NEW YORK, NY— The night sky will fill with bright planets, a full moon and meteors throughout April.
The month begins with a full moon, often called the Pink Moon, a name tied to early spring blooms of moss pink flowers.
The same moon is also known as the Paschal Moon, which determines the timing of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.
Later in the month, the moon will appear near several planets.
It will align with Venus on April 18 and with Jupiter on April 22, creating visible pairings in the night sky.
Mercury will reach its greatest elongation on April 3, marking its best visibility of the month.
At that point, the planet appears farthest from the sun in the sky and shines brightly. It will sit low on the eastern horizon before sunrise, making binoculars helpful for viewing.
Jupiter will remain a constant presence throughout April, visible in the western sky shortly after sunset. Its brightness makes it easy to spot without special equipment.
The month’s most active event arrives with the Lyrid meteor shower, which will peak overnight between April 21 and 22.
The Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, known for producing fast, bright streaks across the sky.