As the full pink moon begins to wane, North America will showcase several celestial highlights this week. This week will see the moon rise later each night, transitioning to a post-midnight object by the weekend. During this time, stargazers will witness the peak of a meteor shower and the re-emergence of a planetary parade, featuring Venus and Saturn prominently. Here’s what sky-watchers need to know for stargazing and astronomy this week:
Thursday, April 17, marks the beginning of the Lyrid Meteor Shower. This short annual meteor shower, the first since January, will officially commence tonight and will last through April 26. While the peak night, which will see about 20 meteors per hour, is not until early Tuesday, April 22, sky-watchers can expect to see one or two Lyrids in the nights leading up to the peak. Although clear and dark skies are essential for meteor viewing, they may present a challenge before midnight this week. The Lyrids are known for occasionally bright fireballs, contributing to their allure.
On Saturday, April 19, Venus, Saturn, and Mercury will make a comeback in the pre-dawn sky. Following their disappearance into the sun’s glare after March’s impressive display of four bright planets, Saturn and Venus have re-emerged alongside Mercury. Though spotting Mercury requires keen observation about 45 minutes before sunrise, it’s one of the best opportunities in 2025 to view the elusive ‘swift planet.’ Venus, however, will be considerably easier to locate. Stargazers should take care to put away binoculars before sunrise to avoid eye strain.
Sunday, April 20, sees the initiation of another meteor shower, the Eta Aquariid. Resulting from debris left by Halley’s Comet, this meteor shower is among the longest-lasting of the year, running from tonight through May 21. The peak will occur in the early hours of Sunday, May 4, when stargazers can expect to see around 30 shooting stars per hour in northern regions and about 60 in southern regions. Additionally, this day marks the moon’s last quarter phase, with the moon rising after midnight. This phenomenon will clear the evening sky of moonlight, creating perfect conditions for stargazing.
The constellation of the week is Boötes. Although relatively lesser-known, Boötes is visible throughout much of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and can easily be located. One can draw a path from the handle of the Big Dipper downward to “arc to Arcturus,” a bright, golden-red giant star located above the eastern horizon after dark. With Arcturus positioned centrally, its surrounding stars can be used to form the shape of a cocktail glass. Boötes is meant to symbolize a herdsman, but its constellation shape can serve various interpretations.
All times and dates mentioned are based on mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate and location-specific astronomical information, individuals are encouraged to consult online planetarium tools, such as Stellarium.
Wishing all sky-watchers clear skies and wide eyes!
image source from：https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2025/04/14/see-two-meteor-showers-and-a-planet-parade-the-night-sky-this-week/
