Weather-permitting, the Atlantic Coast provides another stellar view out to the east, as does the Texas Gulf Coast. A vast and flat landscape, such as Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado, would work, too.
What to watch for while you’re out there
April’s planet parade may be the headline event, but it’s not the only reason to set an early alarm. This time of year, the Milky Way core is increasingly visible in the pre-dawn hours, so make a night out of galactic core chasing and planet watching.
The Milky Way’s bright and dynamic galactic center becomes visible around 1 a.m. in April, although this varies based on your viewing location. The view improves as the luminous structure climbs higher in the sky. Around 3 to 4 a.m., the core will be vertical above the south horizon—a great time to see and photograph it.
(A practical guide to stargazing.)
It disappears from view around 90 minutes before sunrise, so you’ll have an hour of optimal Milky Way watching before spring’s dramatic planet parade begins. Choose a stargazing spot with limited light pollution, such as a dark-sky reserve, to see the Milky Way at its brightest. If you’re solely watching the planet parade, though, you can enjoy it even in cities and suburbs.