Don’t Miss May’s Celestial Spectacle: Planet Parades, Constellations, and Deep-Sky Wonders
Get ready for a celestial treat! May 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic month for stargazers, offering a range of night sky events that are sure to captivate both novice and experienced astronomy enthusiasts. From planet parades and crescent moon encounters to easily-spotted constellations and elusive deep-sky objects, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Prepare your binoculars, find a dark spot, and let’s explore what the May night sky has in store.
A Week of Dark Skies: May 20-30
As the old saying goes: dark sky's the limit! The period bracketing the new moon on Monday, May 26, offers the darkest skies of the month, perfect for spotting fainter celestial objects. This makes the time from May 20 to May 30 ideal for getting outside and exploring the cosmos. Our natural satellite will slip between Earth and the sun and completely disappear from view. As it does, it will leave the night skies free from moonlight, which serious stargazers view as light pollution.
Planetary Alignments and Moon Meetings
Early risers are in for a treat! On the early hours of May 22 and 23, look to the east to witness a beautiful pairing of the waning crescent moon with planets. On May 22, the Moon approaches Saturn, with Venus glowing near the horizon below them. On May 23, the Moon appears close to a very bright Venus, with Saturn close by, offering a mini planet parade that’s worth setting your alarm for. These events are best viewed from locations with an unobstructed eastern view. Don't forget to look for "Earthshine," the ethereal glow on the moon's dark side caused by sunlight reflected from our planet.
Constellation Spotting: Ursa Major and Leo
For those looking to familiarize themselves with the constellations, May offers prime viewing opportunities. Ursa Major, also known as the Big Dipper and the Great Bear, is almost directly overhead in the early evening. Leo, the lion, is prominent in the south, showcasing its distinctive backward question mark shape, with the bright star Regulus marking the “dot.”
Deep-Sky Delights: The Hercules Cluster (M13)
For those with binoculars or a telescope, May is a great time to explore globular clusters. M13, located in the constellation Hercules, is one of the best examples. Described as a "dense fuzzy patch," this ancient group of stars contains more than 100,000 stars and is located 25,000 light-years away. Finding M13 requires patience and dark skies, but the reward is well worth the effort.
Don't Forget Corvus and Boötes
Besides the major constellations, don't miss the chance to spot Corvus "The Crow," easily found to the right of Spica. Also, trace an "arc to Arcturus" to find Boötes, the herdsman, known for its kite-like shape and bright star Arcturus, both are a spring spectacle. With clear skies and wide eyes, the late May sky is a great time to start astronomy.
From planetary alignments to faint constellations and distant star clusters, the May 2025 night sky is packed with celestial wonders waiting to be discovered. Take advantage of the dark skies and enjoy the show! What are you most excited to see in the night sky this month? Share your observations and tips in the comments below!
