May will be a month of transition in the sky. The evening planets will be gone, and it will be late summer before any return. The only planets visible during May will be Saturn and Mars which will be crawling up and out of the predawn glow.
The bright stars of winter also will be leaving the sky, although the more northerly Castor and Pollux in Gemini (the Twins) and Capella in Auriga (the Charioteer) will stay low in the western sky until June.
The constellations of winter have been replaced by the constellations of spring, most notably Leo (the Lion) and Bootes (the Herdsman). In addition, the unmistakable Big Dipper made up of the brightest stars in Ursa Major (the Great Bear), will be upside down, high in the northern sky. In this lofty position, it can be used to help find the constellations of spring that are not as bright as the winter constellations. Once the Big Dipper has been located, use its two end bowl stars to point from the open part of the bowl down to the moderately bright star Polaris, the North Star. Once Polaris is found, you will know that you are facing north, and this will help you navigate the rest of the sky. Polaris is also the end of the tail of dim Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) that will extend eastward during May evenings.
Once you are oriented, use the Big Dipper’s two pointer stars to point in the opposite direction from the North Star to find the bright star Regulus high in the southern sky in Leo (the Lion). Next, extend the curve of the Big Dipper’s handle to “arc” to the bright star Arcturus in the kite-shaped Bootes (the Herdsman), which extends generally northward, and then “speed on” to the bright star Spica in the otherwise dim and hard to trace out constellation Virgo (the Maiden). Just beyond Spica are four moderately bright stars that form the unequal-sided, box-like figure of Corvus (the Crow).
You also can use the stars of the open, top part of the Big Dipper’s bowl to point in the direction away from the handle (or north-westward during May) to find the bright star Capella in the five-sided Auriga (the Charioteer). Finally, use the star at the base of the Big Dipper’s handle to point diagonally past the star at the bottom front of the bowl to Castor and Pollux, the bright twin stars of Gemini (the Twins). They will also be southeast of Capella. Look soon after dark before they set.
On May 11 we will celebrate both the first star party of the year and the 75th anniversary of President Truman’s singing the law that established a rocket proving ground at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first rocket launch was the next year on June 24, 1950. Thousands of launches have followed, including the Apollo missions to the Moon and 135 space shuttle missions.
Observing Highlights
May 3 Early risers will see the Moon to the right of Saturn. By the morning of the 4th, it will be between Saturn and Mars to the lower left. The Moon will be to the lower left of Mars on the 5th. Look in the eastern sky about 45 minutes before sunrise.
May 11 Star Party sponsored by Grout Museum & Black Hawk Astronomy Club, Prairie Grove Park, Waterloo, 9-10:30.
May 12 The Moon will line up to the left of the bright twin stars of Gemini (the Twins). Slightly brighter Pollux will be close to the Moon with Castor farther to the right.
May 13 The Moon will be to the upper right of the Beehive open star cluster in the dim constellation Cancer (the Crab). Binoculars will be needed to find the Beehive.
May 15 The Moon will be to the upper right of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo (the Lion). The body of the lion will extend to the left of the Moon and the head and mane will be above the Moon.
May 19 The Moon will be close to the upper right of Spica, the only bright star in Virgo (the Maiden). The Moon will move in its orbit and be to the lower left of Spica on the 20th.
May 31 After they rise at about 4:00 a.m., the Moon will be close to the lower left of Saturn. Mars will be far to their lower left. Mars has moved eastward faster in its orbit and is much farther from Saturn than it was in early May.
Moon Phase Date Rises Highest Point Sets When Visible
Last quarter May 1 Midnight Sunrise Noon A.M.
New Moon May 8 Sunrise Noon Sunset Not visible
First quarter May 15 Noon Sunset Midnight P.M.
Full moon May 23 Sunset Midnight Sunrise All night
. *Dates and times are approximate.
Sources: StarDate, Jan-Feb. 2024. Vol. 52, No. 1.
Ottewell, Guy. Astronomical Calendar 2024. Universal Workshop, Durham, NC. 2024.
SkyandTelescope.org
