Topline
April 2026 begins with a glowing full pink moon rising at sunset — just as NASA launches four astronauts to the moon — before revealing a comet, dipping into some of the darkest evening skies of spring for the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower and ending with Venus dazzling in the west. Here’s everything to see in the night sky this April.
Timeline
A full ‘Pink Moon’ rises during dusk.
A full ‘Pink Moon’ close to bright star Spica in Virgo.
Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1) gets close to the sun and could glow after sunset.
A crescent moon will shine close to Mercury during dawn.
Venus dominates the western sky after sunset.
Lyrid meteor shower peaks.
Crescent moon and Jupiter in conjunction.
Moon meets bright star Regulus in Leo.
A Full ‘pink Moon’ Rises
April opens with a full moon officially peaking at 10:11 p.m. EDT. The best view, as always, comes at moonrise — just after sunset in your location — when it climbs the eastern horizon glowing orange or copper through thicker layers of atmosphere.
The pink moon is named not for its color, but for spring wildflowers. It’s also known as the Sprouting Grass, Egg and Paschal Moon, tying it closely to the date of Easter, which falls April 5 in 2026.
A Possible Sungrazing Comet
Early April may bring an unpredictable visitor: Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1), a so-called Kreutz sungrazer — a comet passing extraordinarily close to the sun. MAPS reaches perihelion on April 4, skimming less than 800,000 kilometers above the solar surface. Such comets can flare dramatically — or disintegrate entirely. If it survives, look very low in the western twilight during the first week of April. A clear, flat horizon and transparent skies are essential.
Constellations Of The Month: Leo And Boötes
Leo is now high in the southern sky after dark. Its distinctive backward question-mark pattern (the “Sickle”) outlines the Lion’s head, with bright Regulus — closely visited by the moon this month — marking its heart. Leo is one of the easiest spring patterns to recognize and dominates the sky during the first half of the night.
Following behind Leo is Boötes, home to brilliant Arcturus — the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. You can find Arcturus by following the curve of the Big Dipper’s handle (“arc to Arcturus”). As April progresses, Boötes climbs higher each evening, heralding the coming of summer.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
