May Skies by Dick Cookman
Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, May Moon
Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Leo Minor, Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Virgo, Leo
- Comet Journals
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks (2024) is an enormous periodic comet which visits every 71 years. It has moved out of northern hemisphere skies and into those of the southern hemisphere. Closest approach to Earth at 1.55 AU (232 million km) is on June 2.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a 9th magnitude Oort cloud comet in northern Virgo. Perihelion passage is in southern skies in September, 2024 when it may reach naked eye visibility. It will then return to northern hemisphere skies and pass perigee (closest to Earth) in October.
Comet 13P/Olbers (2024) is a short period 7th magnitude comet in Taurus. It will move into Auriga in late May. It will reach perihelion on June 30 and be closest to Earth on July 20.
Mars Landers
The Perseverance rover is exploring the floor of Jezero Crater and has returned data indicating that the rocks observed formed at depth from crystallizing magma. They contain abundant olivine and have interacted with water numerous times since their formation billions of years ago. Like those found by the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater, they also contain organic molecules probably associated with the intervals when water was present. While the presence of organic molecules does not confirm that living organisms were involved with their formation, neither does it deny that possibility. Organic molecules can contain the elements, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and many others and are normally associated with life. However, there are numerous inorganic processes that can bring these elements together, so scientists look for evidence of conditions favorable to life in addition to the presence of organic molecules. Mars provides both, but has not yet revealed conclusive evidence for pre-existing or current life to any of the Martian probes and rovers.
Boots on the ground will help, an endeavor that may have been recently accelerated by the developing of pulsed plasma rocket by Howe Industries. This system could shorten manned Mars missions to two months and allows for heavier, better-protected spacecraft, minimizing crew exposure to cosmic radiation.
- Meteor Showers
Southern hemisphere skies are best for seeing the Eta Aquarius shower which occurs just before New Moon. Northern dark sky viewers will not see the expected outburst but may still view a dozen or so per hour.
Eta Aquarids: May 6, 2-4AM. Active Apr. 19- May 28. Radiant 22h32m -01°. ZHR 60. 66 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Comet Halley.
- Planet Plottings
Early May Evening skies provide a brief view of Jupiter (-1.9 to -1.8, in Taurus) before it disappears into the glow of sunset. It is in conjunction with the Sun on the 18th when Venus (-3.8, in Aries) passes within less than a degree from Uranus (+5.8, in Aries) six hours earlier. Venus is within less than a degree from Jupiter on the 23rd. Uranus is lost in sunset’s glare all month and is in conjunction with the Sun on the 13th and Mercury (1.1 to -0.7, in Pisces) on the 31st.
During the first half of the month the east and east-southeast predawn sky hosts Mercury, Mars (1.1, in Pisces), Neptune (7.9, in Pisces), and Saturn (1.2, in Aquarius). They are lined up in that order in Pisces and Aquarius 45 minutes before sunrise on May 6. Mercury is just above the horizon south of the rising Sun and waning crescent Moon and the others appear progressively higher when scanning to the ESE. Mercury is 26° from the Sun at Greatest Western Elongation on the 9th.
The waning crescent Moon appears to pass Saturn on the 3rd, Neptune and Mars on the 4th, Mercury on the 6th, and Venus on the 7th. The waxing crescent passes Uranus and Jupiter on the 8th. The waning Gibbous Moon passes Saturn and Neptune on the 31st
|
Planet |
Constellation(s) |
Magnitude |
Planet Passages |
Time |
Date |
| Sun |
Pisces, Aries |
-26.5 |
New Moon |
11:22PM EDT |
5/7 |
| Mercury |
Pisces |
1.1 to -0.7 |
Max. West Elongation |
6:00PM EDT |
5/9 |
| Mercury |
Pisces |
1.1 to -0.7 |
Uranus, 1.28°NW |
4:00AM EDT |
5/31 |
| Venus |
Aries |
-3.8 |
Uranus, 0.45°NW |
9:00AM EDT |
5/18 |
| Venus |
Aries |
-3.8 |
Jupiter, 0.19°S |
5:00AM EDT |
5/23 |
| Mars |
Pisces |
1.1 |
|||
| Jupiter |
Taurus |
-1.9 to -1.8 |
Solar Conjunction |
3:00PM EDT |
5/18 |
| Jupiter |
Taurus |
-1.9 to -1.8 |
Venus, 0.19°N |
5:00AM EDT |
5/23 |
| Saturn |
Aquarius |
1.2 |
|||
| Uranus |
Aries |
5.8 |
Solar Conjunction |
5:00AM EDT |
5/13 |
| Uranus |
Aries |
5.8 |
Venus, 0.45°SE |
9:00AM EDT |
5/18 |
| Uranus |
Aries |
5.8 |
Mercury, 1.28°SE |
4:00AM EDT |
5/31 |
| Neptune |
Pisces |
7.9 |
|
- May Moon
The New Moon of May is in Aries on the 7th at 2:21PM EDT. The New Moon marks the start of Lunation 1254 which ends 29.39 days later with the New Moon of May in Pisces on the 6th at 8:39AM EDT.
The Full Moon on the 23rd occurs at 9:53AM EDT in Libra. It is called the Planting, or Milk Moon. Colonial Americans preferred to call it the “Milk Moon”. To Celts it was the “Bright Moon”, and Chinese refer to it as the “Dragon Moon”. Medieval English thought of it as the “Hare Moon”, and Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan recognize it as “Zaagibagaa-giizis (Budding Moon)” in the eastern dialect and “Namebine-giizis (Suckerfish Moon)” in the western dialect). Ontario’s Earth Haven Farm presents cultural teachings explaining the cycle of life and nature of the 13 Grandmother Moons. “The fifth moon of Creation is Flower Moon, where all plants display their Spirit sides for all the world to see. This life giving energy is one the most powerful healing medicines on Mother Earth. During this moon we are encouraged to explore our Spiritual essences.”
At Lunar perigee (minimum lunar distance) on May 5, 6:04PM EDT, the Moon is at 225,659 mi. (56.94 Earth radii). It’s maximum distance of 251,432mi. (63.44 Earth radii) is at apogee on May 17, 2:59PM EDT.
|
Planet |
Constellation |
Magnitude |
Moon Passages |
Moon Phase |
Moon Age |
| Sun | Aries |
-26.8 |
11:22PM EDT, 5/7 | New | 0 Days |
| Mercury | Pisces |
0.7 |
4.0°N, 4:00AM EDT, 5/6 | Waning Crescent | 27.57 Days |
| Venus | Aries |
-3.8 |
3.2°NW, 10:00AM EDT, 5/7 | Waning Crescent | 28.82 Days |
| Mars | Pisces |
1.1 |
0.2°N, 10:00PM EDT, 5/4 | Waning Crescent | 26.32 Days |
| Jupiter | Taurus |
-1.8 |
4.1°NNW, 1:00PM EDT, 5/8 | Waxing Crescent | 0.57Days |
| Saturn | Aquarius |
1.2 |
0.8°S, 7:00PM EDT, 5/3 | Waning Crescent | 25.19 Days |
| Saturn | Aquarius |
1.2 |
0.4°S, 4:00AM EDT, 5/31 | Waning Gibbous | 23.19 Days |
| Uranus | Aries |
5.8 |
3.44°NNW, 8:00AM EDT, 5/8 | Waxing Crescent | 0.36 Days |
| Neptune | Pisces |
7.9 |
0.3° S, 3:00PM EDT, 5/4 | Waning Crescent | 26.03 Days |
| Neptune | Pisces |
7.9 |
0.02° S, 11:00PM EDT, 5/31 | Waning Gibbous | 23.98 Days |
