📝 Steven Burr

The Moon

Pink Moon (Photo: Patricia Burke)

The full Pink Moon arrives on the 2nd of April and according to the Farmer’s Almanac, its name originates from the appearance of one of the springs first wildflowers the Moss Pink (Phlox subulata). Other names include Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), Broken Snowshoe Moon (Anishinaabe), Frog Moon (Cree), and Sugar Maker Moon (Western Abenaki). The last quarter moon makes its appearance on the 10th followed by the new moon on the 17th. Just after sunset on the 19th, the moon passes the Pleiades star cluster. On the 24th we have the 1st quarter moon followed by an occultation of the moon and Regulus on the 25th.

The Planets

Venus (Photo: Steve Burr)

Venus rises higher in the evening twilight as it distances itself from the sun. Mars remains hidden by the morning twilight. Jupiter continues to be well situated for observing throughout the night and continues to be visible in Gemini all month long. Saturn will emerge in the morning twilight this month low on the eastern horizon.

Lyrids Meteor Shower

M35 and NGC2158 - David Cotterell

Starting around the 15th of the month, earth will be passing through debris left behind by the Comet Thatcher. This meteor shower will reach its peak on 22nd/23rd and tappers off by 29th of April. Since we are nearing a first quarter moon on the 24th, it might be best to view this spectacle in the early morning hours of the 23rd under a dark moonless sky. Go outside shortly before midnight and look to the East just above the horizon, Lyra the constellation where the meteors will appear to originate from will be visible. You may expect to see 10 to 15 meteors per hour.

Constellation Gemini

Gemini - Urania's Mirror 1825

Gemini is situated on the ecliptic between Cancer to the East and Taurus to the West. Recognizable by the two prominent stars Pollux and Castor, Gemini is an easy constellation to spot. It is part of the Zodiac as described by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. According to Greek Mythology, Zeus placed the twins Castor and Pollux in the heavens as a reward for their dutiful behaviour. The name Gemini is Latin for twins. This constellation has very old origins and predates the Greeks identification of it. The Babylonians identified this constellation as the Great Twins who guarded the entrances to the underworld. Within Gemini we have two open star clusters (M35 & NGC2158) situated close to each other near the twins’ feet.

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References:

2026 Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower [online]. EarthSky, [cited 3 January 2026]. Available from: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-eta-aquarid-meteor-shower/

2026 Lyrid Meteor Shower [online], EarthSky, [cited 3 January 2026]. Available from: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-lyrid-meteor-shower/

Boeckmann, Catherine, Full Moon Names 2026 [online]. Almanac, updated 31 December 2025 [cited 3 January 2026]. Available from: https://www.almanac.com/full-moon-names

Edgar, James S. ed., RASC Observer’s Handbook 2026, ed. by James S. Edgar (Toronto: Marquis Book Printing, 2025)

Hard, Robin, Eratosthenes & Hyginus: Constellation Myths (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015)

Mortillaro, Nicole, Night Sky Guide 2026 (Richmond Hill: Firefly Books, 2025)

White, Gavin, Babylonian Star-Lore: An Illustrated Guide to the Star-Lore & Constellations of Ancient Babylonia (London: Solaria Publications, 2014)