Mark your calendars, there are plenty of stunning celestial events to see in April
News Bethan Finighan Science and Innovation Writer 16:37, 01 Apr 2025
Stargazers have plenty of astronomical events to look forward to in April. After all, the upcoming month has a lot to live up to after spectacular back-to-back eclipses graced UK skies in March.
At the start of the year, sky watchers all over the world became captivated by the planetary alignment of 2025. In January, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn could all be seen with the naked eye, with Uranus and Neptune visible through a telescope.
Then, at the end of February, the planets aligned once again when the 'grande finale' planet parade could be seen in UK skies where all seven planets were visible at once.
In March, a stunning 'Blood Moon' partial lunar eclipse shone before dawn just two weeks before a spectacular partial solar eclipse, when the Moon moved between the Sun and Earth and appeared to take a 'bite' out of our home star.
Here are just a few dates for your diary this month to see April's most exciting night sky events – as well as how and when to spot these must-see moments.
Article continues below
The Moon eclipses the Pleiades
On Tuesday night (April 1), the Moon will eclipse a bright blue star cluster in the night sky, giving UK stargazers a chance to spot another stunning celestial display just days after the partial solar eclipse.
Between around 9pm and midnight, the Moon will appear to pass in front of the Pleiades cluster, a group of young stars that glow a luminous blue and are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
The Moon, currently in its waxing crescent phase where only 16 per cent of its surface is illuminated, will cover some of the cluster's brightest stars – and its dim brightness will make for ideal viewing as it moves across the Pleiades in the western sky.
Say goodbye to Jupiter
April marks the last time to see Jupiter at its best before its observing window closes. On Tuesday evening (April 1), Jupiter will shine at a magnitude of -2, located around 40 degrees above the west-southwest horizon, according to BBC Sky at Night.
By the end of April, Jupiter will be just 18 degrees above the horizon and will set not long after the Sun, making it much harder to spot.
The Pink 'Micromoon'
On April 12, stargazers can enjoy April's full Moon: the Pink Moon. The Moon won't actually appear pink, but instead is named after the blooming pink flowers that appear in spring, according to the Farmers' Almanac.
This year, the Pink Moon is also what is known as a "micromoon", when the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth – and the opposite of a supermoon. This makes the Pink micromoon the smallest full Moon of the year.
Lyrids Meteor shower
In 2025, the Lyrid meteor shower will be visible from April 16-25, peaking on April 22, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich. The shower produces around 18 meteors per hour, according to NASA, and is the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today.
The Lyrids are known for their fast and vivid shooting stars with bright dust trails that glow in the sky, with potentially a few fireballs. The peak display, which is expected on the night of April 22 and into the early hours of April 23, will see the Moon below the horizon until around 4am, making it a great time to observe the meteors without light pollution.
Cosmic smiley face
Stargazers with a wild imagination should look up to the eastern sky just before dawn to spot the waning crescent Moon sitting next to Saturn and Venus. If you tilt your head to the side, it will be possible to see a smiley face.
The Moon, illuminated at 10 per cent, will sit 3 degrees southeast of Venus, the brightest planet in our night sky.
Prime stargazing conditions
On April 27, the new Moon will bring dark skies and prime stargazing conditions. Its bright moonlight typically washes out the glow of nearby stars and planets; without its light, stargazers could be able to spot a number of planets, nebulas and galaxies.
Article continues below
