What’s Up in the Sky
May’s Evening Planets:
Find Mercury in Taurus the Bull in the first week of May until around 9 PM.
May’s Evening Stars:
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 rising earlier every night until 10 PM by the end of the month. Spica in Virgo the Virgin, Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman, Capella in Auriga the Charioteer, and Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins will be up. 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 in Pisces the Fish as of 4 AM. Find Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces the Fish as of 4 AM and rising earlier every morning until 2 AM by end of May. Red Mars will be moving between Aquarius the Water-bearer and Pisces the Fish as of 4 AM and rising earlier every morning. Saturn will be in Capricornus the Sea-goat as of 3 AM and rising earlier every night. Pluto will be in Sagittarius the Archer as of 4 AM and lingering until the morning.
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 5 Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower peaks – Predawn
May 5 Moon at apogee (251,800 miles away)
May 8 First Quarter Moon at 8:20 PM
May 10 Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn line up– Predawn
May 16 Full Moon at 12:15 AM
May 16 Total Lunar eclipse – Maximum Eclipse at 12:11 AM
May 18 Moon at perigee (223,900 miles away)
May 22 Last quarter Moon at 2:45 PM
May 30 New Moon at 7:30 AM
