There’s an exciting comet passing through our neighborhood this April. Comet C/2026 A1 MAPS will come about 89 million miles from Earth, making it bright enough to see with the naked eye—especially in places like New York City.
On top of that, we’re also getting our first manned moon launch in 50 years, if the weather cooperates. The month will end with the Lyrids meteor shower, a treat for stargazers.
“April is a busy month for the night sky,” says Bart Fried from the American Astronomical Society. “There’s a lot happening this month.”
This comet is just over a mile wide and is known as a “sun grazer.” That means it will get very close to the sun—within half a million miles. This closeness makes it brighter and gives it a long, glowing tail. However, comets can be unpredictable; there’s a possibility it may break apart as it approaches the sun.
For anyone in New York, the best way to catch a glimpse is to look southwest at dusk from April 5 to 8. That’s when it’ll be high up in the sky post-sunset. Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, shares her excitement: “Comets can be tricky. But this one has great potential; it might shine as bright as Venus.”
As for the Artemis II lunar mission, NASA is gearing up for a launch sometime between April 1 and April 6, depending on weather conditions. When it does launch, it will take off at 6:24 PM from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission will orbit Earth and the moon, all part of the plan to eventually send astronauts to the moon by 2028.
Faherty points out, “NASA seems fairly confident about an April launch.” She notes that daily updates will be live-streamed on NASA+, allowing everyone to follow along with the mission.
Meanwhile, from April 14-30, the Lyrids meteor shower will dazzle the sky. The peak days, April 21 and 22, could show as many as 20 meteors per hour, moving at speeds over 100,000 miles per hour. The best time to watch is after 10 PM.
As the warm nights roll in, free stargazing events are popping up around the city. The Amateur Astronomers Association offers weekly gatherings with telescopes in all five boroughs. Don’t miss their event on April 24 at the Intrepid Museum!
In short, April is a fantastic month for astronomy lovers with comets, lunar missions, and shooting stars lighting up the sky. Make sure to take a moment to look up and enjoy the wonders above!
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