Pink Moon and Comets: April 2026 Turns Night Sky into a Photographer's Playground
April 2026 offers a dramatic night sky for astrophotographers: the Pink Moon rises with sunset near Spica, a chance for striking foreground shots; Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1) may appear in twilight low in the western sky around perihelion; mid-April (10–20) provides dark skies for galaxy imaging (Leo Triplet, M104, M101, M81, M82); crescent Moon–Mercury–Mars conjunctions around Apr 13–15, and Venus with a crescent Moon on Apr 18; the Lyrid meteor shower peaks Apr 21–22 under good skies (15–20 meteors/hr); southern hemisphere observers may see Eta Aquariids. Practical tips include using a 300–600mm lens for close Moon shots, 200–400mm for Moon-and-planet pairs, and wide 14–24mm glass for meteors, with ISO 800–1600 and 20–30 second exposures; plan with a moonrise calculator and scout an eastern horizon foreground for best results.