TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Skywatchers have plenty to look forward to in April 2026, with a lineup of celestial events set to brighten the night sky. The month will feature the Pink Moon, the annual Lyrid meteor shower, and a striking planetary triangle formed by Mercury, Mars, and Saturn.
According to astronomer Avivah Yamani of the Langit Selatan astronomy community in Bandung, April’s full moon, known as the Pink Moon, will appear on April 2.
Despite its name, the Pink Moon does not actually appear pink. The term refers to the first full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, a name linked to the early blooming of Phlox subulata, or moss pink, a wildflower common in four-season countries.
“The moon is not pink in color, so it will still look like the usual full moon,” Avivah said.
Moon at Its Farthest and Closest Points
The Moon will also reach two notable orbital points this month.
On April 7, it will arrive at apogee, its farthest point from Earth, at a distance of about 404,970 kilometers. Later in the month, following the new moon on April 17, the Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, on April 20, at around 361,630 kilometers.
These changes are part of the Moon’s regular elliptical orbit and can subtly affect its apparent size in the sky.
Mercury, Mars, and Saturn Form a Triangle
One of the month’s most eye-catching events will come on April 20 and 21, when Mercury, Mars, and Saturn appear close together in the predawn sky.
The three planets will be visible just before sunrise, around 04:00 AM local time, low in the eastern sky. Avivah said their positions will create a triangular formation, offering a rare and attractive sight for early risers.
“The three closely positioned planets form a triangle in the eastern sky,” she said.
Other Conjunctions to Watch
April will also bring several other conjunctions involving the Moon and bright celestial objects, according to the Langit Selatan website.
On April 6, the Moon will appear close to Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, in the southeastern sky from around 11:00 PM local time.
Another notable alignment will occur on April 16, when a thin crescent Moon, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn appear together in the eastern sky at around 05:00 AM local time.
Then on April 19, observers can look to the northwestern sky to spot the Moon near Venus and the Pleiades star cluster.
Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks in Late April
April also marks the return of the Lyrid meteor shower, one of the oldest known meteor showers still observed today.
The shower will be active from April 14 to 30, with peak activity expected on the nights of April 21–22. The Lyrids are caused by debris left behind by Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1).
At peak, observers under dark skies may see up to 18 meteors per hour, streaking across the sky at speeds of around 49 kilometers per second.
The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, which rises in the northeastern sky at around 10:09 PM local time. As with most meteor showers, the best viewing conditions are away from city lights and under clear skies.
Rare Asteroid Occultation Visible from Parts of Indonesia
A more specialized astronomical event is expected on April 26, when the asteroid Strenua passes in front of a distant star in a phenomenon known as an occultation.
During the event, Strenua, an asteroid located in the belt between Mars and Jupiter, will briefly block the light of HIP 35933, a star in the constellation Gemini located about 180 light-years from Earth.
The star’s light is expected to dim for around 2.8 seconds as the asteroid crosses in front of it.
According to the Langit Selatan Community, the shadow path of the occultation is expected to pass over several parts of Indonesia, including southern Sumatra, Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara.
Observing the event will require a telescope with a minimum aperture of 6 centimeters, pointed toward HIP 35933 during the star’s setting time between 09:00 PM and 10:00 PM local time.
Read: BRIN: Pink Moon Visible Across Indonesia on Wednesday Night
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