Stargazers in 2023 can look forward to an impressive lineup of events from earthshine nights, lunar eclipses, meteor showers & more. Check out the dates and times for astronomical events in the month of April & May.
While some events such as the full moon and the supermoon can be viewed from anywhere in the world, the first eclipse of 2023 is a total solar eclipse visible from a remote penisula in Australia, and parts of East Timor and Indonesia.
Plan your trip to dark sky areas for better chances of viewing meteor showers.
April 6: Pink Moon
April’s Full Moon is traditionally known as the Pink Full Moon.
April 10/11: Venus Next to the Pleiades
Venus, the third brightest object in the sky (after the Sun and the Moon), appears next to the Pleiades Star Cluster—also known as the Seven Sisters.
Apr 11: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the evening sky.
Find Mercury with our Interactive Night Sky Map
April 20: New Moon
Take advantage of a dark night sky to see the planets.
April 22/23: Lyrid Meteor Shower
The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak around April 22 and 23, depending on your location.
April 23/24: Earthshine Nights
The Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
What’s on the far side of the Moon?
May 5: Flower Moon
May’s Full Moon is known as the Flower Moon after all the flowers that bloom around this time in the Northern Hemisphere.
May 6/7: Eta Aquarid Meteors
Use our handy Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to increase your chances of seeing shooting stars from the Eta Aquarids.
What do I need to see a meteor shower?
May 15/16: Earthshine Mornings
The Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon phases in April and May are the best time to see earthshine, where the unlit part of the Moon becomes visible. It is also known as Da Vinci glow.
What’s on the far side of the Moon?
May 19: Black New Moon
The third New Moon in a season with four New Moons, making this a Black Moon.
May 22/23: The Moon, Venus, and Mars
The Moon passes between the planets Venus and Mars in the evening sky.
May 29: Mercury at Greatest Elongation West
This might be a good time to try and spot Mercury: the planet appears at its farthest distance from the Sun in the morning sky.
Find Mercury with our Interactive Night Sky Map
June 4: Strawberry Moon
June’s Full Moon is often called the Strawberry Full Moon, after the berries that grow in the Northern Hemisphere around this time of the year.
June 18: New Moon
Make the most of a moonlight-free night to look for some stars and planets in the skies.
June 21: June Solstice
This solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.