April kicks off with a celestial showcase! The crescent moon dances through the Pleiades, meets Jupiter in Taurus, and shows off its spectacular lunar craters. As the first quarter moon approaches, it sets the stage for prime lunar viewing alongside Mars and Gemini's bright stars. Meanwhile, the Winter Triangle lingers in the southwest, offering one last dazzling display before fading into spring's twilight.
Here's everything you need to know to make the most of this week's night sky!
Look west after sunset to see the crescent moon passing close to the Pleiades star cluster. In Europe and Africa, the moon will move through the cluster, while in the Americas and the Pacific, it will appear just above. A beautiful sight for binoculars and photography!
On Wednesday evening, the waxing crescent moon will shine near Jupiter in Taurus. The two will be visible in the same binocular view and offer a stunning pairing until they set around midnight local time.
A trio of craters, Theophilus, Cyrillus, and Catharina, will be well-lit along the moon's terminator. The youngest, Theophilus, has sharp rims and a central peak, while Cyrillus and Catharina show signs of age and erosion.
The first quarter moon will shine near Mars and the bright stars Pollux and Castor in Gemini. The moon reaches first quarter at 10:15 p.m. EDT (0215 GMT, April 5), offering excellent views of its rugged terrain. Watch for it in the afternoon daytime sky, too!
Look southwest after dark to spot the Winter Triangle, a striking asterism formed by Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse. Though fading into twilight by late April, this celestial trio remains visible this week, even with the moon nearby. Jupiter will shine off to its right.
The most notable moon phase to look out for this week will be the First Quarter Moon on April 4. I particularly enjoy this moon phase because it is visible in the daytime sky too. The First Quarter Moon rises around noon and sets about midnight, which means it'll be nice and high in the evening sky making it an excellent time of the month for some lunar viewing.
Feeling inspired to take a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.
Space.com astronomy editor, Monisha Ravisetti, dives into how a total solar eclipse on April 1. 2471 B.C. contributed to a major shift in Egyptian tradition.
Though geomagnetic activity looks relatively quiet for now, with the northern lights mostly confined to high latitudes, two sunspot regions could disrupt the peace.
Both sunspot regions will be rotating into the 'Earth-strike zone' this week, when pointing at Earth, any CME released at that time will be more likely to impact our planet, potentially triggering geomagnetic storms and subsequent impressive auroras.
Space weather forecasters will be keeping a watchful eye on the two regions.
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