NASA Space Technology Mercury, Moon, planets and meteors! In the night sky this April

NASA Directorates Mercury, Moon, planets and meteors! In the night sky this April, the Moon makes its monthly rounds to pair up beautifully with several planets. A new Moon on April 20 may mean ideal conditions to spot the Lyrid meteor shower.⁣
⁣
- From April 3-11, Northern Hemisphere observers can look low in the west after sunset for the best chance to spot Mercury⁣
- Venus can be seen near the Pleiades star cluster April 11⁣
- Find the Moon near Saturn in the east in the hours before sunrise on April 15-16. On April 25, the Moon and Mars pair up in the sky high in the West after dark⁣
- The Lyrid meteor shower peaks on April 23, with best viewing between midnight and dawn⁣
⁣
The Lyrids are named for the constellation Lyra, which is near the point in the sky where their meteors appear to come from, called the radiant. They're one of the oldest known meteor showers, with the first recorded sighting in China some 2,700 years ago. To observe them, find a comfortable spot away from bright city lights, get horizontal, and look straight up. You'll see the most meteors by looking slightly away from the origin point, which is near the bright star Vega.⁣
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is broken down into five Mission Directorates. Aeronautics, Exploration Systems, Science, Space Operations, and Space Technology
Aeronautics
For more than a century, NASA and its predecessor organization has been the global leader in aviation research.

Results achieved by NASA’s aeronautical innovators through the years directly benefits today’s air transportation system, the aviation industry, and the passengers and businesses who rely on those advances in flight every day. As a result, today every U.S. commercial aircraft and U.S. air traffic control tower uses NASA-developed technology to improve efficiency and maintain safety. That’s why we say “NASA is with you when you fly!” Yet there still is so much more to explore, so much more to learn. Scientists, engineers, programmers, test pilots,