What’s Up in the May Sky

Sky Safari star map annotated with Annotable by Peter Tagatac.

May’s Evening Planets:

The Summer Triangle of Vega in Lyra the Harp, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, and Altair in Aquila the Eagle will be up as of midnight and earlier every night until 10 PM by the end of the month. Red Mars could be viewed until 11 PM between Taurus the Bull and Gemini the Twins. Find Jupiter in Ophiuchus the Snake Bearer until sunrise as of 11 PM and earlier every night. Saturn will be in Sagittarius the Archer as of 1 AM and rising earlier every night.

May’s Evening Stars:

Spot Procyon is in Canis Minor the Small Dog, Spica in Virgo the Virgin, Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman, Vega in Lyra the Harp, Capella in Auriga the Charioteer, and Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins. Also find the stars of constellations Cassiopeia, Virgo, Leo, Hercules, Draco, Ophiuchus, Libra, Cepheus, Hydra, and Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (the Big and Little Dippers).

May’s Morning Planets:

Bright Venus will be up as of 6 AM moving between Pisces the Fish and Taurus the Bull. Mercury could be viewed as of 6 AM in the first half of May moving between Pisces the Fish and Taurus the Bull. Find Jupiter in Ophiuchus the Snake Bearer until sunrise. Saturn will be in Sagittarius the Archer until sunrise. Neptune is in Aquarius the Water bearer as of 4 AM. Pluto is in Sagittarius the Archer as of 2 AM and lingering all night.

May ’s Morning Stars:

The Summer Triangle of Vega in Lyra the Harp, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, and Altair in Aquila the Eagle will be up until sunrise. This month, look for reddish Antares in Scorpius and Arcturus in Boötes, along with the stars of constellations Hercules, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Pegasus, Perseus, Andromeda, Capricornus, Cepheus, Ophiuchus, Cassiopeia, Draco, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor (the Big and Little Dippers).

May Skylights

  • May 3 Mercury 3° north of the Moon, pre-dawn
  • May 4 New Moon at 6:45 PM
  • May 7 Mars 3° north of the Moon, sunset
  • May 11 First Quarter Moon at 9:12 PM
  • May 13 Moon at perigee (229,300 miles away)
  • May 18 Full Moon at 5:10 PM
  • May 26 Moon at apogee (251,100 miles away)
  • May 26 Last quarter Moon at 12:35 PM

Times given in EDT.