Astronomy Essentials
Tonight
Visible planets and night sky guide for April
Visible planets and night sky guide for April 2024. On the mornings of April 26 and 27, watch for the moon close to the massive ruby red star Antares.
Brightest Stars
Sun
Sun news April 25: Activity’s high, aurora on the way
April 25, 2024, sun news. Sun activity is high. Flare and after-flare continue. CMEs and so auroras are on the way tonight or tomorrow.
Constellations

Meet the Chamaeleon, a southern constellation

The constellation Chamaeleon the Chameleon is a dark patch of sky that lies deep in the Southern Hemisphere and is visible any night of the year.
Space

Io’s volcanoes have been erupting for billions of years

A new study reveals Io's volcanoes have been erupting for billions of years, ever since the small moon of Jupiter 1st formed along with our solar system.
Tonight

Daytime moon is up after sunrise now

Watch for the moon in the morning sky - after sunrise - for a few days after full moon. Look west after the sun comes up!
Brightest Stars

Cor Caroli, named for the heart of a king

Cor Caroli is a binary star and the brightest star in the northern constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Its name means Heart of Charles.
Space

Hurray! Voyager 1 has phoned home with engineering updates

Voyager 1 has again begun sending an intelligible signal back to Earth. Scientists hope they can prompt the craft to resume sending science data.
Moon Phases

April full moon – the Pink Moon – falls on April 23

The April 2024 full moon – on April 23 – is the Pink Moon and lies near the star Spica in the constellation Virgo. Find star charts here.
Favorite Star Patterns

Spring Triangle in the east at night, heralding the season

As the Northern Hemisphere enters spring, look for the Spring Triangle rising in the east, made up of bright beacons from three prominent constellations.
Earth

Antarctic meteorites are sinking in melting ice

Warming temperatures are causing Antarctic meteorites to sink through melting ice. These samples of our solar system are keys to understanding earthly life.

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