Dark skies reign around the new moon phase, revealing a creature trove of constellations to explore. (Image credit: Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The April new moon has arrived bringing several nights of spectacular dark skies perfect for observing the planets of the solar system, majestic constellations and the galaxies that lie beyond. April's new moon occurs at 7:52 a.m. EDT (1152 GMT) on April 17, when the moon is positioned between the sun and Earth, rendering it lost from sight in the daytime sky, with the entirety of its near side bathed in shadow. Visible planets Look to the west shortly after sunset on April 17 to find Venus appearing as a bright evening star 15 degrees from the horizon, with the blue-white stars of the Pleiades open star cluster glowing 10 degrees above — roughly the width of your clenched fist held at arm's length. The ice giant Uranus can be found a little under 5 degrees to the lower left of the star cluster.…
