Astronomical Events in April 2025: Complete Guide
April 2025 might not be the busiest month for celestial events, but there’s always something to discover if you know where to look. Arm yourself with the Sky Tonight app and uncover the wonders of the night sky this month. Let’s get started!
Contents
- Astronomical events in April 2025
- April lunar events 2025
- Planets in April 2025
- Constellations in April
- Meteor showers in April 2025
- Deep-sky objects in April 2025
- April space events
- How to navigate the night sky?
- Celestial events in April: bottom line
Astronomical events in April 2025
The event dates given further are in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), and the exact dates vary for different locations. You can learn the exact info for your location from the Sky Tonight app.
- April 1: Occultation of the Pleiades (mag 1.2) 🌟; Moon near Uranus (mag 5.8)
- April 2: Moon near Jupiter (mag -2.1), Aldebaran (mag 0.9)
- April 3: Mars (mag 0.5) near Pollux (mag 1.2)
- April 4: Moon near Mars (mag 0.5), Pollux (mag 1.2)
- April 5: First Quarter Moon
- April 6: Moon near Beehive Cluster (mag 3.1); Mercury ends retrograde motion
- April 8: Moon near Regulus (mag 1.4)
- April 10: Mercury (mag 1.1) near Saturn (mag 1.2); Venus ends retrograde motion
- April 13: Full Moon 🌟; occultation of Spica (mag 1.0)
- April 16: Occultation of Antares (mag 1.1); Mercury (mag 0.6) near Neptune (mag 7.9)
- April 17: Alignment of Venus (mag -4.7), Saturn (mag 1.2), Mercury (mag 0.5), and Neptune (mag 7.9) 🌟
- April 21: Mercury at greatest elongation 🌟; Last Quarter Moon
- April 22: April Lyrids’ peak (ZHR = 18) 🌟
- April 23: Pi Puppids’ peak (variable ZHR)
- April 25: Moon near Venus (mag -4.8), Mercury (mag 0.2), Saturn (mag 1.2), Neptune (mag 7.9)
- April 27: Venus at greatest brilliancy (mag -4.8) 🌟; New Moon
- April 28: Venus (mag -4.7) near Saturn (mag 1.2)
- April 29: Moon near Aldebaran (mag 0.9), Pleiades (mag 1.2), Uranus (mag 5.8)
- April 30: Moon near Jupiter (mag -2.0)
*The highlighted events are the most important events of the month.
About magnitude: the faintest magnitude for stars and planets visible to the naked eye in cities with moderate light pollution is about 4. The limiting magnitude of an optical device depends on its specification but rarely exceeds 11.
April lunar events 2025
April Moon phases 2025
Here are the exact dates and times for the key lunar phases in April 2025:
- First Quarter Moon: April 5, 02:15 GMT (April 4, 10:15 p.m. EDT)
- Full Moon: April 13, 00:22 GMT (April 12, 8:22 p.m. EDT)
- Last Quarter Moon: April 21, 01:35 GMT (April 20, 9:35 p.m. EDT)
- New Moon: April 27, 19:31 GMT (3:31 p.m. EDT)
Lunar occultation of the Pleiades on April 1
On April 1, the lunar crescent will meet the Seven Sisters! At 20:28 GMT, look low in the western direction to see the Moon, only 18% illuminated, within 0°36' of the Pleiades. This thin lunar crescent will be a perfect companion to the bright star cluster in the constellation Taurus, offering a beautiful scene shortly after sunset.
For those between 40°W and 20°E — such as in Spain, France, the UK, Italy, or North Africa — there's an extra treat: you'll see the Moon pass directly in front of the Pleiades. This special event, called a lunar occultation, will occur between 20:20 and 23:10 GMT. Binoculars are recommended for the best view!
Read more: The Pleiades: One of the Best Naked-Eye Deep-Sky Objects
Pink Full Moon on April 13
The Moon will reach its full phase on April 13, at 00:22 GMT. It will be located in Virgo, near the brightest star of the constellation, Spica. This Moon is called the Paschal Full Moon, as it determines the date of Easter for Western (Roman Catholic and Protestant) Christian churches. Another common name for it is the Pink Moon, though the Moon doesn't actually change its color. This name was given to the April Full Moon by Native Americans to represent the early-blooming wild ground phlox, which typically blossoms this month.
Read more: April Full Moon 2025
New Moon on April 27
Although the Full Moon is stunning on its own, the New Moon is the far better time to stargaze! When the sky is darker, it's easier to see fainter objects. The April New Moon will occur on April 27 at 19:31 GMT. On the New Moon night, you may be able to see some April deep-sky objects – read more about them below in this article.
The April New Moon is also a Super New Moon! That means the Moon will be closest to Earth (near perigee) during the New Moon phase, making its apparent size larger than usual. However, observers won’t notice the difference since the New Moon is invisible to the naked eye.
Read more: What are Supermoons?
Planets in April 2025
Planets visible in the Northern Hemisphere – April 2025
Mercury: Visible in the morning sky, low above the horizon. On April 6, resumes direct (prograde) motion. Its maximum elongation occurs on April 21, but visibility at mid-latitudes will last no more than half an hour. Look for Mercury above the northeast horizon in the early morning. Mercury starts April in the constellation Pisces and moves into Cetus by the month's end. Its brightness grows significantly, going from magnitude 2.7 to 0.0 towards the end of April.
Venus: Stays low in the eastern morning sky, shining through the dawn light. On April 10, it returns to direct motion. In late April, Venus reaches peak brightness, making it an even more impressive sight. Venus spends the month in Pisces, brightening from magnitude -4.3 to -4.8 towards the end of April.
Mars: Can be found in the evening sky. Although its brightness and apparent size continue to decrease, Mars remains a notable reddish “star” visible after sunset. Mars starts the month in Gemini and moves into Cancer by mid-April. Its brightness slightly decreases from mag 0.4 to mag 0.9 throughout April.
Jupiter: Visible in the western evening sky. As April progresses, Jupiter's angular separation from the Sun will decrease. Jupiter stays in Taurus throughout April, beginning the month at magnitude -2.1, dimming slightly to -2.0 around mid-month, and maintaining this brightness until the month's end.
Saturn: Sits low in the eastern morning sky. Its position near the horizon makes observations challenging this month. Saturn spends the month in Pisces with a steady magnitude of 1.2.
Uranus: Appears very low over the western horizon in the evening sky. Towards the end of April, Uranus becomes even more difficult to see. Binoculars are recommended to locate this distant planet. Uranus spends the month in Taurus with a steady magnitude of 5.8.
Neptune: Visible low in the eastern morning sky, near the horizon. Requires good binoculars or a telescope for observation. Neptune spends the month in Pisces with a steady magnitude of 7.9.
Planets visible in the Southern Hemisphere – April 2025
Mercury: Visible in the eastern morning sky for a couple of hours before sunrise. On April 6, it resumes direct (prograde) motion. Mercury reaches its greatest elongation (greatest separation from the Sun in the sky) on April 21, offering the best chance to spot the planet this month. The planet starts April in the constellation Pisces and moves into Cetus by the month's end. Its brightness grows significantly, going from magnitude 2.7 to 0.0 towards the end of April.
Venus: Also in the eastern morning sky, shining brightly for a couple of hours before dawn. On April 10, Venus returns to direct motion. By late April, it reaches peak brightness, becoming an even more prominent morning object. Venus spends the month in Pisces, brightening from magnitude -4.3 to -4.8 towards the end of April.
Mars: Visible in the evening and nighttime sky. Although Mars’s brightness and apparent size continue to decrease, it still appears as a fairly bright reddish “star” visible after sunset. Mars starts the month in Gemini and moves into Cancer by mid-April. Its brightness slightly decreases from mag 0.4 to mag 0.9 throughout April.
Jupiter: Visible in the northwestern evening sky, gradually drawing closer to the Sun as April progresses. Jupiter stays in Taurus throughout April, beginning the month at magnitude -2.1, dimming slightly to -2.0 around mid-month, and maintaining this brightness until the month's end.
Saturn: Sits low in the eastern morning sky for a couple of hours before sunrise. Saturn spends the month in Pisces with a steady magnitude of 1.2.
Uranus: Appears low in the northwestern evening sky, observable for about an hour. Binoculars are recommended to see this distant planet. Uranus spends the month in Taurus with a steady magnitude of 5.8.
Neptune: Visible low in the eastern morning sky for no more than two hours, then lost in sunlight. Use good binoculars or a telescope for observations. Neptune spends the month in Pisces with a steady magnitude of 7.9.
April 17: southern planetary alignment
A small planetary alignment occurs around April 17! Four planets — Venus, Saturn, Mercury, and Neptune — will line up in the sky in the constellation Pisces. Look east before sunrise to spot them: Venus, Saturn, and Mercury shine bright enough for the naked eye, while Neptune requires binoculars or a telescope.
Observers in the Southern Hemisphere get the best view — the planets will climb fairly high in the sky while it’s still dark. In the Northern Hemisphere, the morning light brightens the sky sooner, making only Venus, the brightest planet, easy to find.
Read more: Southern Planet Parade
April 21: Mercury at its greatest elongation of the year
April 21 provides the best opportunity to spot Mercury! For observing this elusive planet, its distance from the Sun in the sky is much more crucial than its apparent magnitude. Mercury often hides in the Sun’s glare, but at greatest elongation, it appears far enough away to be spotted more easily.
On April 21, at 18:59 GMT, Mercury (mag 0.3) will be 27°24′ west of the Sun, making it visible before sunrise. This is the planet’s farthest elongation of the year! In the Southern Hemisphere, Mercury will be well-placed for observation, rising relatively high in the sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the observing conditions will be less favorable, as Mercury will remain low on the horizon.
Read more: All About Mercury, The Smallest Planet In The Solar System
April 27: Venus at greatest brilliancy
Around April 27, Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy, shining at a magnitude of -4.8 as the brightest object in the night sky apart from the Moon. Look for it in the eastern morning sky in Pisces.
The brightness of Venus depends on both its phase (how much of it is illuminated) and its disk size (how close it is to Earth). As the planet moves toward us, its illuminated portion gets smaller, but its size gets larger. Around April 27, these factors are perfectly aligned, so Venus will shine the brightest. Don't miss this stunning sight! After late April 2025, Venus won’t appear this bright in the morning sky again until November 2026.
Read more: Venus: The Brightest Planet
Constellations in April
In April, the zodiacal constellations Leo, Cancer, Gemini, and Virgo are easily visible in both hemispheres. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will also find Coma Berenices, Hydra, and Auriga well positioned for viewing, while those in the Southern Hemisphere can spot Crater, Corvus, Vela, Puppis, and Canis Major high overhead. To learn more about the best constellations in April, see our dedicated article.
Meteor showers in April 2025
In April, two meteor showers reach their maximum activity — the April Lyrids and the Pi Puppids. Their peaks occur on April 22 and 23, giving observers two nights of “shooting stars” in a row.
April Lyrids on April 21-22
April Lyrids are active from April 15 to 28, and will peak on the night of April 21–22, 2025. At the peak, observers under dark skies might see about 18 meteors per hour. This meteor shower has a radiant in the constellation Lyra, making it best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere (though observers in the Southern Hemisphere may still catch some Lyrids at a lower rate).
In 2025, the Lyrids maximum comes just one day after the last quarter Moon, so a waning crescent (about 40% illuminated) will be in the sky during the late night and early morning hours. Moonlight may slightly reduce visibility, but conditions are still quite favorable — start looking for meteors in the late evening before the Moon rises, or block it with a tree or building to avoid the bright moonlight.
Pi Puppids on April 22-23
The Pi Puppids are a minor variable meteor shower active from April 15 to 28, with a peak expected around April 23, 2025. Because its radiant is in the southern constellation Puppis (about -45° declination), this meteor shower is primarily visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will likely see little or no Pi Puppids as the radiant remains very low or below the horizon for most northern latitudes.
The Pi Puppids usually produce far fewer meteors than the Lyrids — their ZHR is variable, and often only a handful of meteors per hour are seen (although occasional outbursts of a few dozen meteors per hour have been recorded in 1977 and 1982). No unusually high activity is predicted for the Pi Puppids in 2025, but the good news is that the waning crescent Moon (only about 25% illuminated) will cause minimal interference. The meteor shower's radiant sets early (around 1 a.m. local time), so the best time to observe is during the evening hours before midnight.
Read more: Meteor Showers in March – June 2025
Deep-sky objects in April 2025
April brings an exciting galaxy season, perfect for observers armed with telescopes or binoculars. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, look for the Leo Triplet — a trio of spiral galaxies (M65, M66, and NGC 3628, also known as the Hamburger Galaxy) nestled in the constellation of Leo. From our vantage point on the Earth, these galaxies appear tilted at different angles, giving them a unique appearance.
If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, point your binoculars at the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy in Hydra — one of the brightest and closest galaxies in the night sky. It's easy to see with binoculars, but use a small telescope to see its spiral structure.
But April has more to offer than just galaxies. Set your sights on M3, the first Messier object discovered by Charles Messier. This cluster contains about 500,000 stars and spans nearly half the size of the Moon's disk.
Read more: Top Deep-Sky Objects to Observe in April.
April space events
International Day of Human Space Flight
On April 12, the world celebrates the International Day of Human Space Flight, honoring the first human journey to space by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. On this day in 1961, Gagarin lifted off aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (modern-day Kazakhstan). During the 106-minute mission, Vostok 1 completed one orbit around the Earth. Gagarin’s historic flight marked the beginning of human exploration beyond our planet, ushering in a new era of spaceflight.
Earth Day: Celebrate the Earth’s birthday!
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. This symbolic birthday of our planet reminds us to live in harmony with nature. The date, first chosen in 1970, was set between Spring Break and Final Exams in the US to encourage maximum student participation. Ever since, Earth Day has been celebrated annually around the world, each year highlighting a new environmental theme. It's a wonderful reason to care more deeply about our home planet — but remember, our responsibility extends far beyond just one day!
Read more: Earth Day 2025
Hubble's Anniversary
On April 24, 2025, the Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 35th year in space! Launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990, Hubble transformed our view of the cosmos, capturing stunning images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Over three decades, it has made groundbreaking discoveries — from measuring the expansion rate of the universe to studying distant exoplanets. Despite its age, Hubble continues to deliver valuable scientific insights. This anniversary is a great occasion to reflect on its legacy and admire the countless breathtaking images it has shared with humanity.
How to navigate the night sky?
While navigating the night sky can be tricky, there is a useful tool for doing so — the Sky Tonight mobile app. Launch the app and point your device at the sky to learn what objects you are looking at. To find a specific celestial object, use the search feature in the app. We prepared some short video tutorials on how to use the app to its full potential.
Celestial events in April: bottom line
April 2025 might not be packed with dramatic astronomical events, but there's still enough happening in the sky to keep you interested. From a 4-planet alignment and the annual Lyrid meteor shower to the best Mercury visibility and Venus at its brightest. To easily track what's happening overhead, download the Sky Tonight app: it will guide you to planets, stars, meteors, and more. Clear skies and happy stargazing!
