April Celestial Calendar to Transform Skies over Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve
The skies above the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve are set to come alive in April 2026, with a lineup of 11 astronomical events. According to the reserve’s authority, this celestial calendar not only showcases the area’s pristine natural environment but also enhances its appeal to astronomy enthusiasts and researchers.
The authority highlighted that the reserve’s dark sky site, located in the Great Nafud Desert and certified by DarkSky International, ranks among the regions with the lowest levels of light pollution in the Kingdom. This makes it an ideal destination for clear night-sky observations and supports the growth of astrotourism initiatives.
The month’s events begin on April 2 with a full moon, followed by lunar conjunctions with Spica on April 3 and Antares on April 6. The moon will reach its last quarter on April 10, before turning new on April 17. Just a day earlier, on April 16, it will align with Mars, and on April 19, it will appear alongside the Pleiades star cluster.
The highlight of the month arrives on April 22 with the Lyrids meteor shower, coinciding with a conjunction between the moon and Jupiter. Finally, the celestial schedule concludes with the moon reaching its first quarter on April 24, followed by a conjunction with Regulus on April 26.
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