This month in the sky
The night sky in April 2027
In April 2027 the best-placed deep-sky targets around midnight are M3, M53, M51 Whirlpool Galaxy. The darkest nights fall around the new moon on 6 April. Planets in the night sky: Mars (most of the night), Jupiter (most of the night).
Moon and darkness
| New moon | 6 April |
|---|---|
| Full moon | 20 April |
| Full darkness at 52° N | about 5.5 hours a night |
Plan faint galaxies in the week around new moon; bright nebulae and clusters also work near full moon.
Best placed around midnight
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | globular cluster | 16′ | City-friendly | 66° | 78° | Odyssey |
| M53 | globular cluster | 13′ | City-friendly | 56° | 68° | Odyssey |
| M51 Whirlpool Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 11′ | Suburban sky | 85° | 83° | Odyssey |
| M94 Cat's Eye Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 11′ | Suburban sky | 79° | 89° | Odyssey |
| M64 Black Eye Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 10′ | Suburban sky | 60° | 72° | Odyssey |
| M101 Pinwheel Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 29′ | Dark sky | 88° | 76° | Origin Mark II |
| M63 Sunflower Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 13′ | Dark sky | 80° | 88° | Odyssey |
Already high in the evening
These targets culminate around 22:00 this month: ideal if you do not want to stay up late.
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M40 | star group | 1′ | City-friendly | 84° | 72° | mosaic or too small |
| M104 Sombrero Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 9′ | City-friendly | 26° | 38° | Odyssey |
| M49 | elliptical galaxy | 10′ | Suburban sky | 46° | 58° | Odyssey |
| M87 Virgo A | elliptical galaxy | 8′ | Suburban sky | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
| M60 | elliptical galaxy | 7′ | Suburban sky | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
| M66 | spiral galaxy | 9′ | Suburban sky | 51° | 63° | Odyssey |
| M85 | elliptical galaxy | 7′ | Suburban sky | 56° | 68° | Odyssey |
| M96 | spiral galaxy | 8′ | Suburban sky | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
Planets
Calculated for the 15th at 52° N: planets at least 10° high while it is dark.
- Mars: most of the night, up to 54° high
- Jupiter: most of the night, up to 52° high
Meteor showers
- Lyrids, peak around 22 April
Questions and answers
- What is the best smart telescope target in April?
- M3 is among the best-placed targets around midnight, and the Odyssey frames it best.
- When are the darkest nights in April?
- Around the new moon on 6 April, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.