Elusive Mercury, the nearest planet to the Sun, can now be spotted in the western sky soon after sunset, on its way to greatest eastern elongation (19°) from the Sun on 11 April.
The Owl Nebula, Messier 97 in Ursa Major, is springtime’s best planetary nebula, but the Ghost of Jupiter, NGC 3242 in Hydra, is well worth busting a gut to observe too.
Messier 81 in Ursa Major is an enticing target for visual observers and imagers alike, making it one of the best deep-sky attractions of the entire sky.