Sky Events
April 2024
April 1: Third Quarter Moon
April 5: M93, a spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici, is well-placed for observation
April 5: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars, with an angular separation of 1°58′
April 8: Total Solar Eclipse
April 10: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter, with an angular separation of 3°59′
April 15: The Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici is well-placed for observation
April 15: First Quarter Moon
April 18: The globular cluster M3 in Canes Venatici is well-placed for observation.
April 22: Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak activity
April 23: The Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major is well-placed for observation
April 23: Full Moon
Planets in April
Mercury: Inferior conjunction on April 11, best seen in the evening sky at the start of the month.
Venus: This planet is unlikely to be seen this month as it is too close to the Sun.
Mars: Poorly placed morning planet, which is best seen at the end of the month.
Jupiter: This planet is unlikely to be seen this month as it becomes lost in the evening twilight.
Saturn: Morning planet but poor.
May 2024
May 1: Third Quarter Moon
May 3: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn, with an angular separation of 50′
May 5: The η-Aquariid meteor shower reaches peak activity of 40 meteors per hour.
May 7: New Moon
May 9: Mercury at its greatest western elongation
May 11: Globular cluster M5 in Serpens is well-placed for observation.
May 15: First Quarter Moon
May 23: Full Moon
May 28: Globular Cluster M4 in Scorpius is well-placed for observation.
May 30: Third Quarter Moon
May 31: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn, with an angular separation of 22′
Planets in May
Mercury: Not visible this month.
Venus: Not easily visible this month.
Mars: Morning planet emerging from the Sun’s glare, best at the end of the month.
Jupiter: Not easily visible this month.
Saturn: Poor visibility in the morning sky.