Woking Planetarium

Read our April sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Leo, the Lion, appears a little south east of the zenith this month. It lowers as the night goes on towards the west, where it sets a little before sunrise. It appears higher and more southernly as the month goes on, so will spend longer in the sky towards the beginning of the month, but reach its highest point earlier at the end of it. Look for the Sickle asterism forming a backwards question mark.

Boötes, the Herdsman, appears in the east at sunset, cycling round the south to the western sky where it disappears at sunrise. At the beginning of the month it begins the night low in the north east, and so spends longer in the sky. By the end of the month it appears due east. Look for the bright red giant, Arcturus.

Hydra, the Snake, appears in the south at sunset. It is the largest constellation in the sky and can be seen spanning the southern sky early in the evening. It sets in the west in the early hours of the morning.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It reaches greatest elongation west and dichotomy on the 3^rd, and aphelion on the 5^th, all right on the north eastern horizon at dawn. These events will likely be unobservable.

Venus can be seen very low in the west just after sunset. Because it is so bright, it may also be seen in daylight. It creeps a little higher by the end of the month, but you will need a completely clear horizon to see it.

Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Jupiter can be seen appearing high in the south west at sunset in the constellation of Gemini. It appears lower each day and so will spend a shorter time in the sky before setting in the west. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 22^nd.

Saturn is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears low in the western sky at sunset, setting shortly after the Sun at the beginning of the month. By the end of the month, Uranus is too close to the Sun to be seen.

Neptune is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Moon

Full Moon: 2^nd

Last Quarter: 10^th

New Moon: 17^th

First Quarter: 24^th

The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 19^th and apogee, its furthest point on the 7^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 14^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Meteor Showers

The Lyrids reach their peak on the night of the 22^nd. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Hercules. Since Hercules is above the horizon all night, meteors will be visible all night too. Best displays are likely to be around peak activity at 20:00 BST. You will be able to see up to 17 meteors per hour.

Points of Interest

The dwarf planet 136472 Makemake will be at opposition on the 1^st. It will be visible in the constellation Coma Berenices all night, reaching its highest point at 01:51 BST. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to view this.

The Sombrero Galaxy will be well placed for observation in the coming weeks, beginning on the 2^nd. It will lie in the constellation of Virgo and is visible between 23:02 and 02:59 BST, reaching its highest point around 01:00 BST. You will need a large telescope to view this.

The spiral galaxy Messier 94 is well placed for observation in the constellation of Canes Venatici, beginning on the 15^th. It will be visible all night, reaching its highest point around midnight. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to view this.

The Whirlpool Galaxy, lying in the constellation of Canes Venatici, will be well placed for observation in the coming weeks beginning on the 15^th. It will be visible all night, reaching its highest point around midnight. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to view this.

The globular cluster Messier 3 will be well placed for observation in the constellation of Canes Venatici beginning on the 18^th. It will be visible all night, reaching its highest point around midnight. You will need binoculars to view this.

The dwarf planet 136108 Haumea will be at opposition on the 23^rd. It will be visible all night in the constellation of Bo­ötes. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to view this.

The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) will be well placed for observation in the constellation of Ursa Major, beginning on the 24^th. It will be visible all night, reaching its highest point around midnight. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to view this.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 18^th March 2026