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Spring skywatching is in full swing and this week offers a little bit of everything.
From a close pairing of the moon and the red supergiant Antares to the return of Saturn in the predawn sky and Venus climbing higher in the evening, there are plenty of reasons to look up.
Elsewhere in this issue, we're showcasing a beautiful roundup of April's full moon rising around the world, along with a behind-the-scenes feature revealing how a single astrophotographer created the breathtaking space imagery seen in the end credits of Hail Mary and the story behind how it all came together.
Here's what to watch for in the nights ahead.
Clear skies,
Daisy Dobrijevic
Reference Editor, Space.com
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| (Starry Night) |
The moon passes close to Antares, the red supergiant marking the heart of Scorpius. While the occultation favors southern skies, northern observers can still catch the pair low before dawn.
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| (Starry Night) |
The moon reaches apogee at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT), appearing slightly smaller and dimmer. This softer light is ideal for spotting detail along the lunar terminator.
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| (Starry Night) |
Saturn reappears in the morning sky, low on the eastern horizon about 30-60 minutes before sunrise.
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| (Starry Night) |
Look northeast after 9 p.m. for M13, the Great Globular Cluster — one of the finest deep-sky targets, easily visible in binoculars.
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| (Starry Night) |
The moon reaches its last quarter phase, bringing darker evening skies. It is a great time to hunt galaxies like M81 and M82 in Ursa Major.
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| (Starry Night) |
Venus crosses into the northern sky and becomes easier to spot after sunset, shining brightly low in the west.
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The moon reaches its last quarter phase on April 10. At this phase, the moon appears half illuminated with its western side lit. It rises around midnight and lingers in the daytime sky. With less glare than earlier in the week, the evenings leading up to this phase offer improving conditions for spotting deep-sky objects like galaxies and star clusters.
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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"we have a beautiful moon rise, we're headed right at it."
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Venus and Jupiter dominate April's evening sky, while Mercury, Mars and Saturn linger in the dawn — here's how and when to spot them all.
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It started with an Instagram message, and ended on the silver screen.
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The Antennae galaxies are witnessed in the process of merging into a single elliptical galaxy.
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| (Jorge Fernández/Getty Images) |
| Constellation spotlight: Ursa Major |
This week, turn your gaze north to find Ursa Major, home to the famous Big Dipper asterism. Use the "pointer stars" at the edge of the Dipper's bowl to locate Polaris, the North Star. But don't stop there! Ursa Major also hosts a wealth of deep-sky treasures, including the galaxy pair M81 (Bode's Galaxy) and M82 (Cigar Galaxy), both excellent targets for binoculars and small telescopes under dark skies.
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| Astronomy Kit and Accessories |
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Here are five ways to capture the night sky.
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Here's how to clean your camera sensor to get a crisp picture every time.
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Follow Night Sky This Week |
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