Tonight's Sky
Thursday, April 16, 2026
The Moon Tonight
Deep-sky observation conditions: Excellent
Minimal moonlight — ideal conditions for observing galaxies, nebulae, and faint star clusters.
Constellations at Their Best
Best viewed in April
Hydra
Brightest: Alphard
HyaBoth
Ursa Major
Brightest: Alioth
UMaNorthern
Leo
Brightest: Regulus
LeoNorthern
Sextans
Brightest: Alpha Sextantis
SexBoth
Crater
Brightest: Labrum
CrtSouthern
Antlia
Brightest: Alpha Antliae
AntSouthern
Leo Minor
Brightest: Praecipua
LMiNorthern
Chamaeleon
Brightest: Alpha Chamaeleontis
ChaSouthern
Also Visible
Still well-placed from recent or upcoming months
Brightest Stars
Always prominent in the night sky
Observation Tips
- 1.Let your eyes adapt to the dark for at least 20 minutes before observing.
- 2.Use a red flashlight to preserve your night vision when checking charts.
- 3.Get away from city lights — even a short drive to a darker site makes a huge difference.
- 4.Start with bright, easy-to-find objects and work your way to fainter targets.
- 5.Even binoculars reveal far more than the naked eye — try 7x50 or 10x50 for wide-field views.