April 2016 Skywatch: Video Guide Jupiter is already high above the horizon as the sky grows dark

After midnight, look for Mars and Saturn shining in the southeastern sky. Use a telescope to glimpse Saturn’s rings and search for features on Mars.

Towards the south, we see Leo, the Lion, heralding the coming of spring. In Greek mythology, Leo is the great beast slain by Hercules. The bright star Regulus is the heart of the Lion. Leo has several galaxies in his belly. M65, M66, and NGC 3628 make up the “Leo Triplet,” a lovely grouping of galaxies easily seen with a telescope.

The Lyrid meteor shower will peak in the early morning hours of April 22nd. However, the glow of the full moon will make it difficult to see many of the meteors this year.