A monthly look at astronomical events in the sky and on Earth
Compiled and written by Steve Sawyer
This month the images are being inspired by William Turner J. M. W. Turner – Wikipedia
Welcome to April’s What’s Up, where Spring is now well and truly underway. The clocks have gone forward, the evenings are stretching out, and we’re starting to get that magical mix of warmer air and darker skies.
At the beginning of the month there’s a Lunar occultation of the Pleiades and later in the month we have the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower. This year the Moon won’t wash out the show too much.
We’re still riding the wave of solar max too, so keep an eye out for geomagnetic storms and maybe even another aurora display or two. If you missed the last one, April might just deliver.
Here’s what’s up this month!
This Months York Astro Presentations
This month we can look forward to
Stellar Winds: Givers and Takers of Life, by Brad Gibson
Other upcoming events
Upcoming events to put in your diary
| Date | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 04/04/2025 | Stellar Winds: Givers and Takers of Life | Brad Gibson |
| 02/05/2025 | The Pluto System | Dave Armeson |
For further details see the events page Astronomy Presentations by guest speakers | York Astro and our Facebook group (20+) The York Astronomical Society Chat Group | Facebook
And in the night sky this month we can look forward to:-
So what’s on this month?
In early evening, Cygnus and the brighter arc of the Milky Way become visible, stretching low along the horizon. Lyra rises in the northeast, with Hercules and its ‘Keystone’ asterism above, marking the location of globular cluster M13. Draco winds from Hercules toward Giausar, lying between Polaris and the Pointers of Ursa Major. Ursa Major appears overhead, inverted near the zenith. To the west, Gemini stands nearly upright, while Auriga lingers in the northwest. Perseus begins to set, and the faint stars of Camelopardalis are visible between Auriga and Polaris.
Leo dominates the southern sky in April, with Gemini still visible in the west and Cancer nestled between them. To the east, Virgo—with bright Spica—clears the horizon, while the full length of Hydra stretches below Leo and Virgo, marked by Alphard near the southwest. Crater and Corvus, two small southern constellations, sit between Hydra and Virgo.
In the east, Boötes rises with bright Arcturus, accompanied by the arc of Corona Borealis. Between Boötes and Leo lies Coma Berenices, home to the open cluster Melotte 111 and the distant Coma Galaxy Cluster (Abell 1656)
Sky Diary
This table captures the astronomical events for April, including phases of the moon, planetary alignments, and other notable occurrences.
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1 | Moon occults Pleiades (M45) | Close to Alcyone (brightest Pleiad) |
| Apr 5 | First Quarter Moon | Good time for lunar observing |
| Apr 13 | Full Moon | Smallest Full Moon of 2025 (apogee on Apr 14) |
| Apr 13 | Moon occults Spica (α Virginis) | Evening event |
| Apr 16 | Moon occults Antares (α Scorpii) | Early morning visibility |
| Apr 17 | Mercury and Neptune conjunction (0.7° apart) | Very low in morning twilight |
| Apr 17 | Mercury at Aphelion | Farthest from the Sun |
| Apr 21 | Mars at East Quadrature | Ideal for evening viewing |
| Apr 21 | Mercury at Greatest Elongation West | Best viewed from Southern Hemisphere |
| Apr 21 | Last Quarter Moon | Moon rises around midnight |
| Apr 22–23 | Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak | ZHR ~18/hr; Waning crescent Moon = good conditions |
| Apr 27 | New Moon | Dark skies – best time for deep-sky observing |
| Apr 29 | Moon occults Pleiades (M45) again | Another occultation of this iconic star cluster |
Sky Maps
Looking South on the 15th at 22:00
Looking North on the 15th at 22:00
The two charts above show all DSOs of magnitude 6.0 or brighter. They are both taken from
SkyViewCafe.com and correct for the 15th of the month. For a clickable list of Messier objects with images, use the Wikipedia link.
April’s Objects
The Sun
The Sun in April 2025
What to Expect from the Sun in April 2025?
Based on NOAA’s 27-day Space Weather Outlook issued March 24, 2025, here’s a summary of solar activity and sunspot trends for April 2025:
☀️ April 2025 Sunspot and Solar Activity Forecast
| Date Range | Solar Radio Flux (10.7 cm) | Solar Activity Trend | Planetary A Index | Kp Index (Max) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1–3 | 170–175 | Moderate & steady | 5–10 | 2–3 | Calm geomagnetic conditions, stable sunspot output |
| Apr 4–5 | 180 | Elevated activity spike | 20–35 | 5–6 | Possible minor geomagnetic storming (G1–G2) due to solar wind increase |
| Apr 6–8 | 180 | Decreasing slightly | 10–30 | 3–5 | Active region persists, watch for auroras at high latitudes |
| Apr 9–11 | 185 | Peak of solar flux | 18–40 | 5–6 | Maximum activity period for the month; good sunspot observing |
| Apr 12–14 | 180 → 170 | Gradual decline | 10–15 | 3–5 | Active regions rotating off disk, slight geomagnetic activity possible |
| Apr 15–19 | 170 → 160 | Quiet period | 5–12 | 2–4 | Low solar flux, stable geomagnetic field, fewer sunspots likely |
🔆 Summary Outlook
- Peak solar activity is expected from April 4–11, with radio flux values of 180–185 sfu, indicating active sunspot regions and enhanced solar emissions.
- Geomagnetic disturbances may occur on April 5, 8, and 9, with Kp index values up to 6 — suggesting minor G1–G2 geomagnetic storms, potentially visible auroras at high latitudes.
- The quietest period is forecast from April 15 onward, with lower solar flux (160–170 sfu) and a Kp index of 2–3, ideal for deep-sky observing and astrophotography.
Resources
For more info on the sun and solar weather look here : –
Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center
Auroa Forecasts
A bit US centred but still useful
Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center
And our own Met-office have an excellent space weather forecast page here Space Weather – Met Office
The Moon
April Lunar Calendar
March’s moon calendar from Sky View Café (skyviewcafe.com)
A full yearly lunar calendar can be found here :-
https://www.mooninfo.org/moon-phases/2025.html
🌙 Moon Positions & Events – April 2025
| Date (UTC) | Event Description | 🌗 Phase/Icon |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 01 20:28 | Moon 0.6° North of the Pleiades | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
| Apr 03 00:23 | Moon 5.5° North of Jupiter (mag. –2.1) | 🌓 Approaching 1st Qtr |
| Apr 05 02:15 | First Quarter Moon | 🌓 First Quarter |
| Apr 05 16:46 | Moon 2.0° South of Pollux | 🌓 First Quarter |
| Apr 05 19:04 | Moon 2.0° North of Mars (mag. 0.5) | 🌓 First Quarter |
| Apr 08 11:51 | Moon 2.0° North of Regulus | 🌔 Waxing Gibbous |
| Apr 13 00:22 | Full Moon | 🌕 Full Moon |
| Apr 13 01:39 | Moon 0.3° South of Spica | 🌕 Full Moon |
| Apr 13 22:48 | Moon at apogee: 406,295 km | 🌕 Full Moon |
| Apr 16 22:19 | Moon 0.4° South of Antares | 🌖 Waning Gibbous |
| Apr 21 01:35 | Last Quarter Moon | 🌗 Last Quarter |
| Apr 25 01:21 | Moon 2.4° South of Venus (mag. –4.5) | 🌘 Waning Crescent |
| Apr 25 04:15 | Moon 2.3° North of Saturn (mag. 1.0) | 🌘 Waning Crescent |
| Apr 26 01:05 | Moon 4.4° North of Mercury (mag. 0.2) | 🌘 Waning Crescent |
| Apr 27 16:15 | Moon at perigee: 357,119 km | 🌑 New Moon |
| Apr 27 19:31 | New Moon | 🌑 New Moon |
| Apr 29 06:35 | Moon 0.5° North of the Pleiades | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
| Apr 30 17:33 | Moon 5.4° North of Jupiter (mag. –2.0) | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
Moon Feature
Apollo 14 Landing Site
his month we’re looking at the Fra Mauro Highlands—the site of the Apollo 14 landing in February 1971. Located just south of Mare Imbrium, this region is a rugged, hilly expanse of ancient lunar highland terrain.
Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell landed here at 3.6°S, 17.5°W, aiming to collect samples from the Imbrium Basin’s ejecta blanket, a geologically significant target that offers clues about the Moon’s violent past.
The astronauts explored landmarks like Cone Crater, a small impact feature they attempted to reach on foot, and their traverse paths remain visible in high-resolution images captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
🔭 Observing Fra Mauro
- Best time to view in April 2025: Around April 10–12, when the region lies near the terminator (the line between lunar day and night), giving shadows that highlight topography.
- What to look for: Unlike the smooth lava plains of the lunar seas, the Fra Mauro formation appears irregular and textured, consisting of low hills and subtle ridges.
- Recommended gear: A 4-inch (100 mm) telescope or larger, with moderate magnification (~100x), will reveal the terrain’s contrast.
For a more detailed view, check out NASA’s LROC QuickMap tool online (quickmap.lroc.asu.edu)—an interactive lunar atlas with high-resolution imagery of the Apollo sites.
Another good site is Apollo 14 Fiftieth Anniversary! | Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera
Planets
☀️ Mercury
Very hard to see, but is Mercury is visible in the morning twilight, reaching greatest western elongation (27.4°) on April 21. Making it best seen from the Southern Hemisphere, so not great for York!
It pairs with Neptune on April 17 and has a close approach to the Moon on April 26. Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
🟡 Venus
Brilliant Morning Star Venus continues its brilliant morning apparition, shining at –4.5 to –4.8 magnitude. It’s the brightest object in the pre-dawn sky aside from the Moon. On April 25, Venus lies close to the Moon, and on April 28, it pairs closely with Saturn (just 3.7° apart). A telescope will show its gibbous phase.
🌍 Earth
All Sky – 24/7 Visibility
Earth continues to dominate the night and day skies this month, with 100% visibility guaranteed from your current location! No telescope required — just look down. Ideal for observing weather patterns, backyard telescopes, or humans behaving oddly around the Full Moon on April 13. Earth will not set or rise this month. Observing tip: just stay put, and it’ll come to you.
🔴 Mars
Evening Sky – Subtle but Steady Mars is moderately visible after sunset, transitioning from Gemini to Cancer, with a close approach to the Moon on April 5. It shines at magnitude +0.5, so it won’t dazzle but is a steady presence in the west as twilight fades.
🟠 Jupiter
Low Morning Sky – Fading Fast Jupiter is slipping into the morning twilight, visible only from low latitudes or with a clear horizon. It’s paired with the Moon on April 3 and April 30
🪐 Saturn
Very low and thus hard to see but Saturn shines in the southeastern morning sky at magnitude +1.0, rising steadily through Aquarius. A beautiful pairing with the Moon occurs on April 25, and a close conjunction with Venus on April 28 makes for a photogenic pairing.
🔵 Uranus
Early evening planet soon becoming lost in the twilight as the month progresses.
🔷 Neptune
Not visible this month
Meteor Showers
The Lyrids
The Lyrids are active from April 16 to 25, peaking on the night of April 22–23. During the peak, you can expect to see around 18 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. The meteors will appear to radiate from the area near Vega, which rises in the northeast around midnight and climbs higher as the night progresses
Comets
| Comet Name | Apparent Magnitude | Solar Elongation (°) |
|---|---|---|
| 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 | 13 | 66 |
| C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) | 12 | 60 |
| C/2021 G2 (ATLAS) | 13 | 47 |
- Best visibility: 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 and C/2023 A3 have favorable elongations (>60°), making them potential binocular or small-scope targets under dark skies.
- C/2021 G2 (ATLAS) is dimmer and still relatively close to the Sun, but may be trackable later in the month.
Link here for further details of each comet and how to locate it.
Visual Comets in the Future (Northern Hemisphere) (aerith.net)
Deep Sky (DSO’s)
✨ Notable Stars in Virgo
Spica (α Virginis): Spica is the brightest star in Virgo and the 15th brightest in the night sky, shining at magnitude 1.04. It’s a blue giant located approximately 260 light-years away. Spica is actually a binary system, with two stars orbiting closely, causing mutual distortion due to their gravitational interaction. The name “Spica” derives from Latin, meaning “Virgo’s ear of grain,” symbolizing the harvest
Porrima (γ Virginis): Porrima is a notable binary star system in Virgo, with both components being nearly identical F-type main-sequence stars. They orbit each other with a period of about 169 years and are currently well-separated, making them a fine target for small telescopes. The system lies approximately 38 light-years from Earth. The name “Porrima” refers to a Roman goddess of prophecy.
Vindemiatrix (ε Virginis): Vindemiatrix is a yellow giant star of spectral type G8 III, shining at magnitude 2.8. Located about 110 light-years away, its name means “the grape gatherer” in Latin, historically indicating the time of the grape harvest. This star serves as a useful guidepost for locating the Virgo Cluster of galaxies
Zavijava (β Virginis): Zavijava is an F-type main-sequence star with an apparent magnitude of 3.6, situated approximately 36 light-years from Earth. The name “Zavijava” is derived from Arabic, meaning “the corner of the barking dog.” This star is part of a line of stars northwest of Spica, historically referred to as “awwa” by Arabian astronomers.
🌌 Galaxies in Virgo
Messier 87 – Giant Elliptical Galaxy with a Jet
- Type: Elliptical Galaxy (E0)
- Magnitude: ~8.6
- Location: Core of the Virgo Cluster
- Distance: ~53 million light-years
Why It’s Special:
- Hosts one of the most massive black holes known (~6.5 billion solar masses).
- Famous for being the first black hole ever imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope (2019).
- Exhibits a visible relativistic jet, observable in long-exposure astrophotography.
How to Observe:
- Visible in small telescopes as a bright, round fuzzball.
- Use a medium-to-large scope to spot the jet under dark skies.
APOD Link
APOD: 2024 May 9 – The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole
Messier 49 – Brightest Galaxy in Virgo
- Type: Elliptical Galaxy (E2)
- Magnitude: ~8.4
- Location: Southwestern part of Virgo Cluster
- Distance: ~56 million light-years
Why It’s Notable:
- Contains an estimated 5,900 globular clusters, far more than the Milky Way.
- Strong X-ray and radio source, with a supermassive black hole at its core.
- One of the earliest galaxies discovered in the Virgo Cluster.
How to Observe:
- Bright enough to be seen in small telescopes under suburban skies.
- Look for a diffuse oval glow with a brighter center.
APOD Link
Not on APOD so a good link is Messier 49 | Messier Objects
Messier 58 – Barred Spiral Among Ellipticals
- Type: Barred Spiral Galaxy (SAB(rs)b)
- Magnitude: ~10.5
- Location: Near center of Virgo Cluster
- Distance: ~62 million light-years
Why It’s Notable:
- One of the few spirals in the Virgo Cluster visible to amateur scopes.
- Home to several supernovae, including SN 1988A.
- Shows a compact core with faint outer arms in long-exposure imaging.
APOD Link
Not on APOD
So Messier 58 | Messier Objects
Messier 60 & NGC 4647 – Interacting Galaxy Pair
- Type: Elliptical + Spiral (E2 + SABc)
- Magnitude: M60 (~8.8), NGC 4647 (~11.4)
- Location: Eastern Virgo Cluster
- Distance: ~55 million light-years
Why They’re Interesting:
- These galaxies form a visually striking pair, potentially gravitationally interacting.
- M60 is massive and round; NGC 4647 shows tidal distortion in deep exposures.
- A great example of dynamical processes in galaxy clusters.
How to Observe:
- M60 is easy in small scopes; NGC 4647 requires 8-inch or larger and good contrast.
- Look for the asymmetry in the spiral when imaging or using large apertures.
APOD Link
APOD: 2016 January 28 – Elliptical M60, Spiral NGC 4647
Messier 61 – A Starburst Spiral Galaxy
- Type: Spiral Galaxy (SAB(rs)bc)
- Magnitude: ~10.2
- Location: Southern Virgo Cluster
- Distance: ~52.5 million light-years
Why It’s Special:
- Known as a starburst galaxy, with intense star-forming regions.
- Has hosted seven supernovae in the last century.
- Shows a grand-design spiral structure in photos.
How to Observe:
- Visible in 8-inch scopes and up, though faint and diffuse.
- Long exposures reveal bright knots and spiral arms.
APOD Link
APOD: 2019 August 28 – Messier 61 Close Up
NGC 4526 – Lenticular Galaxy with Speed
- Type: Lenticular Galaxy (SAB0)
- Magnitude: ~10.7
- Location: Near the Virgo Cluster’s core
- Distance: ~55 million light-years
Why It’s Notable:
- Features a rapidly rotating disk of gas and a supermassive black hole.
- One of the fastest rotating galaxies known in its class.
- Its structure bridges the gap between spirals and ellipticals.
How to Observe:
- Best in 8-inch+ telescopes; shows as an elongated, bright spindle.
- Stunning in long-exposure imaging due to its defined shape.
- NGC 4526 – Wikipedia
ISS and other orbiting bits
No ISS sightings for early April.
Use the this NASA website for exact timings for York overpasses. York, England, United Kingdom | Sighting Opportunity | Spot The Station | NASA
Useful Resources
StarLust – A Website for People with a Passion for Astronomy, Stargazing, and Space Exploration.
http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html
http://skymaps.com/downloads.html
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024 – Sea and Sky (seasky.org)
https://www.constellation-guide.com
IMO | International Meteor Organization
and of course the Sky at Night magazine!
Great article, Steve! Don’t forget to look for the waxing Crescent Moon on Monday, 28/4/2025 after sunset (8:30 pm – 9:30 pm)