From mid-northern latitudes, the last-quarter moon on 9 May rises around midnight, leaving darker evening skies and improving views of Jupiter, Venus, Leo, Virgo and the Big Dipper.
Observers can use the Big Dipper to find Polaris and Arcturus, spot Corona Borealis, and, under dark skies, glimpse the Leo Triplet galaxies with binoculars or a small telescope.
Conditions improve further as the moon wanes toward new moon on 17 May, before a second full moon on 31 May brightens skies ahead of summer constellations, August's total solar eclipse and the Perseids.
A 'new star' is predicted to appear this summer. How can you be the first to spot this rare cosmic explosion?
Can you find a galaxy 30 million light-years away using just the Big Dipper as your guide this week?
Ancient Vikings used the stars to navigate the seas. What secrets can their 'guiding star' reveal to you tonight?