Monthly Guide
On this new page you’ll find details of Astronomy events of interest for the current month. Easier to find now isn’t it?!
Astronomy Events for May 2013
Thursday 2nd May – The Moon is at Last Quarter phase today
Monday 6th May – The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early this morning (01:30 UTC/02:30 BST) with an expected ZHR of 10 meteors per hour as viewed from the UK (observers from more southern latitudes could see up to 55 per hour). Appearing to originate from the constellation Aquarius (hence the name), Aquarids are known for bright tails left by fast moving meteors
Shown above at 02:30 UTC/03:30 BST on 6th May, the Aquarid meteor shower will be active from the end of April until the end of May (click to enlarge) – Credit: Sky-Watching/Stellarium
Thursday 9th – Friday 10th May – An annular solar eclipse occurs today when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than that of the Sun (blocking most of its light) which causes it to look like a ring (or annulus)
This type of eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region thousands of kilometres wide, and will be visible from northern Australia and the southern Pacific Ocean, with the maximum of just over 6 minutes visible from the Pacific Ocean east of French Polynesia
The eclipse begins at 21:25:10 UTC
Friday 10th May – Today sees a New Moon so now is a good time for observing deep sky objects usually affected by moonlight
Saturday 11th May – Bright planets Venus and Jupiter flank the Moon just after sunset. Shown below at 19:45 UTC/ 20:45 BST, if your NW horizon is flat enough this could be a great target for some photos!
Jupiter, the Moon and Venus all pay Taurus a visit soon after sunset this evening, look WNW and see if you can spot them! (click to enlarge) – Credit: Sky-Watching/Stellarium
The planet Mercury is also in Superior conjunction today, so is unobservable until later in the month
Monday 13th May – The Moon is at Apogee today at a distance of 405,825 km (252,168 miles), the farthest point in its orbit from the Earth
Saturday 18th May – This morning the Moon is at First Quarter phase
Saturday 25th May – Today’s Full Moon will experience another penumbral eclipse (where it skims the edge of the Earth’s shadow), this time however it will be virtually imperceptible unlike the partial eclipse witnessed on 25th April
In April the Full Moon also experienced penumbral eclipse, shown above at 20:22 UTC (21:22 BST) with the Earth’s shadow visible across the northern edge (click to enlarge) – Credit: Sky-Watching/A.Welbourn
May’s Full Moon is also sometimes known as the Milk Moon, Dragon Moon or Hare Moon
Sunday 26th May – Soon after twilight this evening the planets Jupiter, Mercury and Venus should be visible forming an equilateral triangle to the WNW (West North-West)
Forming an equilateral triangle in the twilight sky, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus appear close to each other just after sunset on 26th May, as shown at 20:15 UTC/21:15 BST (click to enlarge) – Credit: Sky-Watching/Stellarium
These planets will be near neighbours from 23rd to 31st of this month, but appear closest together this evening
And today the Moon is at Perigee at a distance of 358,375 km (222,684 miles), the closest point of its orbit to the Earth
Friday 31st May – Tonight sees the Moon at Last Quarter phase; and twilight planets Jupiter, Mercury and Venus appear aligned soon after sunset
Planets visible this month:
Remember, it can take your eyes up to 20 minutes to become properly dark adapted, and anything up to an hour for a telescope to reach ambient temperature outside (to ensure the best image), so give yourself plenty of time to get set up!
Guide images created with Stellarium
Archive:
2013
Astronomy Events – April 2013
Astronomy Events – March 2013
Astronomy Events – February 2013
Astronomy Events – January 2013
2012
Astronomy Events – December 2012
Astronomy Events – November 2012
Astronomy Events – October 2012
Astronomy Events – September 2012
Astronomy Events – August 2012
Astronomy Events – July 2012
Astronomy Events – June 2012
Astronomy Events – May 2012
Astronomy Events – April 2012
Astronomy Events – March 2012
Astronomy Events – February 2012
Astronomy Events – January 2012
2011
Astronomy Events – December 2011
Astronomy Events – November 2011
Astronomy Events – October 2011
Astronomy Events – September 2011
Astronomy Events – August 2011
Astronomy Events – July 2011
Astronomy Events – June 2011
Astronomy Events – May 2011
Astronomy Events – April 2011
Astronomy Events – March 2011
