Read our May sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!
Map
Constellations
These constellations are well placed this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.
Boötes appears low in the east at sunset and moves across the south during the night. It appears higher in the sky as the month goes on, so best views will be just after sunset at the end of the month. Look out for the red giant Arcturus that forms the bright base of the constellation.
Hercules moves from east to west over the course of the night. It is right next door to Boötes but a little fainter. Best views are just after sunset near the end of the month, as it appears highest then. The Hercules Cluster makes this a good place to look for galaxies in the sky.
Aquila rises about midnight at the beginning of this month, but appears earlier in the evening as the months continues. It rises higher as the night goes on before disappearing in the south at sunrise. This means that best views will be just before dawn when it is highest.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It will be at greatest elongation west on the 9th, and dichotomy (half-phase) on the 15th.
Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Mars will be below the horizon for most of the night, only rising a short while before the Sun. It will be due east just before dawn. Mars will require a clear horizon to see and will be difficult to observe due to its proximity to the Sun and atmospheric interference. It will undergo lunar occultation on the 5th, and be at perihelion on the 8th.
Jupiter is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It will be at solar conjunction on the 18th.
Saturn can be seen low in the eastern sky this month just before dawn. It will require a clear horizon to see. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 3rd, and undergo lunar occultation on the 4th and the 31st.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye, and too close to the Sun to appear in the night sky. It will be at solar conjunction on the 13th.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can only be seen near the end of the month when it is further away from the Sun. You can find it low on the eastern horizon just before dawn. Neptune will undergo lunar occultation on the 4th.
Meteor Showers
The η-Aquarids reach their peak on the night of the 5th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Aquarius. Meteors will be visible between 02:40 and 04:45 BST, when Aquarius is in the sky. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn, as the constellation reaches its highest point after sunrise. You will be able to see about 12 meteors per hour.
The η-Lyrids reach their peak on the night of the 8th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Lyra. Meteors will be visible all night, as Lyra stays above the horizon. Best displays will likely be just before dawn, as the constellation reaches its highest point after sunrise. You will be able to see about 2 meteors per hour.
Moon
First Quarter: 15th
Full Moon: 23rd
Last Quarter: 1st, 30th
New Moon: 8th
The Moon is at perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 5th, and apogee, its furthest point from the Earth on the 17th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon is at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun on the 25th. This effect is not visually apparent.
Points of Interest
Messier 5, a globular cluster in the constellation of Serpens is well placed on the 11th when it reaches its highest point in the sky. It will be visible all night, with the highest point occurring around 01:00 BST. You will need binoculars to see this event.
Asteroid 2 Pallas is at opposition on the 17th. It is visible in the constellation of Hercules all night, as it stays above the horizon, reaching its highest point around midnight. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to see this event.
Visit https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/ to find out when the International Space Station will be visible from your location.
Last updated: April 7th