
If you’re up early this weekend, don’t miss Venus—it’s at its brightest just before sunrise on Sunday morning. It’s shining so brilliantly because it’s currently close to Earth, making it the brightest thing in the sky other than the Moon in the night sky this week.
Look a bit to the lower right of Venus and you’ll find Saturn. It’s gearing up for opposition on April 27, which is basically its moment to shine. At opposition, Saturn is directly opposite the Sun in the sky, meaning it’s closest to Earth and fully lit up. It’s a great time to grab a telescope, Saturn’s rings and maybe even a few of its moons will be on full display.
Mercury is playing hard to get. It’s hanging low near the horizon, so spotting it will take perfect timing and a clear view to the east. Catch it just before the Sun rises, if you’re lucky.

Over in the evening sky, Jupiter is chilling in the constellation Taurus. It’s visible high in the west after sunset and sets around midnight. On Wednesday, keep an eye out for a beautiful pairing—the crescent Moon will pass just north of Jupiter.
Mars is hanging out nearby in Gemini, near the twin stars Castor and Pollux. It’s a bit higher up in the western sky than Jupiter, and its reddish color gives it away pretty easily.
And as the night stretches on, the familiar figure of Orion dips below the western horizon, while the striking shape of Scorpius rises in the east, tail first, bringing in hints of summer skies to come.

So, grab a blanket, maybe a telescope or binoculars, and enjoy the cosmic spectacle this week has to offer this week through May 2nd. The night sky is putting on quite a show this week—let’s take a look at what’s up there!