New Supermoon Creates May’s Darkest Skies as 2%-Lit Crescent Returns After Sunset
Updated
Updated · Forbes · May 11
New Supermoon Creates May’s Darkest Skies as 2%-Lit Crescent Returns After Sunset
5 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 11
May 11 brings a New Supermoon, with the moon between the sun and Earth and relatively close to Earth, removing moonlight from the night sky and delivering May’s darkest viewing conditions.
That moonless window makes May 11–17 the best stargazing stretch of the month, with Leo in the southwest, Virgo and Spica in the south, and the Big Dipper and Arcturus high overhead.
A 10%-lit waning crescent passes close to Saturn before sunrise early in the week, low in the eastern sky about 45 minutes before dawn.
By week’s end, an ultra-thin 2%-lit waxing crescent reappears very low in the western sky after sunset, requiring a clear horizon and precise timing.
The darker skies lead into more planetary pairings: the crescent nears Venus on May 18-19, shifts toward Jupiter on May 20, and Venus and Jupiter continue closing toward a June 9 conjunction.
Beyond higher tides, what other measurable physical effects do 'Supermoons' actually have on Earth?
Are mega-constellations of satellites creating a permanent veil that will forever change our view of the night sky?
As city lights expand, is the wonder of 'galaxy season' becoming impossible for the average person to experience?