The Moon's prominent companion tonight is the planet Jupiter. It looks like a brilliant star to the lower left of the Moon. Through binoculars, Jupiter's four big moons look like tiny stars near the giant planet.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
April 2: Moon and Jupiter
April 3: Sirius
Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, slides across the southwest this evening. The star is in the south-southwest as darkness falls and sets by around midnight. It twinkles fiercely as it drops toward the horizon.
April 4: Moon and Gemini
The first-quarter Moon is gliding across the constellation Gemini tonight. Gemini's twin stars and the planet Mars form an arc above and to the upper left of the Moon at nightfall. Mars is the brightest member of the arc.
April 5: Moon and Mars
Mars stands close to the lower right of the Moon at nightfall. Dust on its surface gives the planet an orange tint. Pollux and Castor, the stars that represent the twins of Gemini, line up farther to the right of the Moon.
April 6: Gienah
Gienah is the brightest star of Corvus, the crow. The constellation is low in the southeast as night falls, and due south around midnight. Its brightest stars form the outline of a small sail, with Gienah at the top right corner of the sail.
April 7: Moon and Regulus
Regulus, the brightest star of Leo, the lion, is below the Moon as night falls this evening. It will stand even closer to the Moon as they set, in the wee hours of the morning.
April 8: More Moon and Regulus
The waxing gibbous Moon stares up at Regulus this evening. The bright star marks the heart of Leo, the lion. The gap between the Moon and star will increase as the night rolls by, with Regulus leading the Moon down the western sky later on.