Planets
Mercury
Mercury remains a morning object, but its elongation decreases throughout the month. It is not particularly well placed for northern hemisphere viewers.
Venus
Venus is now a prominent morning object, reaching greatest western elongation on the 31st, when it will be 46o from the Sun and well placed for observation.
Mars
Mars is still visible in the west after dark, throughout the earlier part of the night. It is a prominent reddish object below the stars Castor and Pollux and has a magnitude around +1. Its diameter drops below 6” by the end of the month.
Jupiter
Jupiter is still visible low in western sky as soon as it gets dark enough at the start of the month. However, we will be losing it in the twilight by the end of the month. It reaches conjunction later in June.
Saturn
Saturn is a morning object with a magnitude of only 1.1, mainly because the rings are almost edge on. It is not well placed for observation this month as it is low in the eastern sky before sunrise. Perhaps it’s a challenge you would like to take on.
Uranus
Uranus is no longer visible this month, being lost in the twilight.
Neptune
Neptune is not observable this month.
Moon
Phases:
4th May: Moon is at First Quarter 12th May: Full Moon
20th May: Moon is at last quarter 27th May: New Moon
Sun
The Sun is remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups. Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.
Aurora
The Sun is still around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae. Astronomical twilight will soon last all night and the northern skies may be too bright, but do be ready for major displays which may still be seen. I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro.
Meteors
The Eta-Aquarid meteor shower reaches its peak around the 5th, but this is mainly visible in the southern hemisphere.
Dark Sky Objects
The lighter evenings will be more limiting on deep sky objects, but galaxies in Leo are well placed. Also M51 (Whirlpool) and M101 (Pinwheel) near Ursa Major are particularly well placed for observation and photography.
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