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It's another exciting week overhead, with early morning skies offering some of the best viewing opportunities if you're willing to set that alarm!
This week's highlights include a rare predawn lineup of multiple planets and a promising new visitor — Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) — that could brighten in the coming days.
Elsewhere in this issue, we're looking ahead to the spectacular total solar eclipse of Aug. 12, 2026, with a roundup of 10 unforgettable ways to experience it, from spa retreats to boat parties along the path of totality. We're also taking a look at a more sobering question: What would a worst-case space weather event mean for our technological world? And finally, we look ahead to why the close approach of asteroid Apophis is something to get excited about.
Here's what to watch for in the nights ahead.
Clear skies,
Daisy Dobrijevic
Skywatching Editor, Space.com
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Challenge yourself to glimpse Vega over the next few mornings. One of the brightest stars visible from Earth, Vega sits high overhead in the early morning. Try locating it just before sunrise and see if you can track it as the sky brightens. Binoculars will help you get a better view.
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Keep an eye out for Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), which may be visible in binoculars and possibly even with the naked eye during the early mornings this week.
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A rare grouping of Mercury, Saturn, Mars and Neptune appears low in the eastern sky before sunrise.
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A slender crescent moon pairs beautifully with the Pleiades, making a lovely naked-eye and binocular sight.
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The moon reaches its new phase on April 17, offering the darkest skies of the month. With the moon absent from the night sky, this is the perfect time to hunt down faint deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulas.
In the days that follow, a delicate crescent will return to the evening sky, growing brighter night by night and setting up a beautiful pairing with the Pleiades by the weekend.
Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase.
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A rare long-period comet returns after 170,000 years — here's how to find comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) before sunrise this April, with key dates, viewing tips and the best mornings to look.
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Scientists outline how a once-in-a-century solar storm could disrupt the technology modern society depends on.
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A rare stargazing spectacle will unfold on Friday, April 13, 2029, as the asteroid Apophis passes closer than satellites over Europe and Africa in a true once-in-a-lifetime event.
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Experience the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse from Spain and Iceland with festivals, spa sessions and skywatching events along the path of totality.
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The latest aurora forecast for tonight helps you make sure you're in the right place at the right time to see the northern lights.
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| Astronomy Kit and Accessories |
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| (Gemma Lavender/Future PLC) |
This Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ is best for observing planets and the moon.
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| (Amazon) |
Here are the best star projectors to enjoy a night sky experience from the comfort of your couch. They are often reduced, so keep your eyes open.
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