May New Moon Brings 4 Nights of Dark-Sky Viewing for Milky Way and 4 Planets
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 16
May New Moon Brings 4 Nights of Dark-Sky Viewing for Milky Way and 4 Planets
4 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 16
May’s new moon peaks at 4:01 p.m. EDT on May 16, opening several moonless nights that offer the month’s best viewing for the Milky Way, spring constellations and bright planets.
Dark skies around the phase cut natural light pollution, making faint targets easier to trace, including the Milky Way’s core between midnight and dawn and dimmer constellations such as Leo Minor and Lynx.
Venus stands about 20 degrees above the western horizon at sunset, with Jupiter another 20 degrees up to its left; binoculars can also pick out Jupiter’s 4 Galilean moons.
Before dawn, Saturn rises above the eastern horizon with Mars lower left, both staying under 20 degrees high, so observers need a clear eastern view and darker sites away from city lights.
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