The Lyrid Meteor Shower, which appears in April each year, is seen over the ancient city of Aizanoi in Kutahya, Turkey, on April 23, 2014.

(Fatma Selma Kocabas Aydin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

At a Glance

Mars is the brightest planet in the sky this month.Skygazers can also spot Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.The Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks in the early hours of April 23.

Keep your eyes on the sky in April, which also happens to be Global Astronomy Month, for views of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, plus the Lyrid Meteor Shower.

in the heavens this month and is the only bright planet out at nightfall, according to EarthSky. Mars should be visible in the western sky at dusk and in the early evening, but catch it quick - it will fade as the month progresses. EarthSky says April 8 and April 9 should be the best viewing times thanks to the young crescent moon that will shine on the red planet.

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At the same time Mars is rising, the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters, will be visible.

"Both objects will and be separated by only three degrees, a gap that can be covered by your three middle fingers held at arm’s length," National Geographic night-sky expert Andrew Fazekas wrote today.

Jupiter rises later at night throughout the month, with Saturn following a few hours later. By daybreak, early risers will be treated to a morning lineup of Jupiter at the top of the sky, with Saturn and Venus below. Mercury also rises in the early morning,

The Lyrid Meteor Shower, meanwhile, makes its debut on April 19 and some falling stars should be visible each night until April 25. Peak activity will take place in the early morning hours of April 22, according to National Geographic.

The maximum rate of meteors expected to be visible at the peak is around 10 to 15 per hour, but that will vary according to location and the amount of light pollution.

The waning gibbous moon will also be a factor, as it will be nearly full at the time of peak activity.