Printer Friendly Version of this Page

The Skies as they will appear on:

1st May at 11.00pm 

15th May at 10.00pm 

30th May at 9.00pm 

The Sky in May

The Planets.

This month, the planet Mars is still visible in Cancer, the Crab moving in to Leo. It is much faded from its brightest at the turn of the year, but remains distinctive, not least due to its distinctly orange-red colouration..

Saturn is now also visible within the constellation of Virgo. Telescope users will now be able to see that the rings of the giant planet have opened out, and once more provide a beautiful sight.

Shooting Stars

There are no particularly strong meteor showers this month, although observers in the first half of May may see some shooting stars belonging to the Eta Aquarid shower.

The Constellations

The springtime constellations of Leo and Cancer remain with us, and the Great Bear (Ursa Major) is also overhead at the start of the evening. However, may starts to see the appearance of the summertime patterns in the shape of Cygnus, Lyra and Aquila rising in the east.