milky Way’s luminous galactic center—packed with millions of stars—become visible. To boost your view, head to a location with low light pollution, such as a national park or dark-sky preserve.
Moon, Pleiades, Venus conjunction—April 18-19
After sunset on April 18 and 19, the crescent moon, Venus, and the Pleiades star cluster will loosely line up above the western horizon. They will be visible for around two to three hours after sunset. Look higher in the sky to find Jupiter, which will also shimmer above Orion.
Lyrid meteor shower peaks—April 22-23
The Lyrid meteor shower runs from April 14 to 30, with peak conditions overnight from April 21 to 22. This shower produces about 10 to 15 streaking meteors per hour at peak under dark skies. The moon will set before midnight during the Lyrids peak, ensuring dark skies when the shower’s radiant, Lyra, climbs highest in the pre-dawn hours. It’s best to watch from a stargazing site with little to no light pollution.
(The Lyrid meteor shower happens once a year—and it’s about to peak.)
Whirlpool galaxy—All month
In the astronomy world, spring is known as galaxy season. It comes with the chance to view our interstellar neighbors—including some you can spy with binoculars. One of the best ones to see this month is the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). It’s high in the sky around midnight for most of the month, and its position near the handle of the Big Dipper makes it easy to locate. The spiral galaxy appears as a smudge of light in binoculars. It’s quite bright, with a noticeable spiral structure, when viewed through a telescope. The Leo Triplet of galaxies is also worth spotting this month; look for it near the Leo constellation.
