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.
Hydra the Snake can be seen for most of the night this month. It rises just after sunset in the east at the beginning of the month and moves across the southern sky during the night to set in the west in the early hours of the morning. The largest constellation in the sky, it appears further south at sunset and higher in the sky as the month goes on, so sets earlier too. Hydra can be seen fairly low in the sky and encompasses several other constellations.
Hercules appears in the north east at sunset at the beginning of the month, and appears slightly higher and further east every night. As the night continues, Hercules rises higher towards the zenith, so best views will be just before dawn. Its stars are relatively faint, and, being close to the Milky Way, it contains many star clusters.
Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is a circumpolar constellation and so can be seen all night. It appears near the zenith at sunset and circles round to the west during the night, disappearing low in the north at sunrise. Look for the bright asterism The Plough to locate it.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It reaches its highest point just before dawn at the very end of the month, but this will be just above the eastern horizon so is unlikely to be visible.
Mars appears high in the south at sunset and lowers to the west to set during the night. Later in the month, it appears lower and further west, so will be better seen just after sunset at the beginning of the month. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 5th, and reaches its furthest point from the Sun (aphelion) on the 16th. This effect is not visually apparent.
Jupiter can only be seen in the early evening this month, as it appears low on the western horizon at sunset. That means it will set very soon after sunset. Best views will be earlier in the month, as it appears lower as the month continues. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 3rd and the 30th.
Saturn is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It’s too close to the Sun for most of the month, but appears just over the western horizon at the beginning of the month and could be seen with a clear horizon.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye and too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Meteor Showers
The Lyrids reach their peak on the 22nd. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Hercules. This constellation is in the sky all night so meteors will be constantly visible. Best views will be just before dawn as Hercules is at its highest point a little after. You will be able to see about 17 meteors per hour.
Moon
Full Moon: 13th
Last Quarter: 21st
New Moon: 27th
First Quarter: 5th
The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point, on the 27th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 16th and perihelion, its closest point, on the 25th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will make a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 1st and the 29th. The Pleiades (aka Seven Sisters) are a star cluster that can be seen in the constellation of Taurus with the naked eye.
Points of Interest
The Sombrero Galaxy is well placed for observation in the coming weeks, particularly on the 2nd. It will be visible between 23:01 and 02:58, and reaches its highest point around midnight. This point occurs 4 minutes earlier each night. You will need a large telescope to see this.
The spiral galaxy Messier 94 is well placed for observation in the constellation of Canes Venatici in the coming weeks, particularly on the 5th. It will be visible between 22:04 and 06:04 BST, and reaches its highest point around midnight. This point occurs 4 minutes earlier each night. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to see this.
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is well placed for observation in the constellation of Canes Venatici in the coming weeks, particularly on the 15th. It is visible between 22:25 and 05:38 BST and its highest point will be around midnight. This point occurs 4 minutes earlier each night. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to see this.
The globular cluster Messier 3 is well placed for observation in the constellation of Canes Venatici in the coming weeks, particularly on the 18th. It will be visible between 22:31 and 05:30 BST, and its highest point will be at 00:58 BST. This point occurs 4 minutes earlier each night. You will need binoculars to see this.
The dwarf planet 136108 Haumea will be at opposition on the 22nd in the constellation of Boötes. It will be visible between 22:40 and 05:19 BST and its highest point will be at 01:39 BST. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to see this.
The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) is well placed for observation in the constellation of Ursa Major in the coming weeks, particularly on the 23rd. It will be visible all night and its highest point will be at 01:00 BST. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to see this.
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Last updated: 9th March 2025.