By Heather Durham | April 30, 2020
So here we sit in our hours of darkness waiting for a light. We may very well have to become accustomed to a New Normal. I heard some wise words today … If you can’t see the light, then BE the light.
Let’s begin by reviewing and watching what the Cosmos has in store for May.
May 4. C/2017 K2 PANSTARRS, known as a comet or an interstellar object will be making its closest approach to the Sun. It will be well placed for viewing. Mercury will orbit very closely to the Sun. (Wikipedia, 2017).
May 5. The n-Aquariid meteor shower, from the Constellation Aquarius will be most prolific on this date. The Moon will appear closer than normal as it passes at its closest point to the Earth.
May 7. The Moon will be full as well as very high in the sky.
May 8. The n-Lyrid meteor shower from the Constellation Lyra will be at peak today.
May 9. Today, the Moon will orbit to it’s farthest point from the sun.
May 10. Mercury will orbit closely to the sun.
May 11. A moon-shaped cluster M4 from Serpens will be visible, but small so you may have to use a device for maximum viewing.
May 12. The moon and Jupiter as well as Saturn will rise closely.
May 14. The last quarter of the moon will rise today. The moon and Mars will rise closely to one another.
May 15. Our interstellar object or comet C/2017 K2 mentioned above, will be at its brightest.
May 18. Jupiter and Saturn will pass closely. The moon will appear somewhat smaller for its orbit will traverse at its farthest point away from the Earth.
May 20. The moon will pass closely to the sun.
May 22. Venus and Mercury will pass in close proximity. There will be a new moon today.
May 23. The moon and Venus will rise closely.
May 24. The moon and Mercury will rise close to each other.
May 28. Our M4 cluster mentioned above will orbit to its highest point in the sky.
May 29. Mercury will be at half phase. We will also be able to enjoy the first quarter of the moon.
May 30. The comet C/2019 Y4 (Atlas) will closely approach the sun.
May 31. The moon and Ceres will rise closely.
Previous in sequence: Celestial Seasonings – April 2020; next in sequence: Celestial Seasonings – June 2020
References:
In-the-Sky.org. (2020, April 29). Guides to the Night Sky. Retrieved from in-the-sky.org
Wikipedia. (2020, April 26). Aquarius (Constellation). Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_(constellation)#Meteor_showers
Wikipedia. (2020, April 9). C/2017 K2. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2017_K2
Wikipedia. (2020, April 29). C/2019 Y2 (ATLAS). Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2019_Y4_(ATLAS)
Wikipedia. (2020, April 21). Lyra. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyra
Wikipedia. (2020, April 18). Serpens. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpens
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