This month, many of our neighbours will visit our Earth. Although not a great month of stars, our planets are sure to surprise.
This month, Jupiter is well placed for easy evening viewing. The king of planets, climbs higher in the southeast sky earlier in the evening this month. This would mean that telescope viewers will not have to wait until midnight to get good views of the planet. Binocular views will also prove great.
Jupiter and the Galilean Moons. Credits: NASA-JPL
Through binoculars, one should be able to see Jupiter’s four Galilean moons. The moons, discovered by Galileo, will change their positions from night to night. Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are worth the watch. In nutshell, Jupiter is at its best this May.
Our moon will dance with four of the planets. It appears near Jupiter from May 5-8. It will join our regular visitors, Venus and Mercury in the eastern sky just before sunrise on May 22 and 23. And it will pair up with red Mars just after sunset in the west-northwest sky on May 26.
Moon can be seen with several planets. Credits: NASA-JPL
Saturn that already has taken a lot of space in newspapers, will also find its spot in the sky. Saturn is now visible before midnight, rising around 11:30 p.m. in early May. It will rise by 9:30 p.m. later in the month. The best time to see Saturn is when it is highest in the sky. That’s after midnight this month, before midnight in June, and by early evening in July. Through the telescope one may see some of Saturn’s cloud bands.
Saturn in early May. Credits: NASA-JPL
If luckier, one can even have a glimpse at Saturn’s north polar region. This region was so beautifully captured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.
This month, its a treat of planets with less much special appearances from other celestial bodies.
