May 2025 Night Sky

What's in the Night Sky for May 2025

Meteor over Kure Beach, NC

With rapidly rising temperatures May offers a variety of celestial events and notable

astronomical phenomena to observe. Here’s what you can look forward to this month:

Planets:

• Mercury: In early May, Mercury will be at its greatest eastern elongation on May 7, making it visible after sunset. Look for it low on the western horizon.

• Venus: Bright and brilliant, Venus will be prominent in the evening sky, shining brightly throughout the month.

• Mars: Mars will be visible in the morning sky during much of May, providing a great opportunity to observe this red planet before dawn.

• Jupiter: Rising in the east, Jupiter will be visible in the late evening hours, offering an excellent chance to observe its moons and cloud bands through a telescope.

• Saturn: Saturn will be positioned well for viewing in the pre-dawn sky, showcasing its stunning rings and moons.

Meteor Shower:

• Eta Aquariids: Peaking on the night of May 6-7, this meteor shower, associated with Halley's Comet, can produce up to 50 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. Look towards the constellation Aquarius after midnight for the best viewing experience.

A May Full Moon

Lunar Events:

• Full Moon: The Flower Moon will occur on May 15, illuminating the night sky with its silvery glow.

• New Moon: A new moon will occur on May 30, providing an excellent opportunity for stargazing without moonlight interference.

Milky Way:

• May is one of the best months for viewing the Milky Way in the northern hemisphere. The nights are warm but not quite warm enough for the air to become hazy.

• The Milky Way is now rising shortly before midnight and is visible for 4 to 5 hours depending on the Moon.

• Look for it in the east southeastern sky as it gently arcs above the horizon, moving south and becoming more vertical as the hours go by.

The Milky Way from Old Lighthouse Beach on a warm May evening in 2022

As you prepare for nighttime stargazing in May, be sure you find a dark location away from city lights for the best experience, obviously I prefer beaches. Enjoy the beauty of the universe!

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