The Visible Planets
Mercury is not visible from our latitude this month. It rises just before the sun rises and is lost in the Sun’s glow.
Venus is found shining brilliantly low above the western horizon at sunset at the start of the month. As the month progresses, Venus gains elevation in our western sky after sunset becoming a bright beacon in the western sky. The slim waxing crescent Moon is seen near Venus after sunset on April 18.
Mars is not visible from our latitude this month. It will however slowly emerge into the predawn sky in early May, being too close to the rising Sun to seen in April.
Jupiter is the brightest object seen high in the southern sky at sunset and is nestled within the constellation of Gemini, the twins. Jupiter will be seen just to the west of the two bright stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, through the month. On the night of April 22, look for Jupiter near the waxing crescent Moon. Jupiter will be the highlight of telescopic observing at the RASC Observatory during the month of April.
Saturn is not visible this month from our latitude.
Moon Phases
April 1 Full Moon (Pink Moon)
April 9 Last Quarter Moon
April 17 New Moon
April 23 First Quarter Moon
Special Events
International Space Station (ISS) Observable Passes
Look for passes of the International Space Station in our early morning sky before sunrise starting on April 20 and then into the early part of May. Exact times of these passages for your location can be found by visiting the website http://www.heavens-above.com or by using satellite tracking smart phone apps like Sputnik or Spot-the-Station.
April 1 Artemis 2 launches to the Moon at 4:24 pm (+2-hour launch window) MDT! God speed Jeremy Hansen and crew! Start of a 10-day voyage to the Moon and back.
April 4 Sungrazing comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) transits the Sun (local time 8:55 am to 10:16 am MDT from Edmonton). RASC/TWOSE Observatory may be open for this event.
April 3 Good Friday
April 6 Easter Monday
April 7 Look above the western horizon after sunset to see the tail of comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) if the comet survived its perihelion passage. The comet will climb a little higher in our western post sunset sky for the next few days but will dim as well.
April 9-10 New Glenn's third flight (NG-3) is tentatively scheduled
April 11/12 Artemis 2 crew splashes down off the coast of California.
April 12 65th Commemoration of Human Spaceflight / Cosmonautics Day (Yuri’s Day)
April 12 to 22 Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is found in our early morning eastern sky (predawn) and may become bright enough to see with binoculars. It moves from Pegasus into Pisces during this time.
April 13 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting
Live in the Zeidler Dome at TWOSE and presented virtually through Zoom.
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 pm
Free for anyone to attend.
See http://www.edmontonrasc.com for more details.
April 21/22 The Lyrid meteor shower peaks (Zenith hourly rate of only 18). Best seen during the predawn hours.
April 23 “Physics for Poets” premieres in the IMAX theatre tonight!
April 25 International Astronomy Day! RASC displays and telescopes set up throughout the day at the TELUS World of Science-Edmonton. Special astronomical planetarium shows playing in the Zeidler Dome today! See schedule at https://telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca/ or at http://www.edmontonrasc.com.
April 26 Lunar straight wall visible tonight.
End of April Starship flight 12 (Date to be announced)