International Astronomy Day is May 10. Are you planning an "out-of-this-world" event? Take your kids (or grandkids) to an observatory or planetarium - they're outta sight!
New moon was only two days ago, so we see a thin crescent in the western evening sky, with the bright star, Aldebaran, only two degrees south. May 4. Jupiter is five degrees north, Mars is three degrees north May 11; Spica is 1.7 degrees south May 12, and, May 14, Saturn is 0.6 degree north of the moon, an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. This is also full moon. By May 25, Venus in the eastern morning sky is two degrees south of the moon. May 30, Mercury makes an appearance in the low western horizon, six degrees north of our satellite.
Mercury reappears in the west in early May, after its orbit behind the sun, making a great apparition for northern viewers. A clear western horizon is usually a must to see this fleet planet, but this month gives great views, especially here on the prairies.
Venus is in the eastern morning sky, low in the dawn twilight. May 15, it passes within 1.5 degrees of Uranus; May 25, the moon is with two degrees (see above).
Mars has just passed its opposition and is well placed in the evening sky, rising at sunset and visible all through the night. Watch for the bright double star, Porrima, nearby in Virgo, the maiden. Mars has been retrograding (appearing to move westward), and begins proper motion May 21.
Jupiter is seen low in the dusky western sky, setting near midnight - not a particularly good time for observing, as the gas giant is deep in the murky horizon, where air currents predominate, making objects look fuzzy and wobbling about. Nonetheless, it's fun to plan for an evening of binocular or telescope viewing, watching the movement of its Galilean moons in their speedy orbits. The inner moons can be seen to move within a couple of hours, and the giant planet visibly changes in a matter of an hour - its equatorial region goes around every 9.5 hours!
Saturn reaches opposition May 10. Did you know the Ringed Planet is so far away that its reflected light takes 74 minutes to reach us here on Earth? Watch for a close approach with the nearly full moon May 14, an occultation elsewhere.
Uranus is low in the dawn eastern sky, too low to be much of an observation for most of the month.
Neptune is in the eastern dawn sky for a brief appearance before sunup.
- James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now assistant editor and a contributor to the Observerí's Handbook, production manager of the bimonthly RASC Journal and the society's national secretary. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 general assembly in Edmonton.
