April 4-7, 2026: Track the bright gibbous moon as it moves eastward in front of Scorpius before sunrise. See its changing position near Antares and the Scorpion’s claws from April 4–7.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Moon Passes Scorpius
Before sunrise, the bright stars of the summer evening sky are visible. From morning to morning, the bright gibbous moon is farther eastward in front of Scorpius. Including Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali, the Scorpion’s claws that are part of today’s Libra, the moon is near the arachnid during the next four mornings. Red-orange Antares is about 20° up in the south-southwest, perhaps twinkling wildly from the cool mornings of early spring. In this bright moonlight, look for the stars through a binocular.
Highlights
Here’s what to see an hour before sunrise.
• April 4: The gibbous moon, 95% illuminated, is over 15° above the southwest horizon and 7.2° to the lower right of Zubenelgenubi, the Scorpion’s southern claw.
• April 5: The 89% lit moon is nearly 20° above the south-southwest horizon, 9.9° to Zubenelgenubi’s lower left and 10° to the lower right of Pi Scorpii (π Sco on the chart).
• April 6: The bright waning moon, 83% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the south-southwest horizon, 2.1° to the lower left of Pi Scorpii, 5.0° to the lower right of Antares, and 4.7° to the lower left of Dschubba — the Scorpion’s forehead or crown. Earlier in the night, the moon occults (eclipses) the star as the moon rises from the mid-Atlantic States.
• April 7: The gibbous moon, 75% illuminated, is 19° up in the south, 7.3° to Antares’ lower left. Look for Shaula and Lesath, also known as the Cat’s Eyes, nearly 11° to the moon’s lower left and over 10° up in the south. These stars mark the tip of the Scorpion’s tail and its stinger. Use a binocular.
From morning to morning, the moon continues its eastward motion across Scorpius, shifting past the Scorpion’s claws toward its bright heart and tail.
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