Skip to content

Saskatchewan Skies: Saturn's rings are edge-on May 6

This renders the rings invisible and casting no shadow on the planet.
venus-1024(1)
Venus is part of a trio joined by the moon May 22 and 23.

The moon is approaching first quarter, splitting the evening ecliptic with Mars to the east and Jupiter to the west. By May 3, Mars is only two degrees south. First quarter is May 4, with Regulus coming on the scene May 5. On May 10, Spica, the bright star in Virgo, The Maiden, is just 0.4 degrees north – an occultation in the South Pacific.

The moon reaches apogee that same day at 406,243 km from Earth, and is full the following day, May 12. Antares is occulted for southern viewers May 13; for the north the bright star in Scorpius is a mere 0.3 degrees north of the 15-day-old moon. Might be a tough target as the bright lunar surface overpowers the star.

Last quarter is May 20. On May 22 and 23, three planets are joined by the waning crescent moon – first Saturn, then Neptune, and Venus – all within 4 degrees. Perigee at 359,022 kilometres is reached May 26, and new moon is later that evening. Jupiter is five degrees south May 28, but that would be a tough sighting for a less-than-day-old moon. Good luck trying, though.

Mercury puts on a good show for the Southern Hemisphere, not so good for the north. It’s still a difficult morning target, being so close to the horizon. By the middle of May, it’s too close to the sun for safe viewing.

Venus, also a morning object, but a little farther west and rising well before dawn. It’s part of the trio joined by the moon May 22 and 23. The bright planet is approaching its greatest elongation at the end of the month, then begins drifting along the back side of its orbit but remaining as a great target for early risers.

Mars continues its evening apparition, sliding gracefully from Cancer into Leo near month-end. The moon, in crescent phase, passes by May 3, and May 4, the Red Planet is very near the Beehive Cluster (M44).

Jupiter remains as an evening object, but not for long. By the end of May, it’s too close to the sun to see.

Saturn rises in the early morning, near Venus. The two planets are in Pisces, The Fish. May 6, the rings are edge-on, so invisible and casting no shadow on the planet. Thereafter, the south side of the rings gradually appears. The waning crescent moon passes by May 23.

Uranus is too close to the sun to be seen.

Neptune is briefly in the morning sky, just before dawn.

The eta Aquariid meteors peak May evening of May 5.

 

James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and is a Fellow of the RASC.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks