The Planets:  All of the five naked-eye planets will be visible in the evening sky during the first week of April.  Look for this line-up - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter - in order--from the west to the east.   

Mercury: Mercury will be close to the western horizon at twilight about 45 minutes after sunset during the first week of April.  This planet is lower and much dimmer than Venus, and sets earlier each night.

Venus:  Venus is far brighter to the eye than any other planet or star in the western sky.  Firmly mounted binoculars or telescopes will allow viewers an opportunity to see this planet at its greatest height in its orbit around the Sun.  The evening of April 2^nd will offer a spectacular sight as Venus passes through a bright star cluster, the Pleiades, also known as M45.  The cluster, located in Taurus the Bull, is known to many sky watchers as the "Seven Sisters."  Look carefully because you will probably only see 6 stars with your eyes in a little "cup shape."  However, looking through binoculars, you can see hundreds of stars in this well-known cluster.

Mars:  Look for Mars in the west/northwest at dusk.  Mars is seen as a small orange dot as it passes the star cluster Hyades that marks the "V-shape" of the face of the Bull in the constellation of Taurus. 

Jupiter:  Jupiter glows bright, big and easy to spot in the southeast slightly below the constellation, Leo the Lion.  Leo, noted for its backward-question-mark shaped head, is located high in the south.  Patient viewers using a telescope will be rewarded with visible details in the layers of clouds on Jupiter.

Saturn:  Saturn lies at the feet of the constellation Gemini, the Twins. It is far to the upper left of Mars and Venus.  Saturn's rings remain tilted almost to maximum making a beautiful sight for telescope viewers.  It may be noted that a unique three dimensional effect is caused by the shadow of Saturn that is cast on the rings.

The Constellation Observation:  Say "Hi!" to Hydra this month.  This is the time of the year that sky watchers can enjoy the largest and longest constellation, Hydra, the Water Snake.  This sea serpent winds from the oval stars of her head south of Cancer the Crab all the way to the end of her tail in Libra, the Scales. Watching Hydra can be a whole night of entertainment.

The Moon:  The Moon seems to travel during April in order to make an appearance with four of the visible planets.  Leo the Lion and Jupiter will host the moon on two occasions in April.  On April 2 look toward Leo and find the Moon not far to the left of Jupiter.  The waxing (increasing in size) Moon will near Jupiter again on the night of April 29.  Look for the waxing crescent Moon below Venus on April 22.  Mars will join Venus in its proximity to the Moon on April 23.  Finally, Saturn will be to the left of the Moon on April 24.


Full Moon: April 5
Last Quarter:   April 12 
New Moon:   April 19
First Quarter:   April 27