This week’s sky highlights (April 10–19) feature the rise and fall of spring stars, planetary alignments, and a vanished comet. Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1) failed to reappear after perihelion. In the evening, Sirius and Procyon form a vertical pair with Betelgeuse nearby, while Arcturus and the Boötes Kite rise in the east. Venus gleams low in western twilight, with a young crescent Moon joining it by April 18–19 near the Pleiades. Jupiter dominates early evenings with Europa transits, while Mercury and Mars remain elusive at dawn. Saturn begins emerging before sunrise. Observers need binoculars for faint targets and low planets. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-10-19/

The upcoming week will feature a mix of clouds, sunshine, and occasional rain. Sunday will be cloudy with showers and a high near 60°F, followed by a partly cloudy night at 45°F. Monday and Tuesday bring partly cloudy skies, with highs of 65°F and 73°F, and light and variable winds. Midweek remains mostly sunny with highs around 73°F, but Wednesday night introduces a slight chance of showers. Thursday is partly cloudy, with rain possible overnight, at 72°F. Friday will be partly cloudy and warmer, with highs at 75°F, before a cooler, showery weekend returns, with highs in the low 70s. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo, marked a historic milestone on flight day 6. Astronaut Reid Wiseman marveled at the moon as the crew received a posthumous greeting from Apollo legend Jim Lovell. The day included breaking Apollo 13’s distance record at 252,757 miles, extensive lunar photography, and Orion’s closest approach at 4,070 miles above the surface. A 40-minute communications blackout occurred as the spacecraft passed behind the moon, followed by a dramatic Earthrise and a solar eclipse. With lunar observations completed, the crew now begins the journey home, laying groundwork for future Mars missions. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/live-news/artemis-ii-updates-astronauts-begin-journey-back-to-earth-after-lunar-flyby/1877632

April offers a series of night-sky highlights, starting with the full Pink Moon on April 1, named for early spring blooms rather than its color. The Lyrid meteor shower follows on April 21-22, marking the first major meteor display since January, with up to 20 meteors per hour visible before dawn. International Dark Sky Week, April 13-20, encourages stargazing and awareness of light pollution. On April 22, the crescent moon will appear beside Jupiter in the western sky, with Venus and Orion also visible. These events provide prime opportunities for astronomy enthusiasts and casual skywatchers alike. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/april-brings-back-to-back-astronomy-events-including-1st-meteor-shower-since-january/1876519

This week’s sky highlights center on the new sungrazing Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1), which makes its perihelion on April 4. Astronomers are watching to see if it survives, brightens by breaking up, or fades away. Starting around April 6, it may be visible with binoculars in the west after sunset, rising daily but dimming over time. Venus gleams in the same region, while the Pleiades descend toward it. Jupiter dominates the evening sky with transits of its moons and the Great Red Spot, while Arcturus, Capella, and the constellations Leo and Boötes offer seasonal stargazing. Mercury remains low, best sought with binoculars. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-april-3-12/

The upcoming week features generally mild and pleasant weather with highs ranging from the upper 60s to low 80s and lows hovering around 49–51°F. Sunday begins sunny with a few clouds, reaching 83°F, with mostly clear skies at night. Monday and Tuesday bring partly cloudy to mostly sunny conditions around 77–80°F, with light winds from varying directions. Midweek sees a slight dip to 69°F on Wednesday before rebounding to near 79–81°F by Thursday and Friday, featuring mixed sun and clouds. Nights remain mostly clear or lightly cloudy with calm to gentle variable winds. https://www.kcra.com/weather

The week starts warm on Sunday with intervals of sun and clouds, reaching 84°F, and a mild night at 54°F. Monday brings mostly cloudy skies with highs near 76°F and lows of 55°F. Showers begin Tuesday afternoon and continue into the night, with highs around 65°F and a 40–50% chance of rain. Wednesday and Thursday feature on-and-off showers, highs in the upper 60s, and lows near 50°F—conditions clear by Friday, with mostly sunny skies and 67°F. The weekend is partly cloudy with highs around 71°F and cool nights in the mid-40s. Winds remain light to moderate all week. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Every year on your birthday, you receive a solar return chart, an astrological tool reflecting the Sun's return to its natal position, influencing the next 12 months. Unlike your unchanging natal chart, which maps the planets' positions at your birth, the solar return chart offers yearly insights. Key to its interpretation is your birthday location—celebrating in different cities yields distinct charts. To create one, you'll need your birth time, date, and current birthday location. This chart helps predict themes for your "solar year." Start with your birth chart before exploring solar returns. https://astrostyle.com/astrology/solar-return-chart/

This week’s night sky offers shifting seasonal highlights. Cassiopeia drops toward the north-northwest after dark, while the brilliant Winter Hexagon still dominates early evenings. The waxing gibbous Moon journeys through Leo, illuminating Regulus and the Sickle, and reaches full in Virgo near Spica on April 1. Jupiter gleams high overhead, with Callisto’s shadow crossing on April 3, while Venus brightens low in the west and the Pleiades drift toward it nightly. Uranus remains visible in Taurus; Saturn, Neptune, Mercury, and Mars are hidden in the Sun’s glare. Stargazers can enjoy rich views of constellations, lunar features, and bright planet pairings. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-march-27-april-5/

This week’s sky offers brilliant celestial sights and seasonal transitions. On March 20, spring begins with a thin crescent Moon near Venus in the west. Sirius dominates the south-southwest, with Canis Major and Puppis visible, and the Beehive Cluster in dim Cancer offers a binocular target. The Moon passes by Pleiades, Beta Tauri, and Pollux through the week, reaching first quarter on March 25. Orion tilts southwest as the Winter Hexagon fills the evening sky. Jupiter shines brightest high in the south, Venus gleams low in twilight, while Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune remain hidden. Uranus lingers near the Pleiades after dusk. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-march-20-29/