Category: Astronomical Events
This one’s a little challenging, but it’s worth rising early to see these three worlds close to one another in the predawn twilight. Step outside at about 20 minutes before sunrise and you’ll see Venus shining brightly towards the east.

Look below the planet and just a little to the right, and you may also see two fainter “stars” of equal brightness closer to the horizon. Of the two, Mercury appears to the left, while Saturn is to the right.

These three worlds remain relatively close together for about a week, but the best view will be on the 10th, when Mercury and Saturn are at their closest to one another, with exactly two degrees between them.

Category: Astronomical Events
Every few years or so, Mars passes Messier 44, the Beehive Cluster, in the night sky. The last time this happened was on June 2nd, 2023, when the planet appeared to pass through the cluster and was a mere 11 arcseconds from its center.

This year, Mars and the Beehive will appear within the same 10x50 binocular field of view from April 21st to May 17th, and it’s best to wait until the sky is truly dark - about 90 minutes after sunset - in order to clearly see the star cluster.

The pair are closest on May 4th and 5th, with 40 arcseconds between them. This places Mars just outside the cluster, but binoculars should still provide a fine view. However, beware of the Moon - it will appear within the same field of view on the 3rd, brightening the sky and making it all but impossible to see the cluster’s comparatively faint stars.

Category: Astronomical Events
Having made an appearance in the evening sky last month, Mercury is now best seen in the predawn twilight and is furthest from the Sun on the 21st. With a separation of 23 degrees from the Sun, this is the best opportunity you’ll have this year to see the planet in the morning sky.
On this date, you’ll find Venus and Saturn to the upper left of the planet, with the last quarter Moon hanging over the southeastern horizon.

Category: Astronomical Events
Realistically (and historically), the Lyrid meteor shower can be thought of as the first major shower of the year, as the Quadrantids are only at their best for a few hours. You, therefore, really need to be in the right place at the right time to see them at their best.

The Lyrids, however, can be enjoyed by anyone from any location, and while they’re best seen during the early hours of the 22nd when Lyra is rising in the northeast, you should still be able to see shooting stars after sunset on the 21st.

This year, the Moon is a waning crescent and won’t rise until a few hours before dawn (about an hour before twilight begins), giving you roughly six hours after 11 PM on the 21st (when Lyra is rising) to enjoy the show. Under ideal conditions, you can expect to see up to 18 meteors an hour.

Category: Astronomical Events
If you’re an early riser, this is definitely one sight you won’t want to miss. It’s unusual for the Moon to appear close to two planets, but for there to be three nearby is a rare sight indeed.

Step outside at about 20 minutes before dawn on the 24th and you’ll find a crescent Moon in the east-southeast, with brilliant Venus directly to its left. To the lower right of Venus is Saturn, while a little way to the lower left is Mercury.

However, the best view comes the following morning when the Moon appears in the midst of the planetary trio. At that time, you’ll find Venus to the upper right of the Moon, Saturn to its right, and Mercury to its lower left. With Earthshine also making an appearance, this is one photographic opportunity you won’t want to miss!